Square pixels are killing me! Always converts to 852x480.

[cMac]

Hi all.

I lost my original account, so I'm starting over with a new one. I recently got the DVD authoring bug again, but this time I'm running into a problem that I've seen posted here a bit, but only explainations were given. No solutions.

I've got what I believe to be a 16:1 XviD avi, don't have the resolution with me, but it was something like 533x388? Either way, the following will sound familiar enough to some.

No matter how I convert the avi to MPEG2, the result is a 852x480 16:1 video. Zoom Player claims the video res is 852x480. MaestroDVD claims it's 720x480. When I author and burn it, my Apex 1100 plays back like it's 852x480, the video is off the screen beyond the 720 wide resolution and it's stretched. (ugly)

I mainly convert using Main Concept, it's fastest for me. Doesn't matter what I do. I've tried changing the resolution, turning off keep aspect, etc... The result is always the same 852x480. I also tried setting the res to 704x380 (forgot the exact res, altho it's supposed to be ok), but MaestroDVD doesn't like it. Says it's the wrong res.

I've tried FrameServing from VirtuaDub and using TmpgEnc. No luck. I've tried setting 720x480 res in both VirtuaDub resize filters, and setting the encode res in TmpgEnc to 720x480. Still no luck. This is the most frustrating approach because it takes a lot longer than Main Concept to encode and there are a couple more combinations to try.

I've also tried encoding with straight TmpgEnc, still no luck.

The only other explaination for this problem that I've seen has something to do with square pixels and how they're displayed on a PC as opposed to the video's native res. Honestly I don't care what the difference is, as my DVD player seems to think it's 852x480.

I do plan on purchasing a decent player soon. The 1100 was so cheap, and my room mate left with the dual tray Sony player. (waiting on a decent DVR with a HD to come out


If anyone has ANY ideas, please let me know! I promise write up a guide if I can get this worked out!

THANKS!!!

- cMac

[macleod]

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/91597.php

This guide will give you the basic concept on how to do this to convert a avi to vcd. If you are following where I am going with this, you can use the concept to convert your video to DVD.

[FOO]

No matter how I convert the avi to MPEG2, the result is a 852x480 16:1 video

Sorry I don't believe that .
perhaps your original video is 4:3
note that 852x480 is 16:9
Zoom player may be reporting Display Aspect Ratio
Maestro is reporting Sample Aspect Ratio.

Vdub doesn't do DAR. What does it look like in that ?

I'd try resizing to 720 x 480 and setting the Display Aspect Ratio to 4:3 and encode
Then play it with WinDVD or Power DVD to check

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

the video is standardized at the resolution of 720x480.
HOWEVER, it does not display as that.
if it is in 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen) then the dvd player / mpeg decoder will "stretch" the image to about 852x480 to make it the correct shape.
if it is in 4:3 aspect ratio (the same shape as your tv or comp monitor) then the dvd player / mpeg decoder will "stretch" the image to about 720x540 to make it the correct shape.

it seems like you have it set to encode as 16:9, which explains why it is stretching the image to 852x480. change it to 4x3 when you re-encode it . . .

[SLK001]

No need to re-encode. Just use RESTREAM to change the aspect ratio in the header. Takes no more than 5 minutes.

[cMac]

Thanks for the suggestions and thoughts guys. It's been constructive.

The original source avi is true 16:9 ratio. No letter box or anything, which is why I thought to stick with the 16:9 encode ratio.

I guess my mistake was in not understanding how 4:3 TVs handle true 16:9 playback.

Maybe you can clue me in. When I buy a widescreen DVD, and play it back on a 4:3 TV the letter box is present. If I play it back on a 16:9 TV, the screen is proporitately full with no letter box. Is the video actually 4:3 with letterbox as part of the video itself, and playback on both TVs appropriately crops the letter box?

I think I know the answer is yes, and I'll be re-encoding the video for 4:3 with letterbox bars included.

Thanks again, and I'll watch for any suggestions you might have.

- cMac