TMPGEnc - video aspect ratio gone crazy!

[correioelet2002]

I've been having a strange problem with aspect ratio when converting any type of file to SVCD through TMPGEnc. The video ends up VERY stretched (upwards). On the other hand, VCD convertion stretches the image to the sides.... This is very strange:

1. I never had this kind of problem before.
2. Unlocking the preset and changing aspect ratio does not make any effect.

Anyone has any idea on what's going on?

Thanks!

[bugster]

On the advanced tab, select Video arrange method as Full Screen (Keep aspect ratio) and if your source is avi (divx) select Source aspect ratio as 1:1 (VGA). This may help.

[FOO]

Are you watching this on the TV or computer ?
480 x 480 will look stretched vertically on the computer.

[correioelet2002]

Well, thing thing here is VERY weird.

Even though 480x480 does look a bit stretched on the computer, this time it's REALLY stretched, and this happens with SVCD convertions on TMPGEnc. With VCD convertions, it ALSO looks stretched, but to the sides... also, now I have NO audio on the encoded files.

Just to give you an example that something is REALLY wrong, if you try to re-encode one of the already encoded files, TMPGenc won't let you do it because it says there's something wrong with file, so you can't open it. I mean, the program itelfs recognizes that its own creation is corrupted!

It seems that DirectX 8.1 (required for DVDx) and Nimo 5 Release 8 have something to do with it, I guess. It was after I installed them that this started to happen. And Yes! I uninstalled Nimo but it didn't work, and the part of DirectX that CAN be uninstalled I did too (SDK). But nothing solved my problem.

Am I wrong or this is a codec problem? If it is, I have NO clue whatsoever on what to do, I tried everything... any idea on what to do now? I have recently re-installed my whole operating system and don't want to do it again, specially not knowing what caused this and running the risk of commiting the same mistake twice!

Note: Windows Media Encoder and Asf Tools encode ok, BUT both Virtual Dub and Asf Tools when converting to AVI, display no video. Virtual Dub evem creates AVIs with 100MB per 10 seconds!!!!!

Thanx, and sorry for the LOOOONG message

[bugster]

OK, You have re-installed your OS, heres some advice to stop this kind of
thing happening again.

1) Do NOT install codec packs. Some may be ok, other cause problems. Install
codecs 1 at a time, as you need them to avoid this.

2) Do not rely on WMP to display correct aspect ratios. Different
versions/patches have different behaviour with regards to the DAR flag
(Display Aspect ratio) in mpeg's. Use a Software DVD player such as PowerDvd
or WinDVD, these work correctly.

3) TmpGenc has always had difficulties opening mpeg-2 files. Is this what
you tried when you said:

Just to give you an example that something is REALLY wrong, if you
try to re-encode one of the already encoded files, TMPGenc won't let you do
it because it says there's something wrong with file, so you can't open
it

4) Seperate tha audio and video to seperate files before encoding with
Tmpgenc. Have the audio in uncompressed wav format for best compatibility.

Just a few ideas, hope this helps.

[correioelet2002]

Hey! It WORKED!! YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The audio is back when encoding from a .wav and I installed PowerDVD and the aspect ratio is ok! It's strange that both WMP and Winamp won't play it correcly. I guess they are using the codec wrongly, (if you find out anything about how to restore it, please let me know, there's another guy with the same problem, so I'll keep him informed), since I've been using them forever and the ratio was always right, but it's ok since the result is what matters. Can't thank you enough!!!!

Since this was one of the things you told me could help, now I remember that the AUDIO disappeared when I installed Nimo and DirectX, but the aspect ratio problem began when I installed DivX 5.1 Bundle (which is supposed to be great!!!). Well, it IS a package that not only messed things up but left me with no clues about how to encode from DivX 5.1 to (S)VCD. Do you know where I can get ONLY the driver? The site here only leads to the Bundle....

Sorry for the inconvenience, you already did a GREAT job in helping me! Wow, I was almost re-installing everything again.