Change PAR without reencoding, AVI file, XVID, H.263

[spyderrp7]

Hello and here is my first post on your awesome forum!
I have an AVI file, that plays on WMP in 4:3 PAR, while it is a 16:9 PAR movie.
I want to change the PAR of the AVI file, without reencoding it.
I tried using MPEG4 Modifier, but it doesn't make a difference at all.

From MPEG4 Modifier I get the following info for the AVI file:
Packed bitstream: Yes
QPel: No
GMC: No
Interlaced: No
Aspect ratio: Square pixels
Quant type: H.263
FourCC: XVID
User data: DivX503b1393p
XviD0050

Virtualdubmod shows the following info for the AVI file:
FourCC code: FourCC:XVID, XviD MPEG-4

And Avidemux shows the following info for the AVI file:
Codec 4CC: XVID
Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Frame Rate: 29.970fps
Image Size: 576x432



Is there any other program I could try to change the PAR other than the MPEG4 Modifier, without reencoding of course?

And finally if there is no solution to my problem, because of the AVI limitations, would you recommend converting the AVI to an MP4 or some other Container format?

[poisondeathray]

Welcome to the forum

You're referring to DAR, not PAR, correct ? You want it to display as 16:9 ?

maybe you have a player issue ? mpeg4modifier should work on any xvid/avi . Have you tried something else like vlc, mpchc, smplayer to rule out a playback configuration issue ?

what does mediainfo view=>text say about the source file, and mpeg4modifier processed file ?

[Baldrick]

WMP might ignore the DAR in avi files.

Have you tried play with vlc or mpchc?

[spyderrp7]

Hello poisondeathray! Thank you for your rapid answer!
Yes, my bad, it's DAR that I want to change. The PAR of the file is 1:1. But anyway changing the PAR wouldn't that change the DAR also?
Ok, just installed Mediainfo, and on the original file says 4:3 DAR:

General
Complete name : J:\DOWNLOADS\Video Programs\MPEG4Modifier145\XYZ.avi
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
File size : 702 MiB
Duration : 58mn 45s
Overall bit rate : 1 669 Kbps
Writing application : VirtualDubMod 1.5.10.2 (build 2540/release)
Writing library : VirtualDubMod build 2540/release

Video
ID : 0
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Advanced Simple@L5
Format settings, BVOP : 2
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Muxing mode : Packed bitstream
Codec ID : XVID
Codec ID/Hint : XviD
Duration : 58mn 45s
Bit rate : 1 465 Kbps
Width : 576 pixels
Height : 432 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.197
Stream size : 616 MiB (88%)
Writing library : XviD 1.2.1 (UTC 2008-12-04)

Audio
ID : 1
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : 2000
Duration : 58mn 45s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 80.7 MiB (12%)
Alignment : Split accross interleaves
Interleave, duration : 33 ms (1.00 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration : 500 ms

While on the processed file (by MPEG4Modifier) I get the following info:

General
Complete name : J:\DOWNLOADS\Video Programs\MPEG4Modifier145\XYZ (16-9).avi
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
File size : 702 MiB
Duration : 58mn 45s
Overall bit rate : 1 669 Kbps

Video
ID : 0
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Advanced Simple@L5
Format settings, BVOP : 2
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Muxing mode : Packed bitstream
Codec ID : XVID
Codec ID/Hint : XviD
Duration : 58mn 45s
Bit rate : 1 465 Kbps
Width : 576 pixels
Height : 432 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.197
Stream size : 616 MiB (88%)
Writing library : XviD 1.2.1 (UTC 2008-12-04)

Audio
ID : 1
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : 2000
Duration : 58mn 45s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 80.7 MiB (12%)
Alignment : Split accross interleaves
Interleave, duration : 33 ms (1.00 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration : 500 ms

Welcome to the forum

You're referring to DAR, not PAR, correct ? You want it to display as 16:9 ?

maybe you have a player issue ? mpeg4modifier should work on any xvid/avi . Have you tried something else like vlc, mpchc, smplayer to rule out a playback configuration issue ?

what does mediainfo view=>text say about the source file, and mpeg4modifier processed file ?

[spyderrp7]

Oops , just checked that with Divx Player, the new video file (converted from mpeg4modifier), does play at 16:9 DAR!!
So mpeg4modifier did the job, it's just that the WMP can't play it normally.
But since I play all my videos with WMP, I'd like to find another workaround to make that happen.
Which is the best program to convert the AVI to MP4 container (without reencoding) and also configure the DAR of the MP4?
I believe that WMP does play MP4 files.

[hello_hello]

If you're not fussed about the format, MKVMergeGUI is quite fast at remuxing, and it'll open AVIs and remux them as MKV while letting you change the aspect ratio along the way. I always use MKV rather than MP4 as it'll hold more audio/video types than MP4 and MKVMergeGUI makes playing with MKV files very easy. MP4 kind of sucks..... in my opinion..... and none of the MP4 remuxers I've tried are as much fun to play with as MKVMergeGUI.

I've no idea if WMP can play MKV files as I can't imagine contemplating the idea of considering the possibility of ever using it, but if you install the Haali media splitter it should. I gotta ask..... what is it about WMP that makes you like it?

[jagabo]

So mpeg4modifier did the job, it's just that the WMP can't play it normally.

It's not up to WMP to adjust the DAR. It's the filters that are used for playback. Check your DirectShow AVI file reader/splitter and Divx/Xvid decoder and make sure they are passing the PAR/DAR information properly. Use GraphStudio to see what filters are used.

[spyderrp7]

Thanks hello_hello. MKV is the ultimate container for me, but I believe it's not working very well with WMP, so it's a no go.
Jagabo: I prefer much more WMP to other players just because of the explorer integration and the amazing way playlist works. For example VLC and Divx Player are much better players, but when it comes to playlists they are much of a hassle for no reason.

[jagabo]

Thanks hello_hello. MKV is the ultimate container for me, but I believe it's not working very well with WMP, so it's a no go.

All you have to do is install an MKV reader/splitter like LAV Filter or Haali.

Jagabo: I prefer much more WMP to other players just because of the explorer integration and the amazing way playlist works. For example VLC and Divx Player are much better players, but when it comes to playlists they are much of a hassle for no reason.

I didn't tell you to use another player. I gave you way to diagnose your problem.

[spyderrp7]

I used Haali in the past and I really didn't like it. It loaded my system with lots of codecs, most of them that I didn't use them ever. And the configuration of those codecs was a big mess. From then I prefer to play MKV files with Divx Player. It is simple. I like that.
I have no idead on using GraphStudio. Is it a simple task or does it get complex?

[jagabo]

Haali doesn't install any codecs.

[spyderrp7]

I'm sorry , I confused Haali with "Media Player Codec Pack".

[hello_hello]

Try MPC-HC if you want something different to play MKVs. It has a playlist function but to be honest I've never used it. It'll play all the common formats "out of the box" without the need for additional codecs or splitters etc and it's a pretty good player, but as I said if you install the Haali splitter, WMP should play MKV files just fine.

[spyderrp7]

Thanks hello_hello!
I'm satisfied with Divx Player, no need to get another one. And if I wanted a more sophisticated player I think I would end up with VLC.