making a SVCD MPG2

[Chakotay2]

I have made several SVCD MPG2 files and found many of them do not use the whole screen. Some "appear" to be widescreen or not go all the way to the left or right side of the screen. Sometimes it appears this way when played in Windows Media Player, and sometimes they seem pretty normal when played. I am using TMPG and figuring out the constant bitrate (between 1500 and 2500 always) and playing on a Pioneer DV444. I have a non-big screen tv and so widescreen isn't a great option. I don't think these movies are All originally wide screen, although some may be. I have read all the FAQ's and guides here and just am not quite getting it. Please help.

[Chakotay2]

Is anyone going to help me?
Please!
Allen

[kinneera]

It sounds like there might be a couple of things going on. First, some DVDs encode the widescreen format into a 4:3 frame rather than leaving it marked as true 16:9 or 2:35:1. You may have to do some cropping and zooming to convert these to fullscreen.

Second, some DVDs are encoded to account for TV overscan (these are actually fairly uncommon, although it should be the standard way of doing it), which might account for the presence of black space on the left and right. It shouldn't be evident on your TV although it might be on your computer.

[Chakotay2]

How do I zoom or clip with TMPG?

Allen

[kinneera]

If the movie is widescreen, you will want to set the source aspect ratio to 16:9. Then set the arrange method to full screen (but not the preserve aspect ratio option). Then set the output aspect ratio to 4:3. It should expand it to fill the 4:3 frame and clip off the sides for you.

[Chakotay2]

That doesn't seem to make any difference...still plenty of black on top, bottom, and sides.

Allen

[kinneera]

What is your source? Are you downloading the movies or ripping them from DVDs? Or capturing VHS for that matter?

[jeff1701]

I think you need to go back alittle are you using Dvd2avi to make your tmpgenc work files, if so you will do your cropping with it.

[Chakotay2]

I am downloading them and no I am not using DVD2AVI.

[jeff1701]

your converting avi's to svcd mpg I'm guessing. Does the avi look normal when you play them with wmp? I'm assumeing they are. when I convert an avi to svcd mpg I set my source aspect ratio to 1:1(VGA) and the aspect ratio to 4:3 Display

[Chakotay2]

Yes, avi to svcd... It looks as if it is not using the whole screen in WMP as well. Is it possible to make a widescreen movie look okay after converting it?

[jeff1701]

ok, do you have a software player like powerdvd installed. the last time I had a problem like this where it has a black space not only at the top and bottom but on the sides was there was a problem with the intervidio codec

[Chakotay2]

No... would that effect the burnt cd or just in Media Player?

[kinneera]

If your AVI is widescreen, you are going to have to use a crop filter in VirtualDub or AVIsynth to make it fullscreen. You may lose quite a bit off of the sides.

[Chakotay2]

So I have to encode it 2 times? 1 for the widescreen using virtuadub and 2 to make it a mpg svcd?

Am I understanding correctly?

[kinneera]

Well no...you just load the AVI into VirtualDub, select the crop filter and give it the appropriate settings, and then frameserve it.

[Chakotay2]

Okay... I wish someone would write a program which would "Idiot Proof" this. I wanna version even AOL users could operate!

Thanks, will try it!
Allen