Noob question - wrong aspect ratio

[contador]

Hello,

I have a .avi xvid video file, its meant to be 16:9.

When I play the file, it plays at its default aspect ratio but it seems to be squashed slightly, so that the people look thinner than they should be. If I then go into my media player and force 16:9 the aspect ratio looks correct because the people dont look thin, they look normal.

I have looked in a video program and it tells me the .avi is 624x352, is this correct for 16:9? or has the file been encoded incorrectly?

(by the way, my monitor is 16:10, maybe that is the problem?)

[Calidore]

Hi, contador. According to my calculator, 16/9=1.7777777777777777777777777777778, while 624/352=1.7727272727272727272727272727273, so yeah, it's a bit off. However, while forcing the correct aspect ratio in the player is a bother, reencoding is a bigger one. Sounds like you've got it handled .

Best,

Calidore

[jagabo]

You can always use Mpeg4Modifier to for force the pixel aspect ratio or display aspect ratio. Then be sure your player is set to maintain the aspect ratio, not stretch to fill the screen.

[manono]

I agree. I suspect the 624x352 is exactly how it's supposed to be, and if people appear to be too thin you've got the player set up wrong.

[johns0]

Or the file was encoded that way.

[contador]

Thanks guys,

I've tried to adjust default AR of media player and video card driver, but the only thing that seems to work is to force media player to 16:9

[RabidDog]

Go on, give us a clue, what media player? external or on computer?

[jagabo]

Some media players do not respect PAR/DAR flags. You may also have to make sure the file reader/splitter and codecs support PAR/DAR flags (if you're using a player that doesn't have internal versions of those filters). Try MPCHC, VLC, or KMPlayer.

[contador]

Media player is 'gmplayer' on linux