Aspect Ratio's of avi/DivX

[Xzost]

Hi there,

I was just wondering if there was way to obtain the aspect ratio of an avi file. Opening them up in virtual dub and checking file info doesn't show it, and in dvd2avi, I can't open avi's, or I can but nothing shows up.

I need to know this because when encoding something with subtitles, the output file looks fine on the PC obviously, but when played on standalone DVD player, the subtitles where cut off. I ended up changing aspect ratio to 16:9, but it was a guess and was not obvious what so ever.

So, like I said, if there is a way to find out the Aspect Ratio of avi's could someone tell me? thanks!

Xzost

[LeeBear]

Avi's have a pixel ratio of 1:1 so the aspect ratio of the movie will just be the ratio of the AVI's resolution. For example if the AVI was 400x300 the aspect ratio would be 4:3, if it was 640x360 the aspect ratio would be 16:9, etc. If you're using TMPGEnc to encode, just set the source ratio to VGA 1:1 and video arrange method to one of the full screen keep aspect ratio. For your subtitles being cut off it doesn't sound like an encoding problem if they show up fine on the PC. TV's overscan the picture so you basically lose about 10% of the picture around the edges, if you put your subtitles to close to the edge they will be cut off when played back on a TV. Best thing to do is move the subtitles further up away from the overscan area.

-LeeBear

[Xzost]

Thanks for the great reply!


Ok, I checked the resolutions, and they are all 4:3 yet I tried 1:1 VGA and I tried 4:3 aspect ratio's and in both instances, the sub's where cut off. I then said, what the hell and tried the 16:9 asoect ration, and the film is not distorted in any way, and the subtitles are fine. is that odd or am I doing something wrong?

thanks again

o yeah, and my tv is 4:3 not 16:9


XZost

[end80]

...If you're using TMPGEnc to encode, just set the source ratio to VGA 1:1 and video arrange method to one of the full screen keep aspect ratio.....-LeeBear

Concerning your comment..

I have been a little confused about the aspect ratios all along (amonst other things).. what I have actually done thus far when converting in TMPEG is to simply look at each aspect setting in the preveiw window untill I see one that looks right, and then just select that one...
but I did read recently somewhere on this site that the setting VGA 1:1 should be used ONLY IF you plan to view it only on your pc, - otherwise the setting should be set to the source specifications if you plan to watch it on your tv.. That statement threw me off.. because so far most of the conversions I did have been set to VGA 1:1 - and I thought it looked fine..

So what is correct?

It's odd... I've only began with vcds recently.. but it seems the more I research the more conflicting comments that I read.

Or maybe it's just a mental block! - I donno, but please elaborate on the VGA 1:1 setting

[puertorican138]

end80, I'm confused just like you are. I think 1:1 (VGA) is if your source is DivX, and if your source is from a DVD, then it should be something else (I hope I'm right). I always set the source aspect ratio to 1:1 (VGA) if it's DivX, and 1:1 (VGA) looks good on my T.V.


Hope That Helps!!!

[Faceman101]

open the AVI in Virtual Dub (DVD2AVI is for MPG2 streams only) goto File, File Information. Look for the res, tell us what that res is. Also if you tell us what your Divx is of, we can tell you what the right aspect ratio to encode with.

Also let us know what format you are encoding to, are the subs already on the divx file?

[puertorican138]

Faceman's right, in VirtualDub go to file and look at the resolution.

[Xzost]

I DO use vitual dub, and the resolution works out to be 4:3 aspect ration, but when I watch it on tv, setting it to 1:1 VGA or 4:3 aspect ratio, the subs that are ALREADY on the DivX are cut off at the bottom.

The source is a Anime, so the subs are crutial hehe

If I burn as 16:9 though, it looks fine, but the only way to test this is to encode a few seconds, burn to CD-RW and then watch to see if it worked, you can understand how anoying that could get.

Xzost

[LeeBear]

Okay, okay, let's clear up the confusion here. Xzost, there's 2 spots in TMPG where you set your aspect ratio. One's for the source and one's for the output.. The 'Advance' tab is for the source and the 'Video' tab is for the output. The aspect ratio in the 'Video' tab should be set to what your TV is, either 4:3 or 16:9. The source is where most people run into problems, this is set in the 'Advance' tab. Like I said in my other post for DiVX/AVI file's the 'source aspect ratio' should pretty much always be set to "1:1 [VGA]" and the 'Video Arrange Method' should be set to "Full Screen [keep aspect ratio]" or "Full Screen [keep aspect ratio 2]". That setting should work for pretty much all DiVX/AVI files as source. If your source was from DVD your source aspect ratio would be different of course.

