.m2v is 16:9 - *must* I re-encode to make a SVCD?

[Wizeman]

Usually I go from VOB to SVCD, and get the "VOB Letterbox" option in ffmpegx.

But this time I went from a .m2v, and didn't really get to choose much of anything... so I have a 16:9 .m2v file that looks great on the computer, but when I make a SVCD out of it, I get a 4:3 frame that jumps from left to right as if trying to show the whole image as often as possible... hard to explain...

Anyway, I'm a lazy sod... any way of getting around a reencode?

/Wizeman

[wolleric]

Take a look at http://mitglied.lycos.de/dvdpatcher/. As it works with MPEG2 streams, you should be able to change the aspect ratio of your file with it.

[Wizeman]

Thanks for the swift reply (and I love your signature hehe) but this is the Mac forum so I'm on a Mac...

If anyone has any ideas, pls reply... even tried changing the aspect ratio manually (using hexedit to alter the m2v file) but that didn't quite work as intended ;P

/Wizeman

[bilestyle]

the only way to do it without a re-encode is using programs like the mpeg append suite (crappiest programs EVER imho, beside ANYTHING M$ does) but anyways if you run it through force letterbox it will just change the height and width of the video and it will look all distorted and crappy... there really is nothing to do if you want it to look proper w/o re-encoding.