I have a movie in m2v (mpeg2 elementary stream) format to which I'll be adding sound eventually. ffmpeg tells me that the image is 528x288, which would be 1.85:1, but when processing, the log identifies the ratio as 1.33:1.

I'm trying to prepare an mpv with the .idx file subtitles burned into the movie permanently, and then mux with a sound track to create an mpeg.

Eventually, I want to burn a DVD, but I'd settle for a DVD-MPEGISO right now.

Here's the problem: Every time I run the m2v through ffmpeg to burn in the subtitles, no matter what ratio frame width to frame height I specify, when the subtitles are added, the height of the video frame is compressed so that the image is stretched horizontally. I've tried specifying 1.85:1, 16:9, 4:3; I've tried specifying SVCD (480X480); I've read the guide about figuring out the true image height and did the math, which gave me 528x352; I've tried setting it as "unconstrained" - no matter what I do, if the codec is mpeg2enc (which I need to burn in the subtitles), I get a long, narrow, distorted image with huge letterbox bands above and below. I cannot get mpeg2enc NOT to scale down the frame height, though I can get it not to scale the frame width.

Obviously, this has something to do with the .idx/.sub subtitling, but I'll be damned if I can figure out what.

Right now, I'm converting the file to mpeg-1 to add the subtitles, just to see the effect. I know the image quality will be degraded, but from what I can see, the original 528x288 image remains as it was, and the subtitles now show up in the letterbox banding rather than over the image.

Can someone help me with specs to enter in ffmpeg (the program) to do the same for mpeg2 so that I can burn to DVD rather than to VCD?

Thanks for any advice and suggestions!