Attach of the Killer Eggheads!!! Help!!!

[hobojester]

Yup, I'm somewhat of a newbie (haven't ripped in almost 2 years) and I'm trying out TMPGEnc which compared to what was happening 2 years ago, is a dream. The problem is that when I view the movie (both on my monitor and on the regular DVD player) I get the actors as eggheads. Any suggestions? Thx (especially if you've seen this question a million times!)

[Sefy]

I'm presuming you mean they are stretched ? that usually happens if your DVD is Wide Screen and you encoded it as Full Screen (eg: without the black bars) so what you need to do in TMPGEnc is go to the Settings - Advanced and make sure that you select 16:9 Display and Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2).

That does the trick

[hobojester]

Yes, sorry, I mean stretched vertically. Just a quick rundown, I used Sefy's Classical Newbie DVD Conversion Guide first w/SmartRipper, then DVD2AVI to make the project, then to TMPGEnc. I follow the pictures for the guide esp. in TMPGEnc as closely as is presented.

In TMPGEnc I tried doing what you said (sefy) and it doesn't seem to make any difference. I've tried loading differnet templates (default NTSC (I'm in the US) pinnoy's, tibro's) and that doesnt' seem to make a difference, I still get egghead people. Yes, I'm ripping a Wide Screen. Is there a better template out there, or better software? I really appreciate your help!

[Sefy]

Unfortunatly loading a Template will not set the Wide Screen, it only sets the Standard, if you want to fix that, you MUST do it manually, do as I said, after you load a Template of your choice (doesn't matter which ever you choose), go to the Settings / Advanced and set to:
16:9 Display
Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)

This WILL fix your problem when you start encoding.

[hobojester]

Sefy,

I appreciate your patience with me. I could have sworn I've tried that, but alas, when I get home tonight after work I'll give it another shot and see what happens.

Is it okay to encode about 30 or 40 seconds just to check it out and make sure it's working, or does it need to go an entire encode to make sure it's working properly?

-=- HoboJeSTeR

[Sefy]

If we don't have patience, we don't learn
Yes, you can use the Source Range (Settings - Advanced) to select a short range from the movie for encoding, just remember:
First load the Template you want
THEN change the Display and Aspect!

[hobojester]

Sefy -=-

Okay man, here's the update. First of all, thx for helping me out.

Okay, I went home and tried something first before I followed your instructions (this is for en1 who also may be reading this). I re-did the DVD2AVI part in your Classical part, but this time I paid attention to the stats more closely. I don't know if it really matters or not, but I did notice that in the Video Type portion of the Stats Window it said 'FILM' (unlike your tutorial saying NTSC) and in the last minute or two it changed to 'FILM 99%'. I did also notice that in the stats window it does say my Aspect Ration is 16:9. Anyway, then I went into TMPGEnc and I used the standard 'Video CD NTSC Film' template, and then followed your instructions. I do have to say, that I'm not sure if I used simply the 16:9 display, I think I used the 16:9 NTSC display setting. Anyway, point being, I encoded 30 seconds of now memorized film from encoding over and over and over, and it is actually quite amazing at not only how good it looks, but the freakin cone heads are gone!!!!

So thx a ton for your help, I really appreciate. To be honest, in between posts w/you I've tried other things like the DVDx, and another one for DiVX, and they really paled in comparison to what your guide has brought me to see, so thx for that guide and for your help. Tonight is now dedicated to encoding this thing correctly, and then tomorrow I'll find a DVD that's not Wide Screen and give it a shot. Anything different to watch out for on a non-wide screen?

Anyway, thx again for your help, this rocks!

-=- HoboJeSTeR[/img]

[hobojester]

Sefy -=-

One last thing: Do you recommend a good guide for DiVX ripping, or have you put out one? So far following your guide has provided me with the best results in my VCD, and I'd like to see what you'd recommend for DiVX. Thx man, really appreciate it.

-=- HoboJeSTeR

[Sefy]

hobojester, i'm glad to hear I was able to assist you regarding the Wide Screen issue, as for Full Screen, I simply change from 16:9 to 4:3 or just leave it as how TMPGEnc detects it (usually 704x???).

I am currently working on a v2.0 of the All-In-One Guide, but it will be totaly diffrent in appearance, cause I want it to be alot more understandable and easier to use then the previous guides, although it might take awhile to get it out.

As for DivX, this is the one thing I won't be able to assit you with, I don't like DivX, I find it useless for my purposes, it is not very portable (or at all), so I've never done any or paid attention to it. sorry!

[hobojester]

Sefy -=-

Thx for the reply, and looking forward to reading over you new guide when it comes out.

One last question that hopefully you can answer for me. I'd like to now put in chapters into my VCD, but I don't know which one will work the best from your list. Which one do you personally recommend going along w/your all-in-one guide?

Thanks!

-=- HoboJeSTeR

[poopyhead]

hobojester, i'm not sure you can put chapters in VCDs...i believe only SVCDs....

[hobojester]

Aaahh... didn't know that. Is this for sure? poopyhead, do you usually rip SVCD's or VCD's?

Thx

[1576]

Sefy, you have just answered the question that's been bugging me for months. Thanks.
It's all to do with the advanced tab in TMPEGEnc.
For ages I have had the stretched output from dvd2avi and have had to physically resize by guesswork the output in TMPEGenc ( which is never consistent). Thanks again.
1576

[poopyhead]

hobojester, i personally rip to SVCDs to get the near DVD quality. VCDs only comparable to VHS quality.

[Sefy]

poopyhead, all my DVD rip's are VCD's and 90% of them have Chapters, it's in the standard, as for quality, I don't see any diffrence on the TV, so I don't want to spend time on trying to optimize a SVCD, and I don't like getting up in the middle (or quarter) of the movie just to change a CD, that reminds me of Cinema's here in Israel, ruining the continues effect of a movie.

If you want DVD quality, buy the DVD, I have my VCD's for backing up and portability, but this isn't the place to argue who's better, i'm just countering your SVCD remark, you have your reasons and I have mine

1576, i'm glad I was helpful, good luck with your future encoding!

[hobojester]

Sefy -=-

Thx for all your help and replies. 2 quick questions:

1) I started another movie (Remeber the Titans) and I was trying to create the .D2V file and extract the audio, but nothing came out. Now, something I noticed that might make a difference is on Audio Format field mine says DTS instead of DD. Any suggestions with bringing out the Audio from that?

2) What is YOUR personally recommended program for making/putting in the chapters into VCD files. I want to follow in your footsteps and put those into my VCD's.

Your help is, as always, GREATLY appreciated!

-=- HoboJeSTeR

[poopyhead]

Sefy,

heh...that's news to me about VCD chapters being standard...my bad

heh..as for the quality...i guess we have different uses...mine is for DVD replacements (i'm not gonna spend $20-$25 each on the 300+ dvds i've ripped so far)