Letterboxed 16:9?

[eNoize]

I've never experienced this before and have not been able to find anyone that can help. I'm hoping someone here can.

After ripping is complete via DVDShrink, the VOB file looks stretched, like the original 16:9 information has been letterboxed (black bars on top and bottom are twice the normal size). But when I click on the IFO and BUP files, the picture goes back to the proper 16:9 format. Need some help on to correct this and use the properly formatted VOB file to author a completely new DVD and/or convert to AVC MPEG-4.

Thanks.

[FulciLives]

Everything on a commercial NTSC DVD has a resolution of 720x480 but 4:3 looks almost normal (actually it should have a slight fat and wide look though subtle) whereas 16x9 anamorphic widescreen will have the opposite look and be rather noticeable (in that everyone will be tall and skinny looking).

So I think you are just maybe seeing the "raw" frame (without it being resized for proper viewing) and getting confused as a result.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[eNoize]

Well, the original material (meaning the DVD I'm ripping) is actually in 16:9 format, so the VOB file looks like it has been squished with everyone looking short and fat.

But if I understand you correctly, when authoring a new disc the VOB file should correct itself, right? Using Nero, btw, and it shows as the file will be recorded incorrectly.

Thanks for the help

[manono]

My take is that the VOBs are encoded as 4:3, but the IFOs say to play it as 16:9, so when played as a DVD it looks normal. You can confirm the 4:3 part by opening a VOB in DGIndex and running the preview, or by opening a VOB in GSpot. You can confirm the 16:9 of the IFOs by sticking the DVD in the DVD-ROM and opening DVD Decrypter set for IFO Mode and having a look in the Stream Processing Tab. Or by opening the DVD in PGCEdit and having a look in Domain Streams Attributes.

Need some help on to correct this and use the properly formatted VOB file to author a completely new DVD and/or convert to AVC MPEG-4.

What's to correct? It plays properly as a DVD doesn't it? I think DVD Patcher can change VOBs from 4:3 to 16:9, but it's not really necessary, I don't think. Who plays VOBs anyway, when you can just as easily play it as a DVD? If you're planning on reencoding it then you can reencode it as 16:9. If doing a resize to 1:1, treat it as if it's 16:9 for the purposes of the resize.

[45tripp]

Who plays VOBs anyway

people do actually..

[eNoize]

I use the VOB files to edit and chapter purposes and have Nero Express automatically convert to MPEG-2

Using IFOedit, the files show as 16:9; but for some reason when I play VOB on Nero Showtime, the picture fits from side to side but appears compressed from top and bottom (meaning, an extra black bar on top and on the bottom).
All I want to do is simple remove those extra black bars, which appear like letterboxing on a 16:9 format file.

I will try as manono suggested and see how it works.

thanks again for the help, it's much appreciated.

[guns1inger]

Try using something that works instead of Nero. MPC, VLC or The KM Player are all far better and more accurate than Nero Showtime. Use VOB2MPG to extract mpg contents from the VOB file, rather than Nero Express - no re-encoding, no quality loss, no wasted time.

Finally - DVD Shrink does not touch the aspect ratio when it rips, so if it is wrong, it was always wrong.

[eNoize]

Well, using DGIndex and GSpot, the files are indeed 16:9 but in something called Pan Wide Anamorphic (or something like that).

The material I'm working with was originally recorded in the 1950s and the OAR is probably just throwing Nero off. Using the programs guns1inger recommended, the VOB files play just fine. All I need is another program that won't have any problems with the files to make my DVD.

Any recommendations?

Thanks for all the help.

[manono]

Well, using DGIndex and GSpot, the files are indeed 16:9...

Oh, so both the VOBs and the IFOs are 16:9? Then the fault is, as guns1inger said, Nero's.

All I want to do is simple remove those extra black bars...

Again, if it plays well when using real players, then the fault is Nero's. It's adding black bars which aren't part of the VOBs themselves. You don't see them when opening the VOB(s) in DGIndex, do you? If you don't, then they were never part of the VOBs.

All I need is another program that won't have any problems with the files to make my DVD.

I don't understand. Isn't it a DVD to begin with? If you're compressing it down to a smaller size, the best program for that is DVD-RB.

[eNoize]

I don't understand. Isn't it a DVD to begin with? If you're compressing it down to a smaller size, the best program for that is DVD-RB.

Sorry, you're right that is a bit confusing. What I meant was recommendations for any authoring tools that shouldn't have problems with the OAR of the VOB files or can I use an authoring tool that will use the IFO and BUP files (which for play at the proper OAR, but Nero doesn't use them).

I'm still a bit of n00b and willing to learn more.

Thanks for all the help.

[manono]

What I meant was recommendations for any authoring tools that shouldn't have problems with the OAR of the VOB

How about anything that doesn't have "Nero" as part of the name. I still don't understand, though. The DVD itself plays fine doesn't it, when being played as a DVD, like with PowerDVD or somesuch, and in your standalone DVD player (and not anything Nero)?

And are you really talking about authoring or about reencoding? Are you trying to shrink the size? If so, then DVD-Rebuilder is still the best for a 1-click and easy to use app. Many people like DVD Shrink as an even easier but somewhat inferior solution.

If the DVD itself plays fine in the standalone, I still don't understand why you're trying to do anything at all with it.