VCD Aspect Ratio

[DJTigger]

Hello All,

I just finished my first ever production of transferring old 8mm home movies to VHS to Mpeg. I used TMPGenc to convert the .WMV files to MPEG. Then I used ArcSoft Showbiz to create and burn the VCD.

The project turned out great for my first time, but the video looked to "pixelate"--is that the right description? I was wondering because when I encoded from WMV to MPEG, I used an aspect ratio of NTSC 16:9 and was wondering if that was the reason or if this is normal. Should I use a different aspect ratio? Thanks for any help that you can offer this newbie.

Joel

[Anonymous65]

If you get square blocks in the video that is most likley because the bit rate is too low. VCD's have a low bit rate of only 1150Kb/sec. VCD's have a pixel size of 352x240, and that is a 4:3 video ratio (rectangular pixels). If you want to create a compliant VCD, you will have to use letterboxing for your 16:9 video clip (black above/below your video frame).

[Anonymous65]

If you get square blocks in the video that is most likley because the bit rate is too low. VCD's have a low bit rate of only 1150Kb/sec. VCD's have a pixel size of 352x240, and that is a 4:3 video ratio (rectangular pixels). If you want to create a compliant VCD, you will have to use letterboxing for your 16:9 video clip (black above/below your video frame).

[DJTigger]

So is the letterbox setting something that I do when using the TMPGenc? I was not able to find that setting except the help file said that it would be the case if I used a 16:9 NTSC 525 Line, which I did that as a test and it looked exactly the same as the original cut.

Thanks,
Joel

[Anonymous65]

Yes, you can make the letterbox in TMPGEnc. If your source has a 16x9 ratio, you can "tell" TMPGEnc that the video is 16:9 and you need to make it a 4:3 format. (VCD is 4:3) When encoding, you should see black bars on top and bottom of the image.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

Use the TMPGEnd wizard, and when you load the file, set the source settings to 1:1 VGA if it is neither 4:3 or 16:9. If it is 16:9, set it to 16:9.

on the next page, click clip frame, go to arrange setting, and set it to full, maintain aspect ratio. (not exact words of the setting, i cant remember it)
and you may see both "full size, keep aspect ratio" and "full size, keep aspect ratio2". if you do not know which one to use, just see how they look. if they look the same, then it doesnt matter.

[Gazorgan]

How did you get a WMV file in that process??? You not giving us all the steps you used. I'm sure the pixelization (that's the correct term) is from your process, as VCD can be done without it.

[DJTigger]

Here are the steps that I am using. The footage that I am using is old family 8mm movies that were transfered to VHS for me.

1. I capture the VHS in Windows Movie Maker utilizing the "Make Clips" command so I can edit out the junk easily. This creates a project with a series of clips.
2. I then place the clips into the timeline and add my MP3s that I ripped and have selected to play during the otherwise silent film.
3. Then I "Save Movie" and save it using the High Quality and it makes the final movie a WMV format.
4. Then I have been able to use the TMPGEnc to import the WMV file and make it an MPG file.
5. Then I bring the finished file into ARCSoft Showbiz and cut the VCD.

Hope this helps and as always, I appreciate the feedback.

Joel

[DJTigger]

Well, I tried to cut the movie onto a DVD+R using the ArcSoft Showbiz and my HP300i and after transcoding for 13 hours, I received an error saying "failure to write disc". What gives? Is Arcsoft the problem?

Joel

[Gazorgan]

Can you skip the WMV output? There's no such thing as 'High Quality'. High Quality WMV is really medium to low quality. M$ considers 64k Audio DVD quality.

Can you save to some other AVI format? Can you edit the WMV parameters at all? Custom maybe?

[DJTigger]

Good point but I am not sure. I have the Pinnacle capture device, but the software dosen't read the VCR. If, however, I open Movie maker, it reads it. Strange I know, but the only option I see when capturing in Movie maker is WMV.

So it sounds like I need to get the Pinnacle software to read its own hardware so I can get different formats. I guess this is the trials and tribulations of a beginner...LOL

Joel