Suggestions Please on 640x480 to DVD

[killmore]

I have about 30 movies all 640x480 Divx (and they are black and white)
What do you guys suggest for DVD resolution?
1) 704x480 - streach 640 to 704
2) 704x480 - with black lines on both lides - so movie stays at 640x480
3) 352x480
4) 352x240

Which one do you guys recommend?

[txpharoah]

These are all 4:3 ratio. So pick any of them.

The 640x480 was 4:3. Nothing to be stretched.

And 704x480 is not valid in many authoring programs.
Try 720x480 or 352x480

352x240 MPEG2 not valid DVD format.

[FulciLives]

Hello

I've converted many DivX/Xvid files that originally were 640x480 (or if they were widescreen then 640xheight). They convert well to standard NTSC DVD resolution of 720x480

I simply open the DivX/Xvid avi file in TMPGEnc Pro which automatically selects the correct format (1:1 VGA) and using the WIZARD mode I simply select NTSC standard (which is actually the first step before importing the avi). Assuming the avi has sound that TMPGEnc Pro can accept ... you don't need to seperate the sound from the avi (I think all of the files I've dealt with had MP3 audio). Anyway you would think the stretch form 640 width to 720 width would degrade the image but I find that it doesn't appear too at all. Assuming the DivX/Xvid is of high quality with a width of 640 then the DVD should look pretty darn good. If the DivX/Xvid has been cropped because it is widescreen make sure you select KEEP ASPECT RATIO 2 in the settings for TMPGEnc Pro and all should be fine.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[killmore]

I did notice that 352x240 does not seem to be a valid setting.
I mentioned 352x240 because the TMPGenc has "NTSC (Low Resolution)" and it says that 352x240 @29.97 frames

Ulead Video Studio also has this setting called "CIF" (again 352x240 @29.97 frames)

[wulf109]

352x240 mpg2 is a valid resolution for DVD. I've converted 352x240 SVCD's to DVD by authoring with SpruceUp. It works in SpruceUp,don't know about other authoring software.

[Gazorgan]

You can pad the sides relatively easily (40 on each side), or you can resize. It all depends on the quality and how long you want to wait. for my 640x??? DivX/XviD I usually just pad them. My TV overscans a bit and it's not really noticeable. This can make for some skinny movies if it's 16:9, but enlarging them results in blockiness if your not careful.

[Quigonsean]

352x240NTSC and 352x288PAL in Mpeg1 or 2 is a valid DVD Resulution, and part of the DVD Spec, any authoring app that is compliant to the DVD spec should accept an mpeg 1or 2
in 352x240


Sean

[txpharoah]

352x240NTSC and 352x288PAL in Mpeg1 or 2 is a valid DVD Resulution, and part of the DVD Spec, any authoring app that is compliant to the DVD spec should accept an mpeg 1or 2 in 352x240 Sean

I'll go check my facts, but I still think that it not a valid spec (352x240 MPEG2). I know for a fact that several authoring packages, including Spruce and DVDit! do not accept that format of video.

Only MPEG1 352x240 (or 352x288 PAL) with bitrates 1150-1856 are accepted at that resolution.

[killmore]

Can you actually use CCE and get 720x480 - or will output from CCE will always be 640x480?

[FulciLives]

Can you actually use CCE and get 720x480 - or will output from CCE will always be 640x480?

Use an avs script with a line like this:

BicubicResize(720,480,0,0.5)
or
LanczosResize(720x480)

This will resize your video from 640x480 to 720x480

As I said when you resize from 640 width to 720 width any loss in quality can barely (if at all) be seen by the naked eye.

I do it all the time when I convert DivX to DVD.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

If you want you could leave the resolution at 640x480 but do the following in your AVS script:

AddBorders(40,0,40,0)

This will add a black border on either side of 40 pixels thus giving you a width of 720 without actually resizing the video in the process. If your DivX is widescreen with the black borders chopped off (very common) then you should also add borders above and below so the height equals a total 480 pixels.
Here is the syntax for the AddBorders command:
AddBorders(left,top,right,bottom)

[killmore]

Many great thanks!
I will try to convert the size with AVS scripts!

[killmore]

ON my TV I only see 640x480 of my movie.
So after I streched 640x480 to 720x480 with TMPGEnc 4:3 I am now missing the edges...

Does the DVD player forces letterboxing?
In this case It seems like it is best to leave the movie at 640x480.

[dvdnew]

I had some mpeg2 at 640x480 and created a DVD, then I can't find a player that will play that DVD, some stretch the image, some skips, other show the image with big macroblocks. Other videos that I have are at 544x480 and 480x480 and those work ok in all DVD players I have access to. Just a FYI.

[adam]

352x240NTSC and 352x288PAL in Mpeg1 or 2 is a valid DVD Resulution, and part of the DVD Spec, any authoring app that is compliant to the DVD spec should accept an mpeg 1or 2 in 352x240 Sean

I'll go check my facts, but I still think that it not a valid spec (352x240 MPEG2). I know for a fact that several authoring packages, including Spruce and DVDit! do not accept that format of video.

Only MPEG1 352x240 (or 352x288 PAL) with bitrates 1150-1856 are accepted at that resolution.

According to DVD Demystified, 352x240 mpeg2 is NOT supported in the DVD standard, and is only supported when using mpeg1.

Taken from DVD Demystified:

Allowable picture resolutions are:
MPEG-2, 525/60 (NTSC): 720x480, 704x480, 352x480
MPEG-2, 625/50 (PAL): 720x576, 704x576, 352x576
MPEG-1, 525/60 (NTSC): 352x240
MPEG-1, 625/50 (PAL): 352x288

[TBoneit]

I had some mpeg2 at 640x480 and created a DVD, then I can't find a player that will play that DVD, some stretch the image, some skips, other show the image with big macroblocks. Other videos that I have are at 544x480 and 480x480 and those work ok in all DVD players I have access to. Just a FYI.

Just Curious are you just patching, authoring, patching back to DVB or SVCD format sand then playing the videos?? More curiousity, what softwareare you using to rip the 544x480 from the drive? Have you had any luck converting them in software? FWIW I have found that tmpgenc DVD software works quite well, IMHO, with the patched 544 by 480 DVBs, I patch to 720 by 480, load into tmpgenc DVD, save, repatch back to 544 by 480, Then I can trim, cut or add chapter points and author. I also found some Letterbox that were 640 by 480 resolution.

My players work on both those resolutions and VCD of course.

YMMV of course
Cheers