Aspect ratio wrong! WIN DVD and POWER DVD

[andvd]

I have a widescreen TV, a digibox and a Philips DVD recorder, so obviously all my DVDRs are recorded in 16:9. Yet when I play these on the computer they are vertically stretched to fit 4:3, creating some very slim people, at least until they lie down!. Amongst all the advanced options there doesn't seem to be one that allows the picture bid to be displayed in the correct aspect ratio, i e 16:9 letterbox. When I play a widescreen movie they do adjust and play in letterbox, so what's the problem?. Does anyone know of a software DVD player that can cope with this?

[garryheather]

at least until they lie down

That's porn for you, they're not the best when it comes to production values !

[vhelp]

This should do it for PDVD. Windvd does not do proper AR w/ most dvd
source ie, 1.85 and 2.35 - - At best it incorrectly AR's to 1.78 for all widescreen

So, stick to pdvd intead :P

PowerDVD users:
----------------------------------

To play 16x9 encodes videos in the way they were intented to be played
under powerdvd, please apply the follow settings under Config:

4:3 Pan&Scan Screen:
[Change to 1024 x 768]
[x] Ask me before change
-- -- -- --
16:9 Widescreen:
[Change to 1024 x 768]
[ ] Ask me before change
-- -- -- --
Screen Control:
[ ] Run full screen
[x] Keep screen aspect ratio

[andvd]

thanks for the quick reply
I've got powerDVD version 5 deluxe, but the only options I have in the advanced video properties, which only appear when you have video playing , are 1. always keep video aspect ratio 2. linear stretch, and 3. grayed out, (possibly because I only have a 733mhz processor), is CLPV (cyberlink pano vision), although this sounds like it's just a facility to stretch 4x3 to 16x9 with less distortion in the centre.WinDVD has this, but it doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

[vhelp]

I was unaware that pdvd changed the rules

In that case, I would install version 3.0 (that's what I use)

I can't see any other reason keep v5 if this aspect ratio is important to you.
It is to me, and so I have v3.0 in my use. Other than that, I would ultimately
use my ad-1500 or STS75E dvd player. It's up to you what you wana do.
If you're encoding to produce perfect aspect ratios, then its obvious that
pdvd v3.0 is a must so that you get the true effect in your tests scenarios.

And remember, wdvd is 1.78 for all, no matter 1.85 or 2.35 !!

Good luck anyways,
-vhelp

[SLK001]

I suspect that your Philips recorder is not setting the proper aspect ratio flag when it is recording. If you have KEEP ASPECT RATIO checked in PowerDVD, then it will display properly.

Open your .VOB files in RESTREAM and check what aspect ratio is indeed recorded. You can also change them using the program.

[andvd]

mmmm Fings ain't what they used to, including power DVD. Thanks for the tips-I'm not sure where I could get power DVD 3, seems like the drive towards automation has been a bit premature on the part of power DVD, and Phillips waging its format war seems to have overlooked some faults of design. Yet presumably these discs played in another DVD player would play as 16:9 on the TV . It's just annoying when you're used to being able to change the aspect ratio for your TV with a button on your remote control.
I did download re-stream, and it turns out the VOB files were encoded as 4:3, but Re-stream wouldn't do anything to correct it because of de-multiplexing stuff which is a bit beyond me. It sounds like it's easier just to change the display on a monitor.I couldnt see where the ICBMs were even.
Incidentally power DVD seems to be a lot more efficient than win DVD. Before I got power DVD I didn't think VOB files were playable on their own(on some discs the Philips spoiled), yet power DVD gives them its icon and plays them perfectly, once they're on the hard drive. If I change the file extension to .mpg, winDVD will try to play them but it stutters loads.
Thanks again for the tips

[vhelp]

adddvd,
if you play your .m2v files in wdvd, it WILL studder. probalbly an error
or something. They have to be auidio/video together for wdvd, but pdvd
plays perfect.

Good luck,
-vhelp

[SLK001]

You might be able to get by with changing the AR in the .IFOs using IFOEdit. I believe that the AR marked in the video header is over-ridden by the .IFO header.

This will eliminate the need to demux everything first.

[Gazorgan]

Get pulldown.exe and the associated GUI. You can change the A/R that way (yeah I know what it's for, but it does A/R also).

[andvd]

Yes - tried ifoedit, and replicated the same settings as a widescreen movie I had i.e. changing to 16;9 and widescreen only on both of the ifo files, and it played properly. As you might expect, it's not possible to do this while the ifo is on the disc, but once it's on the hard drive it's possible, though this makes it a bit of a hassle, compared with adjusting the knobs on the monitor (very awkward on my Gateway monitor), but at least I know it's possible for something special. I still don't understand why the Phillips doesn't encode the discs as 16;9, or why none of the software DVD players allow manual Configuration of aspect ratio like a TV would.
As for pulldown, aspect ratio didn't seem to be mentioned in any of the limited options - it also failed to create the files I understood it would, so I drew a blank on that one.
Thanks for all the advice anyway.