Xvid to DVD with aspect ratio intact?

[StratPlaya]

I have an Xvid video file with an aspect ratio of 2.37 to 1. I normally use Main Concept to convert my DV AVI video to DVD format but I'd like to convert the Xvid file to DVD format while maintaining the aspect ratio. I can convert to MP2 and keep the ratio the same but then Ulead DVD Workshop 2 wants to change it back to 4:3. The best I can do at this point is to go with a 16:9 DVD compliant output but the characters look a bit skinny.

Would I need another DVD authoring utility to generate a DVD from an MP2 file that is not really DVD compliant since the source is 2.37:1?

Thanks,
SP

[manono]

Hi-

Would I need another DVD authoring utility to generate a DVD from an MP2 file that is not really DVD compliant since the source is 2.37:1?

By MP2 I take it you mean MPEG-2? The answer is, yes, if it's not DVD compliant, then you'll have to encode it yet again, a waste of time and quality. Why not do it right the first time? One way (and the best way), is to frameserve into your encoder using an Avisynth script file with the resizing done in it. Here's the FulciLives guide to using FitCD for generating an .avs for your encoder:

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic296341.html#1487285

[StratPlaya]

Thanks for the reply manono.

I tried FitCD but couldn't get it to work with Main Concept MPEG encoder. I tried a multitude of settings. The only output I would get was some small unreadable text that would appear when I opened the AVS file in Main Concept.

I then downloaded DivxtoDVD and it was able to produce the VIDEO_TS folder.

Thanks,
SP

[manono]

The only output I would get was some small unreadable text that would appear when I opened the AVS file in Main Concept.

Probably some red writing on a black background. Open your script in VDub(Mod) and get a readable error message next time. It's a good idea to do that anyway before sending to your encoder, to make sure the script is OK.

[StratPlaya]

The only output I would get was some small unreadable text that would appear when I opened the AVS file in Main Concept.

Probably some red writing on a black background. Open your script in VDub(Mod) and get a readable error message next time. It's a good idea to do that anyway before sending to your encoder, to make sure the script is OK.

Are you sure I should open the AVS file in VirtualDubMod or should it be in AVISynth? VDM doesn't really have an option (that I can find) to open just a script.

Thanks,
SP

[45tripp]

yes.
just drag the avs file and drop into vdubmod

[manono]

Yep, or File->Open Video File. It's seen as a regular video file, like some kind of an AVI.

[StratPlaya]

OK. At first I was getting errors when I tried to open the AVS file in VDM related to AC3ACM codecs so I downloaded and installed the codec and now I can open it in VDM.

If I can open the script file in VDM without errors does that mean my AVS script is good?

SP

[manono]

Yes, that's what it means. Main Concept should be able to handle it now. You might also scroll around to different places to make sure it looks OK. Don't worry that the people no longer look "normal" It's no longer 1:1, as was the original AVI, but either 4:3 or 16:9 (anamorphic), depending on which you're using in the script and in the MPEG-2 encode.

Also, you mentioned the AC3ACM error. That means the audio is still in the AVI and the script. It's the usual practice to either disable or remove entirely the audio, and handle it separately, bringing it back together with the video during the authoring. I don't use MainConcept, and don't know what DVD compliant audio it creates, or if it's good with audio. If you already have AC3 audio (?) in the AVI that you want to use untouched, then disable it in the script like so:

AVISource("C:\Path\To\Movie.avi",false)#false disables the audio

That way the encoder never sees it. You can also demux it from the AVI for use during the authoring.

[StratPlaya]

Thanks Manono. I finally was able to load the AVS file in Main Concept and encode to DVD compliant output. Here are the settings I used to future reference if someone else gets stuck using the MC MPEG encoder.

For FitCd when the source is Xvid:
Colorspace: YUY2
Source Aspect: 1:1
Crop: None
select YUY2-output box for AVI Synth script

In Main Concept:
Click the video source and open your AVS script
In the MPEG type select DVD. That should default to audio mode LPCM
Click the details button
Click Crop & Scale
Select the scale settings that your source video has. In my case I had to adjust the height from 480 to 303. If you don't adjust the video here it will revert back to 720x480.
Click OK
Click OK
Click Convert

Hope this helps others.

Thanks,
SP

[Alex_ander]

In my case I had to adjust the height from 480 to 303. If you don't adjust the video here it will revert back to 720x480.

Are you resizing in encoder?? Then numbers are incorrect, for your 2.35:1 video FitCD would give you like 360 (not 303, scaling is performed in MPEG pixels in MC) and add horizontal borders (60+60) to the script. Then encoding (full screen in encoder, no further resizing) with 16:9 setting would give correct AR (remember that at playback 720 will stretch to 853).

[StratPlaya]

720 / 304 = 2.36:1 ratio.

I inadvertently wrote 303 for the height. It should be 304.

My DVD complaint MPEG2 output was correct with a 2.36:1 aspect ratio.

Thanks,
SP

[Alex_ander]

It would be OK if you used those numbers for divx or xvid (aspect ratio follows directly from pixel numbers). For DVD MPEGs it is different: e.g. you watch 4:3 videos without any borders but pixel ratio is 3:2 at this (720:480). 720 is just number of pixels stored in file for a TV line; on display the number of TV lines remains 480 (it comes from analog TV standard) and horizontal size is adjusted either for 4:3 or for 16:9 AR (720 become 640 or 853 and the latter number should be used to check what you'll actually see).