How to convert 4x3 640x480 video to 4x3 720x480?

[hbenthow]

I have a 480p video (encoded in AVC). It is encoded in the 640x480 type of 4x3 (which I believe has square pixels). I want to convert it to the 720x480, rectangular pixel type of 4x3, so that it will be Blu-ray compatible (the Blu-ray format only accepts 480p in 720x480, not 640x480). I also want to lose as little quality as possible in the conversion process.

I currently have Handbrake, Avidemux, clever FFmpeg GUI, and FFmpeg Batch AV Converter.

What is the best way to achieve what I want to do, ideally with one of the tools that I already have (but with another if necessary)?

[davexnet]

Instead of stretching it/ non- square pixels,
What about putting back bars either side to
Pad it to the size you need?

[DB83]

Do not think that will work (nice thought tho)

720*480 is 29.97 fps 4:3 interlaced for Blu Ray. It will still, effectively, display as 640*480 and now the original image will be squashed.


But chances are I have missed something.

[aedipuss]

i'd go db83's way. use a high bitrate mpeg-2 29.97fps interlaced 720x480 encode. 10mbps maybe to lose as little as possible? try the tools you have and see if it's ok.

[davexnet]

Do not think that will work (nice thought tho)

720*480 is 29.97 fps 4:3 interlaced for Blu Ray. It will still, effectively, display as 640*480 and now the original image will be squashed.


But chances are I have missed something.

No, you're right - I forgot about non-square pixels.

AVStoDVD encodes a 640x480 (4x3) source that you want to pillar box and display @ 16x9
like this

AddBorders(106,0,108,0)
Spline36Resize(720,480)

and it turns out like this:

[Sharc]

AVStoDVD encodes a 640x480 (4x3) source that you want to pillar box and display @ 16x9
like this

AddBorders(106,0,108,0)
Spline36Resize(720,480)

While this is technically doable and correct, one might ask why convert a 4:3 source for 16:9 DAR (PAR 32:27) which reduces the stored active picture resolution to 540x480, means lower than the original 640x480. Isn't it better to just scale it to 720x480 (PAR 8:9) and display it as 4:3?

[davexnet]

Yes of course I went off on a tangent, not sure why.
If I can remember what my original thought was, I'll update the post!

[hbenthow]

Do not think that will work (nice thought tho)

720*480 is 29.97 fps 4:3 interlaced for Blu Ray. It will still, effectively, display as 640*480 and now the original image will be squashed.


But chances are I have missed something.

I didn't realize that it had to be interlaced. The file that I have is 29.970 fps progressive scan. What's the best way to interlace it without losing much quality?

i'd go db83's way. use a high bitrate mpeg-2 29.97fps interlaced 720x480 encode. 10mbps maybe to lose as little as possible? try the tools you have and see if it's ok.

But will that retain the 4x3 aspect ratio? And is MPEG-2 a Blu-ray compatible format? Doesn't AVC provide more quality at the same bitrate?

[manono]

The file that I have is 29.970 fps progressive scan. What's the best way to interlace it without losing much quality?

Just encode it as interlaced. The content can still be progressive.

And is MPEG-2 a Blu-ray compatible format?

Yes.

Doesn't AVC provide more quality at the same bitrate?

Yes.

[DB83]

Can I ask one rather 'obvious' question.

Do you intend this SD video to be actually authored on to a BD disk ? The questions were answered - info was available straight from this site at the top of this page under 'What is'. But even on a BD disk the content is still SD - it does not magically turn into HD. You could, simply upload your 640*480 video in to avstodvd (will do all the hard yards for you), create a DVD disk and a Blu Ray player will still play it as is.

[ConsumerDV]

Do you care about making a BD that conforms to the spec, or do you want to make one that plays on your BD player? For example, at one time 1920×1080 59.94p was not supported at all, now it is officially supported for UltraHD Blu-ray with HEVC compression, but in reality most if not all BD players have been supporting this mode since around 2010. So... have you tried authoring a BD with the file that you have? To me, interlacing 30p into 30i only for the player to convert it back into progressive on playback seems silly.

[manono]

To me, interlacing 30p into 30i only for the player to convert it back into progressive on playback seems silly.

As I thought I made clear, he doesn't have to do that.

[ProWo]

According to bluray specs you can use 1280x720p 59.94fps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray#Video

Load your video in clever FFmpeg-GUI, click main, click convert videostream, click resize, set all parameters like on the photo and click convert.


[Attachment 64086 - Click to enlarge]

This will result in a 1280x720p 16:9 video with your original video in 4:3 ratio.
Use the latest version here:
https://files.videohelp.com/u/292773/clever_ffmpeg_gui_newest_beta.7z

[hbenthow]

Just encode it as interlaced. The content can still be progressive.

How can I do that? And which of my programs would be best-suited for it?

Can I ask one rather 'obvious' question.

Do you intend this SD video to be actually authored on to a BD disk ? The questions were answered - info was available straight from this site at the top of this page under 'What is'. But even on a BD disk the content is still SD - it does not magically turn into HD. You could, simply upload your 640*480 video in to avstodvd (will do all the hard yards for you), create a DVD disk and a Blu Ray player will still play it as is.

I intend to put it on a Blu-ray disc, along with other files (which are already in Blu-ray compliant aspect ratios).

I'm aware that putting it on a Blu-ray disc doesn't turn it into HD. But I want it on a Blu-ray disc, as some of the videos are in HD and some in HD, and I want them all on the same disc together. My plan is to use DVD Architect to author a Blu-ray.

Do you care about making a BD that conforms to the spec, or do you want to make one that plays on your BD player?

Ideally both, but as long as it would play on my player, it would be acceptable.

According to bluray specs you can use 1280x720p 59.94fps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray#Video

Load your video in clever FFmpeg-GUI, click main, click convert videostream, click resize, set all parameters like on the photo and click convert.
This will result in a 1280x720p 16:9 video with your original video in 4:3 ratio.

That would upscale the files, though. I don't want to do that. I want the HD files to remain HD and the SD files to remain SD. My 4K Blu-ray player's built-in upscaling can make SD look better than upscaling it with a video conversion program can.

[Cornucopia]

PsF https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_segmented_frame.

Scott

[ConsumerDV]

AFAIK, DVD Architect re-encodes files that it deems non-conforming.

[hbenthow]

PsF https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_segmented_frame.

Scott

What I meant was, what settings should I use in one of the programs that I have in order to achieve it? I don't know where to access the settings for PsF in any of them.

AFAIK, DVD Architect re-encodes files that it deems non-conforming.

I prefer to make the conversion first, so I can have more control over the conversion settings.

[Sharc]

AFAIK, DVD Architect re-encodes files that it deems non-conforming.

Yes it does. And it is very picky regarding conformance checking, especially for Blu-ray (e.g. buffer management and bitrate spikes). There is a good chance that it will 'always' re-encode. I had some discussion about it some time ago in their forum/support (MAGIX). It may be less of a problem with low-resolution (SD) sources though.