Aspect ratio 2.35 problem

[bigjuggler]

I have a xvid file in 2.35:1 aspect that I would like to convert to DVD. I would like the DVD to be widescreen since I have a widescreen tv (since 2.35:1 is wider than 16:9, there should be narrow black bars letterboxing the top and bottom even on the widescreen).

I have been unable to convert this with the proper ratios. I have tried many experiments setting the "autosize" selector under the video tab. 16:9 gives me vertically squeezed video, 2.35:1 gives me a squeezed full frame video that plays in 4:3 in QT and VLC, DVD and unconstrained gives me huge black letterboxes in a 4:3 format.

Apple's mpeg2 component will only output 4:3 or 16:9 again giving me the squeezes.

Soooo....is there a way to convert a 2:35:1 xvid file to 16:9, slightly letterboxed video to preserve the aspect ratio?

I am using a registered 0.0.9 version of Ffmpegx.

Thanks.

P.S. I am also having trouble with the AC3 soundtrack in this file. I can convert it successfully to mp2 while encoding, but am unable to pass the AC3 audio through (my preference to preserve the 5 channels). "Passthrough" in the audio tab gives me nothing. I even tried encoding the audio only with passthrough to create a standalone AC3 file. That didn't work. Can you "demux" AC3 out of a divx/xvid file?

[major]

is there a way to convert a 2:35:1 xvid file to 16:9, slightly letterboxed video to preserve the aspect ratio?

Have you tried "DVD 16:9" autosize? (also make sure to use "Decode with Quicktime").

Can you "demux" AC3 out of a divx/xvid file?

ffmpegX 0.0.9b will include a "movie audio > AC3 5:1" quick preset.

[bigjuggler]

Thanks for the quick reply Major.

Auto DVD 16:9 does give me widescreen video, but it is a bit squished (like my other tests) when tested in VLC since it's got the 2.35:1 frame filling the full 16:9 frame. I have not authored this as a dvd image since the audio didn't work this time. Is it possible that the file has flags so that my DVD player will add the small black bars for 2.35:1 on a 16:9 tv?

As for the upcoming Movie audio to AC3 file feature in 0.0.9b....YIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! That sound like just the ticket! As far as I know there are no other solutions for ripping AC3 audio from a divx file. Once again ffmpegx leads the way.

[WibblerX]

Select the DVD preset , then DVD 16:9 and letterbox..

I don't have the xvid/divx stuff for quicktime, so have selected the other 'decode with mplayer' option and it works fine.

What comes out of all this is a 16:9 movie with a letterboxed 2.35:1 image.

W.I.Bler

[Makmic]

WibblerX 's solution works also fine with 'decode with quicktime' option (don't forget to check the letterbox option).

To extract the ac3 soundtrack from the XVID movie , choose the 'movie to mp2' quick preset, then go to audio tab and replace '.mp2' option by 'passtrough'. After encoding, change the .mp2 extention of the resulting file to .ac3 .

Sizzle is then able to use that soundtrack in the authoring process.

[bigjuggler]

Wow! Thankyou WibblerX and Makmic for solving my problems.

I am a little embarassed that I missed that letterbox option in the other tab (I seriously tried about 20 different test settings). I have just run the test file and it is perfect (widescreen 16:9 with black bars preserving the 2.35:1 aspect ratio).

I haven't tried the AC3 trick yet, but I will as soon as my little Cube finishes chewing through the mpeg2 encoding.

Thanks again for the help folks and thanks again Major for the wonderful app that keeps busy toying.