544x576 - 16:9 widescreen problem \ question

[manikm]

Hi there,

I have 6 episodes of a program i want to put onto dvd (using TMPG DVD Author)

I recorded them direct onto my PVR as files (.rec file) - now, the first episode for some reason was broadcast in 544x576 format, but true widescreen, but won't import into DVD Author properly. The other 5 episodes were broadcast in 720x576 and will import into the DVD util ok.

Now, i have tried "DVD Patcher 1.06" to try and trick it into thinking its 720x576, but on playback, the file is squashed like a 16:9 file playing as a 4:3 file...

How can i get the file to play back in true 16:9 like it does on the PVR but enabling it to be burned with DVD author...>?

Any ideas!?

Thanks!!

[guns1inger]

You have to re-size and re-encode to do this properly. Personally, I think the patch method is one of the worst to try to fake it. Make the file DVD Compliant and you won't have any problems either authoring, or playing it back.

[Sartori]

I had this problem during the V festival last year (this is actually part of another thread where this got mentioned and as I recall Gunslinger posted as well in case deja vu is occurring but anyway) , for some bizzare reason E4 broadcast in 544X576 and E4+1 broadcast in 720x576 , Im not quite sure if it constantly does that as I havent connected my card for a long while but this is more a note to be aware than immediate help for your problem sorry .
As I recall with DVD patcher , you patched the MPG header , made the DVD , then patched the DVD on your hard disc back to its original resolution and depending on your dvd player , it would play normally . With TMPG DVD Author , put the hacked files on a different title as well .

But personally , as per the above advice , Id just convert it .

[guns1inger]

The other problem you have, even with patching, is that 16:9 is only supported at full D1 (704 or 720 x 480/576), so playback and and automatic AR switching may not work either.

[Alex_ander]

Patching back after authoring is necessary in both 4:3 and 16:9 cases. Some players use pixel info from MPEG metadata for stretching horizontally to 768 (4:3) or 1024 (16:9). When a player uses 720 number instead of actual 544 it sets 1024/720 stretching factor for 16:9, then you have 774 from 544 and watch it as 4:3.

[manikm]

thanks guys!

no easy solution then, i dont really want to re-encode, as this take ages, and seems a waste of time and quality (bound to lose some quality during re-encoding arent i?)

[guns1inger]

On your system encoding shouldn't take too long.

If you want a working DVD, then it isn't time wasted. Of course, you could just try playing at as an mpeg video file straight from the disc. I cap mpeg streams from our OTA digital broadscasts, and never author. I just take out the ads and burn them as data.

[manikm]

whats apps best for system encoding mate? thanks

[guns1inger]

Highest quality for free would be HCenc, but you have to load it through DGMPGDec and/or avisynth to load the video though. I believe HCEnc will load a .d2v file directly.

[manikm]

ok thanks for your help!!

[manikm]

hmm cant find where to make it change res...when i click make dvd compliant it warns me, and encode is greayed out...?