Stretched SVCD source to Xvid/Divx

[sc2_ct]

I am having a problem with a video clip that I have, that is 480x352, that appears stretched vertically. I am trying to convert it to a Divx/Xvid file for playback on my Philips DVP642 dvd player (which supports mpeg4), but regardless of how I adjust the resolution settings using either the Divx 5.11 or Xvid compressors, the video is still stretched like the original. I am using VirtualDubMod. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[monzie]

Do you mean 352 X 480, or have you cropped it to 480 X 352 (from svcd 480 X 480) to get rid of the bars?

In each case remember that a 352 X 480 mpg (half DVD) or 480 X 480 mpg (SVCD) on PLAYBACK stretches the horizontal to 704 (DAR).

[jimmalenko]

I'll back it's half D1 (352 X 480), which always appears "stretched in the vertical" on a PC screen.

[sc2_ct]

Sorry, looks like a case of dyslexia or something, the video is 352x480, not vice-versa.

[jimmalenko]

OK. What we're saying is that if you were to leave it as is and author as a DVD, your DVD player would "stretch" it back out in the horizontal on playback and it would look fine on a TV. However, because you're re-encoding to MPEG-4, all you should need to do is resize it back to full D1 (720 X 480), and it should come out "unstretched".

[monzie]

Thats the one Jim, pc's are 'stupid' when it comes to mpeg DAR's (the stretch or shrink on playback) they only see pixels as pixels and THEN decide the aspect ratio as derived by the resolution...which although IS true....is actauly false on playback.

But I will say this, forget converting 352 X 480 to avi just keep it as it is and save yourself the pain/time and reduced quality of the conversion......as far as i know there is no equivalent avi resolution that will keep the video looking as good as the original.