Anamorphic or letterboxed?

[genak]

I have several 640x360 XVid files which I want to convert to DVD MPEG2. I've read that you are best keeping the resolution when you concert as close as possible to the original - would that mean that I would be better converting to 16:19 letterboxed (704x432) as opposed to 16:9 anamorphic (704x576), even though that would result in a smaller frame size?

[SLK001]

It's already 16:9. Just resize it to 720x480 and turn on the 16:9 flag.

[guns1inger]

If, when you play it back now, it is not vertically stretched, then it is letterboxed, and you are probably better off keeping it that way. Just resize it and add borders to fill it out to compliant specs.

There is nothing to stop you doing either, but little to be gained by the extra resizing required for anamorphic.

SLK001 - don't confuse 1.78:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhanced or anamorphic. One does not necessarily imply the other, especially when dealing with Xvid files.

[SLK001]

I assumed he was giving us the horizontal and vertical resolution of the picture area, excluding any letterboxing bars. If that was the case, then all that would be needed would be resizing and setting the 16:9 flag (for anamorphic video). If there are "bars", then all bets are off.

[johns0]

If the video has no black borders then its best to encode as anomorphic cause it will play properly on newer tv's that display 16:9.