Aspect Ratio output using the DVD to VCD guide

[Jurdz]

I have been following the guide on how to rip dvd to vcd using smartripper, dvd2avi anf tmpeng. It works fine and I get decent quality results. However, I only get 16:9 output. How on earth do I get an output which is the same aspect as the source? If the film I am ripping is 2.35 : 1 then I want a vcd at 2.35:1.
DVD-X does it without all the hassle, but not the quality.

[dick_p_t]

Try "Eazy VCD", no hastle, best quality.
you can download it from http://www.eazyvcd.tk

[banjazzer]

How on earth do I get an output which is the same aspect as the source?

MPEG Setting>Advanced:

Source aspect ratio set to match your DVD (use info from DVD2AVI)
Video arrange method - one of the Full screen(keep aspect ratio) options.

[Jurdz]

DVD2AVI hasnt reported anything other than 16:9 when I have ripped a disc so far, even when the DVD wasnt 16:9.
Say for example I am copying Star Wars, then I dont want the output to be 16:9.

The source aspect ratio box in TmpgEnc only has preset options and doesnt cover things like 2.35:1

[Jurdz]

Is Easy VCD tthat good? I was always told to keep away from the 'easy' VCD creators/rippers such as Dvd-X and DUP-DVD. I have tried Dvd-X but the output quality aint as good as the Smartripper/DVD2AVI/TmpgEnc method.

[banjazzer]

The source aspect ratio box in TmpgEnc only has preset options and doesnt cover things like 2.35:1

The options I mentioned above cover all DVDs I have ever come across. For PAL DVDs the source aspect ratio is either 16:9 625 line (PAL) or 4:3 625 line (PAL). I would expect the same holds for NTSC DVDs, except with the 525 line options. This has always given me correct aspect ratio, so far as the human eye can detect.

If you want to know whether your DVD is 16:9 or 4:3 and the vobs are on your HD, run DVD2AVI for a few seconds.

If you are still sceptical, use the source range setting in TMPG to select a small sample which has something with which you can easily check aspect ratio. Universal's opening Earth shots are quite good. 8)

[Jurdz]

The confusion is clearing a little.

Are you telling me that the source aspect ratio is not actually the width and height of the actual picture itself, but the ratio at which the picture is actually stored on the DVD?

I guess I must be selecting the wrong 16:9 cos on my output files, people look thinner than they should be.

[LeeBear]

There's only 2 valid DVD aspect ratio 16:9 and 4:3. If a movie is "anamorphic" or "enhanced for 16:9 TV" it means it's encoded using the 16:9 aspect ratio. Movies are usually not film at a 16:9 (1.77:1) aspect ratio, it's usually 1.85:1, 2.35:1 etc. When it's put on DVD they still have to encoded it to a 16:9 or a 4:3 display aspect ratio. So to maintain the aspect ratio they have to add black bars at the top and bottom of the screen... even if it's encoded to a 16:9 aspect ratio, the bars are just smaller then if they encoded to a 4:3 ratio. So if your source if from a DVD (not a DiVX) then the aspect ratio should always be either 4:3 or 16:9 regardless of what the actual movie's ratio is.

-LeeBear

[Jurdz]

Thats cleared that up then. Therefore if I am ripping a film which says it is 2.35 : 1 on the cover then the setting I should use for source aspect ratio should be (as specified earlier in the post) whatever DVD2AVI tells me it is.
However (1) in the MPEG settings the VIDEO tab has a setting for Aspect Ratio which has settings for ASPECT RATIO.

However(2) in the MPEG settings the ADVANCED tab has settings for Source Aspect Ratio and Video Arrange Method. The Source Aspect Ratio settings include not just 16:9 525 Line but 16:9 Display and also 2.11:1 Display.

Therefore which setting do I use to set the info from DVD2AVI?
And what is the difference between 16:9 525 Line and 16:9 Display.

What setting should I use for the Video Arrange Method?

I'm sorry for all these questions, but when I rip with DVD-X I dont have to set any of these options and the output ratio I get is exactly like the DVD (but of inferior quality).
When I use the Smartripper/DVD2AVI/TmpgEnc method I get an output ratio where people are too thin (in other words, it looks as if the picture has been stretched vertically)

[banjazzer]

However (1) in the MPEG settings the VIDEO tab has a setting for Aspect Ratio which has settings for ASPECT RATIO.

This depends on where you intend to play your mpeg. Usually this setting is grayed out at 4:3, and I always leave it thus, even though I play back on a widescreen TV. You can experiment, but initially I would leave it as is.

Therefore if I am ripping a film which says it is 2.35 : 1 on the cover then the setting I should use for source aspect ratio should be (as specified earlier in the post) whatever DVD2AVI tells me it is.

Absolutely!

However(2) in the MPEG settings the ADVANCED tab has settings for Source Aspect Ratio and Video Arrange Method. The Source Aspect Ratio settings include not just 16:9 525 Line but 16:9 Display and also 2.11:1 Display.

Well, you can experiment, but 16:9(or 4:3) 625 Line always works for me. Try a few samples to see what difference the others make.

And what is the difference between 16:9 525 Line and 16:9 Display.

Since I always get perfect results from the former, I have not been inclined to experiment. If you choose to, please let us know.

What setting should I use for the Video Arrange Method?

As I already said, one which involves full screen (keep aspect ratio), unless you want to get squished output!)

[Jurdz]

Many many thanks to all of you.

I'll give all that a try on my next rip.

Cheers once again (you're very patient !)

[banjazzer]

Having wasted many, many hours doing bum encodes, can I urge you to use the source range setting in TMPG. Once you have the settings you know will work, then you no longer need to do this. 8)

[poopyhead]

don't forget the video output settings.....

if you're gonna watch on regular NTSC TV (not widescreen TV)...then your output video should be 4:3 NTSC...regardless of the source aspect ratio

which by all means should be 16:9 525 line NTSC for 2.35 : 1 anamorphic region 1 DVD

keep in mind there are widescreen dvds that are 4:3 (non anamorphic)