Why does TMPGEnc show PAL as 704x576 and not 720x576?

[basss]

I believe 720x576 to be the standard for D1 resolution. My source DV avi file is 720x576. Why does TMPGEnc show PAL as 704x576 and not 720x576? Will this MPEG-2 file that I encode then be any good for DVD authoring???

[Dodzzz]

In the "advanced" tab, I suggest you select 1:1 (VGA) in the Source aspect ratio and select Fullscreen for the Video arrange method.
!That is important to keep TMPGEnc from resizing your source videos in order to "keep the aspect ratio"!
Then in the "Video" tab, choose 720 x 576 and 4:3 Display.

[basss]

Thanks again, Dodzzz!

These are the standard options for source aspect ratio:

1:1 (VGA)
4:3 525 line (NTSC)
4:3 525 line (NTSC, 704x480)
4:3 625 line (PAL)
4:3 625 line (PAL, 704x576)
etc..

..is this a bug in TMPGEnc? And what is the difference between "4:3 625 line (PAL)" and "4:3 625 line (PAL, 704x576)". The latter is automatically selected when I import my source DV avi file which is 720x576.

In the video tab it is greyed out as 720x576 for MPEG-2 output both when I've selected 4:3 and 1:1.

[tempe]

"4:3 625 line (PAL)" is 720x576... Try this if your DV is 720x576... by default, tmpgenc will select 704x576... This happen to me too... As Dodzzz said, you may also select 1:1 (VGA) from advanced tab...

[Dodzzz]

I don't know if it's a bug or not (I guess it is.. ), but try this for yourself:

open a 720 x 576 avi, then use the following settings:
- Source aspect ratio: 4:3 625 Line (PAL) not the 704 x 576 one
- Video arrange method: Full screen (keep aspect ratio)

(look at the above settings seems pretty normal don't you think?)
No! the encoded movie will have black borders on the left and right side. (like the width was shrinked down and then put inside a 720 x 576 frame)

that's why I always recommend to select 1:1 VGA for the Source aspect ratio and Full screen for the video arrange method settings just to avoid resizing(bug?) when you accidentaly select the 4:3 625 Line (PAL) one.

try and experiment with it!

[Dodzzz]

Hmm.. after a few thoughts, I don't think that's a bug, really..
But that 2 settings can be really confusing for people that is new to TMPGEnc. And they could easily choose the wrong combination like the above (and resulting in a imperfect output)

[tempe]

I don't know if it's a bug or not (I guess it is.. ), but try this for yourself:

open a 720 x 576 avi, then use the following settings:
- Source aspect ratio: 4:3 625 Line (PAL) not the 704 x 576 one
- Video arrange method: Full screen (keep aspect ratio)

(look at the above settings seems pretty normal don't you think?)
No! the encoded movie will have black borders on the left and right side. (like the width was shrinked down and then put inside a 720 x 576 frame)

Hmm... I'm quite confius now... I'm having black line on both sides if I'm accidently select 4:3 625 Line (PAL) 704x576 but no black line if I'm just using 4:3 625 Line (PAL)... I think I really need to do more experiment on this...

[basss]

I tried encoding with "4:3 625 Line (PAL, 704x576)", 4:3 625 Line (PAL), and "1:1 (VGA)", exported the same frame from each of the encoded videos and compared it to the same frame from the DV avi (PAL, 720x576) and they all looked the same. I did not get any black lines that was not on the source DV avi file on any of them..

..seems like it doesn't really matter what you choose for source aspect ratio? I guess I should just use default???

[Dodzzz]

did you select Full screen (keep aspect ratio) for the Video arrange method?

[basss]

did you select Full screen (keep aspect ratio) for the Video arrange method?

Yes, "full screen" was selected (by default) for video arrange method all three times.

[basss]

I read on the www.tmpgenc.com BBS that both 704x576 and 720x576 supposidly are legal resolutions for PAL DVD, but I'm not confident since my source avi file is 720x576. Also this is the only place I have read this, so I'm not sure if it is right?

[fmctm1sw]

That 704 and 720 thing has confounded me in the past. And since I don't make DVD, I don't spend much time thinking about it. But check out this thread.

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=116359&highlight=704+720

[Dodzzz]

did you select Full screen (keep aspect ratio) for the Video arrange method?

Yes, "full screen" was selected (by default) for video arrange method all three times.

No, if you select Fullscreen the video will come out normal, but not if you select Full screen (keep aspect ratio)
try that again!

[tempe]

did you select Full screen (keep aspect ratio) for the Video arrange method?

Yes, "full screen" was selected (by default) for video arrange method all three times.

No, if you select Fullscreen the video will come out normal, but not if you select Full screen (keep aspect ratio)
try that again!

Yes, it is normal on the monitor but not on the TV... Something will be chopped off...

[SatStorm]

Just set 4:3 as input (the simply setting) and "Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)"
For analogue grabs of any framesize, DVB/DVD/SVCD/VCD/CVD sources, that way what's in is out with the correct aspect and no interlace problems.
For DV this is also OK. (never someone using those settings report a problem).

For mpeg 4 and stuff as a source, you need to experiment. If the source is progressive, 4:3 or VGA 1:1 most of the times are OK.
With interlace, with simply 4:3 you are more sure most of the times. And to keep the aspect ratio always correct, use Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)

[basss]

Just set 4:3 as input (the simply setting) and "Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)"
For analogue grabs of any framesize, DVB/DVD/SVCD/VCD/CVD sources, that way what's in is out with the correct aspect and no interlace problems.
For DV this is also OK. (never someone using those settings report a problem).

For mpeg 4 and stuff as a source, you need to experiment. If the source is progressive, 4:3 or VGA 1:1 most of the times are OK.
With interlace, with simply 4:3 you are more sure most of the times. And to keep the aspect ratio always correct, use Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)

Do you mean "4:3 Display" or "4:3 625 Line (PAL)"?

[energy80s]

Always use the 4:3 display option rather than the PAL625 option.

[SatStorm]

Exactly

[Dodzzz]

in the advanced tab, always select 1:1 VGA and Full screen if you don't want tmpgenc to pre-resize any of your source videos. (whatever resolution)

while in the Video tab, as usual choose the proper display aspect ratio (4:3 display, 16:9 display etc)

[basss]

I'm getting confused now!

Source aspect ratio: "1:1 (VGA)"
video arrange method "Full screen"

or

Source aspect ratio: "1:1 (VGA)"
video arrange method "Full screen (keep aspect ratio)"

or

Source aspect ratio: "4:3 display"
video arrange method "Full screen (keep aspect ratio 2)"

Under MPEG setting>video "4:3 display" and "720x576" are greyed out so i guess those are right at least..

[energy80s]

Assuming its a standard 4:3 fullscreen picture that you are trying to encode (rather than 16:9 anamorphic) just use 4:3 display and Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2) and you'll be fine.