HDTV .avi to DVD (aspect is messed up -- skinny)

[tmac]

I've got an xvid .avi file that is sourced from an HDTV broadcast. This file has the following properties (from QT movie info window):

Size: 624x352
Format: Generic MPEG-4
FPS: 23.98
Data Rate: 132.4kbytes/sec

This file looks beautiful played on QT pro, but every attempt to convert to DVD (iDVD, Toast, and default ffmpeg settings) have all resulted in poor renditions. Mostly, the aspect ratio is all messed up and everyone looks very skinny. This may have something to do with the HDTV broadcast, but again, when played on QT, it looks and sounds perfect.

Any hints?

[Case]

In ffmpegX, in the Video tab, make sure to change the Autosize from "DVD" to "DVD 16:9".

[tmac]

I'll try that right now and will post my results tonight (after work). Thanks Case.

[Evochamp]

I had the same problem before and this solved it for me

After selecting your file:
1-DVD ffmpeg from the main settings
2-Video tab, Autosize: DVD 16:9
3-Filters tab, Letterbox: 16 16 16 16
4-Options tab, check "Decode With Quicktime" and keep "Letterbox" checked.

[alph]

When encoding with DVD ffmpeg, decode with Quicktime has 2 advantages. It lets you decode .mov files properly and it does automatic letterboxing, but the trade off is that it takes twice as long to encode. When decode with quicktime is on the manual letterboxing is ignored.

Given your source is already 16:9, 624 by 352, no letterboxing is needed. As long as you set autosize to dvd 16:9 you can take advantage of the speed increase of leaving Decode with quicktime off and leaving the letterboxing values at 0. If you play your movie on a 4:3 television the DVD player will add the needed black bars at the top and bottom for you.

Regards,
Alph

[tmac]

Thanks for all the help and hints. I got it to work, though encoding was an all night process. (Time to convince the wife that she doesn't need her annual shopping trip to Nordstroms as much as we need a replacement for the aging G4x2.)