How do I convert 704 x 288 xvid file?

[pokes]

I have an xvid file that is 704 x 288. When I try to play it back with wmp, the image looks squished. I tried encoding it DVD using Tmpgenc's standard DVD template and the result was the same, a squished image. How can I correct this? If i want to encode to DVD, I assume I have to resize with virtualdub and frameserve, but what dimensions should I use?

[manono]

Hi-

Is there a chance you can post a pic of the video? Something that shows the bad aspect well, perhaps even something that's supposed to be round, like a sun, moon, or ball? I have an idea what happened, but would hate to send you on a wild goose chase. Also, how about a GSpot pic so we can see its properties? If this is a well known movie, would you mind giving the name? That might help in figuring the AR it's supposed to have.

[pokes]

Here's a pic from the video:


Gspot:


The film is called "A Real Friend." It's not well known.

Tx.

[celtic_druid]

Looks like it is supposed to be 16:9. Whoever encoded it didn't know what they were doing. Vertical resolution is more important than horizontal, yet they stretched it horizontally rather than vertically (as on anamorphic DVD's).

I would suggest that you try 16:9/1.78 and see how it looks.

[pokes]

I would suggest that you try 16:9/1.78 and see how it looks.

Exactly how would I do that? I assume by resizing in vdub, then frameserving to tmpgenc? But how do I determine the right dimensions? As a test, I tried resizing to 576x288 and it seemed to look ok, but I can't be certain. Sorry, but I'm no expert.

[manono]

I think what I suspected is true, and as celtic_druid said, whoever did this didn't know what he was doing. I think the vertical resolution was just cut in half, with maybe some cropping of black on the left and right sides (or maybe not). I use AviSynth (as should you). My script for the picture alone is:

ImageSource("I:\Test\Pic\Test.jpg")
Lanczos4Resize(624,352)

You can do the same in VDub, resizing it to 624x352 or some similar 1.78:1 ratio resolution. If it's really 1.78:1 or thereabouts, as seems to be the case, your 576x288 resolution is off slightly.

[pokes]

Thanks, it looks about right. But can I ask how you determined that 624x352 was the right dimensions?

[Soopafresh]

Aspect ratio calculators help a lot, but pretty soon you'll just remember those magic numbers in your brain.

[manono]

Yes, my method was similar, sort of. I first made the script for 704x576. I doubled 288 to bring it back to 576, following my hunch that some idiot had just cut the PAL vertical resolution in half. I opened my script in GKnot, went to the Resolution Tab, set the Input Pixel Aspect Ratio to PAL 16:9, and checked various resolutions for low Aspect Error. 624x352 worked well, so I changed the resolution in the script to 624x352. Then I opened that script in VDubMod and took a picture.

As Soopafresh's pic shows, 592x336 also works well to resize without doing additional cropping, as do 656x368 and 688x384.

[celtic_druid]

16*352/9 = 625.78 and the closest number divisible by 16 is 624. You don't need any special calculators or anything to work that out.

TMPGEnc can do resizing itself, however I would still use AVISynth since it is faster. You would need to resize to DVD resolution though. Perhaps leave it 704 and pad for overscan though?

[manono]

Oh yeah, he really wants to make a DVD out of it, doesn't he? Then he can skip that 1:1 AVI resizing and go right to DVD resolution, 704x576 or 720x576, perhaps with black added to the sides to pad it out from 704, and encode for 16:9.

[Forum Troll]

The retail DVD is available at this site: http://www.sazuma.com/details.php?dcd_id=135794

[jagabo]

In Canada resize to 704x480 and encode as 16:9 NTSC DVD. You can do this directly with TMPGEnc although, as noted earlier, AVISynth's LanczosResize() will do a better job of resizing and is faster. You'll also have to consider how you do the frame rate conversion.

[pokes]

The retail DVD is available at this site: http://www.sazuma.com/details.php?dcd_id=135794

Have Sazuma cleaned up their act? The last time I ordered DVDs from them (early 2000s), they took well over 6 months to deliver despite their claims that the items were in stock. Needless to say, I've been reluctant ever since.

[pokes]

In Canada resize to 704x480 and encode as 16:9 NTSC DVD. You can do this directly with TMPGEnc although, as noted earlier, AVISynth's LanczosResize() will do a better job of resizing and is faster. You'll also have to consider how you do the frame rate conversion.

I have a multi-system player, so no PAL to NTSC conversion necessary.