Using TMPGEnc To Create 16x9 MPEG2 File

[waldodiodio]

I use TMPGEnc to compress a captured AVI for DVD authoring. My TV is a 16x9 set, and I want to create DVDs that play best on that set without it having to adjust the picture and thus cause any distortion. I created a separate post about capturing the original file using Virtualdub in the Capturing forum. Can anyone tell me the key fields in TMPGEnc to best author the 16x9 DVD? Does my original source have to already be in 16x9 format? Any help is appreciated.

[yoda313]

Well you can tell it to output in 16x9 and that should give it the proper aspect ratio flags.

Here's how:

Go to the setting tab and select advanced. Then select 16x9 display as the source aspect ratio (should work even if it was captured at 4x3)



Then go to the video tab and select 16x9 as the output aspect ratio.



That should be the correct procedure.

[waldodiodio]

Yoda,

Extremely helpful, your post was. Thank you. But just to clarify, on the source aspect ratio, I just wanted to confirm that I should choose 16x9. Your text indicates so (and notes this should work even if the capture was actually in 4:3), but the screen shot below shows 4:3 highlighted. I assume you're just showing where the field is, and I should choose 16x9 there, but I just wanted to double-check. Thanks again.

[yoda313]

I don't know for sure. If you want to select 4:3 as the source and 16:9 as the output you can try it. I don't know if that will abnormally stretch the picture though.

What you might want to do is take a short clip from your source and try it both ways. Try once with 4:3 as the source and once with 16:9 as the source, yet both having 16:9 as the output aspect ratio.

Then author each clip and test burn on a rewritable disc. Note on the disc or on the menu you make of which clip is which.

That way you'll be able to see your results and decide without too much effort. Maybe a 5 minute clip would be adequate.

Good luck.

[KBeee]

If the aspect ratio of your source AVI looks ok when played on your computer monitor, then set the "Source Aspect Ratio" in TMPGEnc to 1:1 (VGA), and Video Stream Setting to 16 X 9
If the aspect ratio of your source looks a little "squished" when viewed on your monitor, set the Source Aspect Ratio to 4 X 3, or 16 X 9, and the Video Stream Setting to 16 X 9.
As Yoda said, a couple of test clips will help you decide.

[mikiem]

Hopefully not adding any confusion...

There's 2 aspects for DVD, 2 *main* aspects for your captures, plus re: film, whatever the director felt appropriate.

Assuming you want the end result to look the same as the orig. on your TV, capture & keep the (usually 601 spec) source aspect 1st -- this will cause the picture to either be wider or narrower then normal depending on NTSC or PAL.

If you've got 4:3 & want 16:9, avoid converting to square pixel, PC format. In theory you want to go to full 16:9, meaning roughly the same aspect width you get playing 16:9 video with DVD Player software on your PC, only at regular frame height [all software I've seen changes the frame *display* height to compensate for that pesky 601 pixel aspect.]. This enlarged frame would then be sized to DVD spec of 720 width, & set as 16:9 in the settings of most all encoders (anamorphic video). And of course once you've worked out the math, can skip the enlargement & just *crop & resize* 4:3 video.

As yoda313 pointed out, if using TMPGEnc, it can do the conversion for you, skipping a LOT of the headaches from resizing. But, wanted to include that bit above anyway to help you understand the process. If your source is already anamorphic 720 x 480/576 avi/mpg2, setting it as 16:9 tells TMPGEnc what it's dealing with. Used with output set to 16:9, this tells TMPGEnc (or other software) not to crop & resize based on a 601 type 4:3 frame, just to encode and set the aspect flag correctly. A normal full-frame capture at 720 x 480/576 would be 4:3, so with output set to 16:9, a resize will be necessary.

As this sort of aspect conversion/display becomes more common, perhaps the most important issues is what video are you going to lose from cropping. Going the other way it's called Pan & Scan because you kept the most important parts of the video rather then cutting off each side equally. The potential advantage of cropping in a video editor is the same -- you get to choose what goes, what stays, rather then have close-ups missing a good portion of their heads. :P