DISPLAY ASPECT RATIO - what the hey?

[Kooz]

Ok, i thought i had it sorted but obviously not. This may end up being long so bear with me please...

I'm ripping dvd to svcd ...

dvd2avi : a preview says source is 16:9 | 24fps | FILM | progressive

tmpegenc : using a 'NTSCfilm' then 'unlock' profiles
settings > video > mpeg2 | 480x480 | **AR** | 23.796fps | format : ntsc | encode mode : non-interlaced |
advanced > non-I/progressive | topfield first | SAR : 16:9 NTSC 525line |

ok, save the .tpr, vfapiconv to .avi, drop in cce with SAR 1:1

TWO tests - one with **AR** set at 1:1 and one set at 16:9 ONLY the AR was changed in tmpegenc, everything else left the same for all programs and settings

Output was on hdd, and played to check the encode ...

OUTPUT 1:1 - in windows media player, 1:1 looks correct BUT in dvd software its horizontally stretched.

OUTPUT 16:9 - in windows media player, 16:9 is horizontally stretched BUT in dvd software it looks correct.

pulldown.exe was used, and no changed noticed in all software - results same as above. I read somewhere here not to encode 3:2 pulldown with playback in tmpegenc, but to use pulldown.exe.

now 1. WTF up with that? Where am i going wrong? Or cant I play the movie with indentical results in WMP and dvd software until AFTER i burn the files on a svcd?

2. do i encode with interlace or non-interlace in this case, cos the source is progressive?

3. in tmpegenc, setting > video stream is the output i desire, right? setting > advanced is what the source is, right?

4. after reading shochans guide, i'm even more confused. do i have to modify the frame size so it's 480x360 or something???

[Truman]

Source aspect ratio depends on the source of cource.
Destination aspect ratio depends on your TV set, usually use DAR 4:3 display. Do not confuse DAR and resolution.

[Kooz]

gotcha. . .er no i dont :) whats the diff between ar and resolution?

i just ran tests with 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9

1:1 looks best in WMP, stretched in dvd software

4:3 looks right in both - and probably is

16:9 stretched in WMP, best in dvd software

... i think i'll be using 4:3 :)

i'm only playing on pc atm as i dont have standalone, so i dont even know if it all works on standalone yet.

do i still need to use pulldown? i thought that only converted frame rate?

[Truman]

http://www.doom9.org/aspectratios.htm

http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgencexplained.htm

3:2 pulldown when playback: This is used when you have a FILM source movie (23.976fps) to leave it 23.976 but have your decoder play it back at 29.976fps. (works great for ripping DVDs). when 3:2 pulldown is used it does this.. It takes four sequential video frames (A, B, C, D) from the FILM and are drawn on the video display as A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, where the 1 or 2 represents the field number within the frame

[Kooz]

so pulldown.exe is a good thing to use? i cant notice a difference ...

[Truman]

The maths is simple. 2000kbps @ 29.97 fps = 66.73 kbps / frame (avarage!!!Ignoring I, P or B.
2000kbps @23.976 = 83.42 --->better compression

[Kooz]

so it is a good thing :) math was never my strong point