Aspect ratio of DVD-authored 16:9 video

[delfuego]

(Sorry in advance if this is a FAQ; I tried to search for it, but couldn't find the answer...)

I am using the latest version, 0.0.9s (downloaded last night), to transcode some DivX AVI files into MPEG-2 files, with the intention of then authoring a DVD with a few of them on it. The AVI files are all wide aspect ratio -- 16:9 -- and the resultant MPEG-2 file is likewise 16:9. But when played in Apple's DVD Player, the resultant VIDEO_TS file is 4:3. If I drop the .VOB file into mplayer, it's 16:9 -- it's only in DVD Player that it's 4:3. Is the DVD Player doing the wrong thing here, or is it me?

In ffmpegX, I drop the file onto the icon, and then choose DVD ffmpeg as the preset. Then, I make sure that under Video, the Autosize is set to 16:9 and the framerate is set to NTSC FILM. Under audio, Normalize audio is checked (I see that this has caused video problems, so I mention it), and I'm doing nothing in the Filters tab. (Should I be using the Letterbox settings in this tab?) And obviously, in the Tools tab, I have "Author as DVD" checked.

What's going on here? Thanks a ton in advance.

[major]

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1196827#1196827

[delfuego]

OK, so it is what alph mentioned in that thread? He didn't make explicit that he was talking about the VIDEO_TS files; in my case, the straight MPEG-2 file that's kicked out before post-processing is just fine in mplayer, it's the VIDEO_TS files that, in DVD Player, are wonky.

[major]

Yes. You should try to download again ffmpegX and try to encode again. Let me know if this fixed your problem.

[Falcon500]

I have the same problem as you delfuego. I am not sure if it is the same problem that major posted the link for. When you play the .VOB's (authored with ffmpeg 0.0.9s) they play as a widescreen image, but when you play them in Apple's DVD player they only play as a 4:3 image (ie. they are squeezed vertically). It seems that ffmpeg's authoring tool isn't setting the 16:9 flag when the DVD is created.

If I get info on the DVD with mac the ripper it says that it is 4:3....

If you reauthor the .VOB files with toast you will get a 16:9 recognised DVD. ie. you drag the .VOB files into toast and burn them again. So the .VOB files have the 16:9 flag. I will redownload the new version of 0.0.9s to see if the problem is fixed.

[major]

Same answer for you. You should try to download again ffmpegX and try to encode again. Let me know if this fixed your problem.

Make sure that "DVD 16:9" or "16:9" does display in the autosize popup prior to hitting the encode button.

[delfuego]

major, no dice -- the newer version does the same thing. Any other ideas?

[major]

I'm going to check again.

[delfuego]

Another data point: in the newest version of 0.0.9s, unchecking the "Normalize audio" checkbox doesn't fix things. The VIDEO_TS file is still in 4:3 aspect ratio when played with the Apple DVD Player. Is it worth checking to see what happens with 0.0.9r? I still have that disk image around somewhere...

[alph]

I just did a test and the latest version fixed the issue I reported. I also did a test with a video_ts folder and Apple DVD player and everything seems to be working fine now. Streamclip also reports the proper aspect ratios being set.

I did 1 minute AVI converted to DVD 4:3 and 16:9 Video_ts.

Just mentioning this in case: To get 16:9 output you have to have one of the 16:9 options selected in the autosize field of the Video tab even if it requires you reset your size values afterwards.

Thanks Major

[delfuego]

I don't get it -- I'm definitely getting problematic VIDEO_TS files in Apple DVD Player with the latest download of 0.0.9s. To make sure I'm being clear: my original AVI has an aspect ratio of 16:9. When I ask ffmpegX to transcode it, I'm using the preset for DVD ffmpeg; I then make sure that the Autosize option is set to 16:9. I don't do anything in the Filters tab (leaving the Crop settings at 0s, and the Letterbox settings at 0s), and on the Options tab, I leave "Decode with QT" unchecked. Lastly, on the Tools tab, "Author as DVD" is checked.

With those settings, the resultant plain MPEG-2 (.mpg) file has a 16:9 aspect ratio when played in mplayer. When played with Apple's DVD Player, the .VOB file in the VIDEO_TS folder has a 4:3 aspect ratio; when played in mplayer, it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Alph, do you set anything in the Letterbox options on the Filters tab? Am I supposed to be setting something there?

[major]

I checked and the 16:9 flag is being set and recognized by Apple DVD Player. I tend to think that you are downloading the previous version because of cache in your browser or at your ISP. I will upload a copy of the disk image on a different link, so as you can try that one.

[delfuego]

I'm pretty sure I have the latest; I just downloaded it again, to another computer and on another internet connection entirely, and it's the exact same size and same created on and modified on dates as the one I used in the most recent tests. (To verify: my copy of the ffmpegX binary is 21,441,907 bytes, with a creation date of 1/25/05 2:36PM and a modification date of 1/25/05 10:19PM.)

To be thorough, I'm using the "16:9" Autosize setting. Is there a difference between it and the "DVD 16:9" setting? I see that the former changes my "Video Size" settings to 720 x 400, whereas the latter changes them to 720 x 480... maybe this is my problem?

[major]

It seems indeed the good version. Normally you should always use "DVD 16:9", unless it is in some unstandard size like half-DVD. I tried to make another DVD with a different file, and again, DVD Player displays it in 16:9 aspect.

[delfuego]

OK, this is just odd. Since I was using a 45-minute TV episode to do all my tests, I just opened the file up in QuickTime, cut it down to the first minute, and saved it back out (exported it out as DivX, the same settings as the original). Running tests with THAT file give me proper, 16:9 VIDEO_TS files every time, with both the 16:9 and DVD 16:9 Autosize options.

I'm rerunning my tests with the original, uncut DivX AVI file, just to make sure that there's nothing I'm missing, but if I get the same results, would someone be willing to grab the file from me and see if they too see what I see? (It's a 350Mb file; PM me and I can give you a link to it.)

I hope this is just me being stupid, and not an odd and obscure bug!

[major]

You can send me the link to major4@mac.com

[Falcon500]

The new version fixes the problem for me... Sorry Delfuego...