-LeeBear

[Xzost]

Thanx Leebear

Yes I did understand you the first time, and yes the source WAS set to 1:1 VGA and output to 4:3... thats why I find this very odd that it didn;t size correctly (and yes I tried both, keep aspect ration (2) )

Neways, Iguess there isn;t much else to do then but to always encode a little bit, then test it because even though the source was 4:3, it still didn't fit correctly on the tv using all the settings you mentioned as well as some of my own I mentioned earlier. O well, but hey, other replies are welcome!


Xzost

[LeeBear]

Xzost, what are you trying to encode the video to, VCD, CVD, SVCD, XVCD, XSVCD, etc? I just realized that was never asked before and it could help explain why the subtitles aren't showing on your DVD player but shows up on your PC. It's a known problem that some DVD players (some Apex and Pioneer models come to mine) display CVD and SVCD strangely like playing only top corner of the video, etc. Maybe that could be your problem.

I was also thinking about another potential solution to your problem. If the subtitles are cut off you could try adding a border to the bottom of the picture using AVISynth then frameserving it to TMPGEnc. The border will effectively force the subtitles to be higher up on the screen maybe to the point where they are visible on your TV.

-LeeBear

[snowmoon]

Even easier....

In TMPGenc for 4:3 materal just give it a custom size that's X% smaller than what you are shooting for. Ie Divx to VCD you would select. advnaced/impage placement = center ( custom size ) 320x218 and your image would be 10% smaller and subs would show up. You will have to adjust that number to suit your tase and your TV's "Overscan" area.

[Faceman101]

...Also let us know what format you are encoding to, are the subs already on the divx file?

...Xzost, what are you trying to encode the video to, VCD, CVD, SVCD, XVCD, XSVCD, etc? I just realized that was never asked before and it could help explain why the subtitles aren't showing on your DVD player but shows up on your PC...

[Xzost]

Hi again,


sorry Leebear and faceman I must have missed those hehe


I am trying to encode the Divx's into plain old vcd, simply because the quality is already poor.

It's a known problem that some DVD players (some Apex and Pioneer models come to mine) display CVD and SVCD strangely like playing only top corner of the video

Well, I have a Panasonic rv21 if that helps, but im not encoding to SVCD or CVD anyhow.

I was also thinking about another potential solution to your problem. If the subtitles are cut off you could try adding a border to the bottom of the picture using AVISynth then frameserving it to TMPGEnc

This is a good idea, but it seems rather long considering I can just encode it in 16:9 aspect ratio (although this seems rather odd)

In TMPGenc for 4:3 materal just give it a custom size that's X% smaller than what you are shooting for. Ie Divx to VCD you would select. advnaced/impage placement = center ( custom size ) 320x218 and your image would be 10% smaller and subs would show up. You will have to adjust that number to suit your tase and your TV's "Overscan" area.

hmm Ill have to try this out, but whats my tv's "overscan area"? What is it and how would I find that out?

Again, thanx everyone for the help, sorry for the late reply.

Xzost

[UmitDavala]

I too am having trouble with subtitles...

xzost, if you don't mind me asking, where did u set to 16:9 aspect ratio, under the video tab or the advanced tab?

the reason i'm asking is that when you load up VideoCD(NTSCFilm), all of the options for the video tab become unavailable

[snowmoon]

Search for "TV Overscan" here and on the web for a weath of information.


go to advnaced, and set the image placement to center ( custom size )

Then you need to set the width and the height of the video to be X% smaller than the VCD standard of 352x240 ( PAL 352x288 ). See my previous post for an example.

[Xzost]

Thanx snowmoon, I think I solved my problem. What I did was instead of using 'full screen: keep aspect ratio' I just used 'full screen' I found this worked better, and nothing was cut off.

I also tried what you said, but I decided to try 480x480, kinda like a svcd I suppose, and then I centered it using custom size like you said, and that had a good outcome as well.

xzost, if you don't mind me asking, where did u set to 16:9 aspect ratio, under the video tab or the advanced tab?

It depends, the aspect ratio under the tab 'video' is the aspect ratio that you are encoding to, this is the output video's aspect ratio (ussually kept the same as this is your TV size, unless you have for instace a wide screen HDTV or something) whereas the aspect ratio under the 'advanced' tab is the ratio of the source file.

The reason all the options under the 'video' tab are "unavailable" are because they are locked when you load a template, changing these would mean you would no longer have a standard VCD, instead you would have a xvcd.

Any how, if you want to unlock those settings, u can load the template found in the EXTRA folder called 'unlock.mcf' or u can simply click on the option you want and a menu will pop up, just choose unlock.

Thanks everyone for you help!


Xzost

PS. on a side not, how the hell do you quote from someone?? I can quote, but it doesn't display who said it! grrr....