DVD->AVI with GKnot 0.35, AR has to be set to 16:9 in MPC to look good

[mgarrido]

Following a guide I have converted (successfully) a movie from DVD -> AVI using Gordian Knot. The size I used in the resolution tab (from auto crop is) 708 x 360, and I then set the output resolution to 704 x 304 and with an NTSC source set it to NTSC 16:9 (because the DVD was 16:9). In the Options tab I unchecked use ITU standard resizing. The bits/pixel*frame rate was .175.

This finished all good everything looks good except that the aspect ratio of the finished file has to be set to 16:9 manually inside Media Player Classic or VLC to look like it should, otherwise it looks stretched inwards. What (if anything) should I do to get this to look the right way w/out having to do this, I take it I am going to have to re-encode.... Also, if I ever wanted to convert this to DVD (I probably wont seeing as I own the original DVD) but if I did would I be able to do the conversion if I choose not to re encode the file so that it would look OK on the DVD?

It doesn't bother me too much because I can always just set the AR to 16:9 when playing back this file manually, but if I could eliminate this step it would help.

This image is the way it looks before I apply the 16:9 AR:


This is what it looks like after I apply the 16:9 AR:

[jagabo]

Why did you resize to 704x304? That's not 16:9 with square pixels. Try 704x400 or 640x352. If you really want to use 704x304, set the MPEG4 16:9 DAR flag. You can do this on the file you already encoded using MPEG4Modifier. Many players will not respect the flag though.

[mgarrido]

using 704 x 304 doesn't really matter to me, I was just following the guide that says I should choose a bits/pixels*frame as close to 0.17 as possible if my output is to be 1CD.

So what should I change in GKnot to get to one of those other resolutions as the "Output Resolution" section of the Resolution tab doesn't let me choose one of those resolutions manually..

Screenshot of GKnot resolution tab:


Edit: I would change the option from Anamorphic to 4:3 to get 704 x 400... You say this will give me the correct AR though?

Edit 2: I think I will encode the last movie (i'm through 2 movies now) at 576 x 320 (using the 4:3 input pixel AR option). I think it'll work too, depending on how the output goes I will set the other 2 movies to re-encode once they are done.

[manono]

Edit: I would change the option from Anamorphic to 4:3 to get 704 x 400... You say this will give me the correct AR though?

Widescreen is not by definition 16:9. In all likelihood it was encoded as 4:3. Get that information from DGIndex by opening a VOB and running the Preview. Or pay attention when creating the D2V. And then enter the same thing in the GKnot Input Pixel Aspect Ratio section in the Resolution Tab. It was probably entered correctly and you mistakenly changed it.