autocropping problem w/ ffmpeg -> .mov

[avramd]

Hello,

I can't seem to get movies to look right when using the auto-cropping feature. The cropping itself is correct, but the aspect ratio always comes out wrong.

The movie I'm compressing is 1.85:1 according to the label on the disc. The DVD image including black bars is 720x540. the real movie in that rectangle is about 720x390 (estimated via copy & paste of a frame), which is 1.85:1.

Here is my procedure: I set the autosize to 1.85:1, and that puts the video size to 720x384.
I press autocrop, and it computes 64,68,0,2. The preview rectangle looks perfect.
I got back to the video tab, and the autosize has changed to 2.35:1, and the video size to 720x304.
I have tried leaving this alone, and I have tried re-setting it to 1.85:1 (which brings it back to 720x384).

If I leave it alone, the resulting movie is squeezed horizontally, and vertically. It's total resolution is approx 404x303, and the aspect ratio is wrong - it looks like it's trying to be 4:3.

If I change it back to 1.85:1, the resulting movie is approx 510x384. Squeezed horizontally only, again looking like it's trying to be 4:3.

It is as though the original DVD's frame size is dictating the final aspect ratio, no matter what I select for resolution or autosize. I have even tried "unconstrained" autosize and entering the resolution manually, and it still looks about the same. Basically the only thing I can get to look right is keeping the black bars & encoding at 4:3.

[major]

You should first autocrop and then define aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is always the playback aspect ratio. If you encode to mpeg-4 then it is usually 16:9 or 2:35:1.

[avramd]

Major,

As I explained above, I have tried resetting the autosize value after auto-cropping. The resulting movie still comes out 4:3 when played back, being stretched as necessary to fill a 4:3 rectangle.

Is there something specific about 1.85:1 causing my problem? This movie really is 1.85:1, that's what it says on the DVD and the sleeve. It is letterboxed.

Whether I set the autosize to 1.85:1 after auto-cropping, or leave it at 2.35:1, the resulting movie is stretched to 4:3, so it seems like the autosize setting is being ignored for some reason.

[major]

Which is your target format and which player software are you using for playback?

[avramd]

My target format is .mov, and I'm using QuickTime Player.

[major]

It may be a Quicktime Player automatic aspect correction. Try to playback with ffmpegX "Play" button.