DVD 16:9 - my tv think its 4:3

[mosx]

When i encode in DVD 16:9 (avi) i have to tell my TV, this is widescreen.
Normal it autoselect the size !!!

If i take some of the avi files over in popcorn - it also think,
it is 4:3 format ???

I have notice the Video size 720 x 576 on 16:9
and 720 x 544 on 4:3 ( PAL ).

Is this realy the only different, or dont i understand it right ???
Its not a problem to manuel select size on the TV, but why
does all other software, think, its a 4:3 movie ????

I play the files with EyeHome, i know this can be an EyeHome issue.
But i dont think so, because it knows 4:3, 16:9 ect....

[major]

A DVD is always 720x480 (720x576 PAL) no matter 4:3 or 16:9. For widescreen DVD, a flag is added (by using the DVD 16:9 autosize format) but the image size does not change. This is because the DVD standard defined a constant image size.

[promoter]

Hi Major,

I just ran across a similar issue. I select a 16:9 source file, use the "DVD ffmpeg" preset, then at the "Video" tab I select "16:9" from the "Autosize" pop-up. In the "Options" tab I have checked off "High Quality," "Two-pass encoding," "Trellis quantization," "Decode with QT ("Letterbox" box is unchecked), then for "Profile" I select "DVD."

The resulting DVD plays widescreen using Apple's DVD Player, but on my DVD players connected to a standard definition TV it shows as 4:3, even if I manually set the players to "16:9" mode. I was hoping to produce a disk that showed full-screen on my standard definition TV, that I could later play at 16:9 when I eventually get an HDTV. Am I doing something wrong, or that's beyond the program's capabilities?

[major]

I'd suggest to use "DVD 16:9" and not "16:9". If you play on a 4:3 TV your player should add black bars automatically.

[promoter]

Thanks, Major, I'll give it a try. Was I correct to deselect the "Letterbox" checkbox in the "Decode with QuickTime" option? I thought that option would add "hard" letterboxing, e.g., black bars, which I didn't want.

[broaddd]

I donated to ffmpegx and love it, but have a few questions

If I always make sure that autosize is DVD 16:9, and letterboxes is unchecked, should I expect it to be in the right proportion on both a 4:3 tv, 16:9 tv and computer media player (like Quicktime or VLC)?

In what circumstances would you check letterboxes, if DVD players automatically add them anyway?

Does the encoding method (eg. ffmpeg not using quicktime) have any impact on 'autoswitching' (I'm guessing it shouldn't).

Thanks,
Bruce

[major]

Thanks, Major, I'll give it a try. Was I correct to deselect the "Letterbox" checkbox in the "Decode with QuickTime" option? I thought that option would add "hard" letterboxing, e.g., black bars, which I didn't want.

Yes, for anamorphic 16:9 encoding you must not add any black bars.

[major]

I donated to ffmpegx and love it, but have a few questions

If I always make sure that autosize is DVD 16:9, and letterboxes is unchecked, should I expect it to be in the right proportion on both a 4:3 tv, 16:9 tv and computer media player (like Quicktime or VLC)?

In what circumstances would you check letterboxes, if DVD players automatically add them anyway?

Does the encoding method (eg. ffmpeg not using quicktime) have any impact on 'autoswitching' (I'm guessing it shouldn't).

Thanks,
Bruce

Anamorphic 16:9 DVDs should play on both 4:3 and 16:9 devices. The needed corrections will be dealt with by the player. This is because it is part of the standard, so players have to support it.

You would use letterboxes when creating standard DVDs, ie. non anamorphic. They play better on some player as there is no rescaling to do.

[promoter]

Yes, for anamorphic 16:9 encoding you must not add any black bars.

Thanks for confirming this, Major. I encoded the video last night, and will burn to disk & test tonight.

[mosx]

Maybe its just me ?? but i dont get it.

If i use the DVD 16:9 option - and take the avi over in toast/popcorn, it still burns the file as 4:3 format - and if i force the 16:9 format, under option - i get black bars on the left and right side of the movie ???? How can i make an avi - that will be burned right (16:9)

[major]

DVD is not AVI.. You cannot burn the AVI and expect an anamorphic DVD to appear. You have to convert it to DVD 16:9 and then burn the VIDEO_TS folder.

[mosx]

I understand what you mean. But this is what toast7 does for me. Simply take any avi, in to toast and burn it as an dvd. With automatic, it burns as 4:3 - if i force 16:9, i get black bars at the sides ???

[promoter]

Yes, for anamorphic 16:9 encoding you must not add any black bars.

Thanks for confirming this, Major. I encoded the video last night, and will burn to disk & test tonight.

Hi Major,

I tested it last night, & it works like a charm on my standard definition 4:3 set, displaying in widescreen format. I have no HDTV on which to test it, but it's looking good. Thanks for your help!