Aspect Ratios, Width x Height, etc.

[kbigelow2000]

I do a DV capture from my digital camcorder to my PC via my firewire card. I get an AVI file.

Using Windows Movie Maker, I then trim it up and output to DV-AVI. The file maintains the same properties as the original file. That is, it is 720x480 (width x height) and a 4:3 aspect ratio.

However, if I output to a .wmv file, I get 640x480 and a 4:3 aspect ratio.

- I always thought "width x height" was the aspect ratio. 640x480 is the same ratio as 4:3, but what about 720x480?

- I have created some mpg files using Pinnacle Studio 8 and they seem to have some weird sizes: 284x240 or 522x240, for example. Although these are great for reducing file size and posting to the web, they end up distorting the video (stretching things too tall or too wide).

Just looking for some guidance on keeping my video in its original width to height ratio.

Thanks.
Kevin

[Suntan]

Keep in mind that 640x480 is 4:3 aspect when you deal with computers (because they have square pixels on there monitors.) On TVs you have rectangular pixels so 4:3 is 720x480.

Aspect Ratios can be somewhat of a black art as there is no single way to get perfict AR for every possible combination of playback device. Some will adhere to AR flags in the media some won't. Some (like a computer running Zoomplayer, etc.) will allow you to set whatever AR you want, independent of what the source resolution is.

Sometimes trial and error is the best bet.

-Suntan