aspect ratio converter

[rw1954]

Can anyone recommend a free, safe, downloadable program for converting video aspect ratios? I want to pillarbox some 4:3 clips so I can edit them into a 16:9 video.

[LigH.de]

A long time ago, there was PARanoia; not sure if that is still able to run on modern Windows versions...

[jagabo]

Why do you need to convert? Any editor should be able to pillarbox 4:3 sources when you import them into a 16:9 project.

[LigH.de]

Well, a little deskewing can be suitable. Old 4:3 SD clips are often anamorphic, modern 16:9 HD video instead usually has 1:1 SAR. It can be handled with basic ratio maths. A pocket calculator can be sufficient. There may be more convenient software, though...

Am I guessing too wildly? The question lacks details.

[rw1954]

LigH.de: I browsed for a compiler called PARanoia but found nothing. I 'm not familiar with terms like deskewing, anamorphic, SD and SAR, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

jagabo: The editor I'm using is VideoReDo, which cannot change aspect ratios or process videos with different aspect ratios. This is not a problem I expect to have again, so rather than purchase a different editor, I'd prefer to just pillarbox the 4:3 videos and edit them directly into the main 16:9 video, so VideoReDo can compile them.

[davexnet]

Try Shotcut, pretty easy for beginners to NLE's to get going :
https://www.videohelp.com/software/Shotcut

[jagabo]

The editor I'm using is VideoReDo, which cannot change aspect ratios or process videos with different aspect ratios.

So it's not a full featured NLE. Handbrake can pillarbox and save. Here's an example for an NTSC 4:3 source:


[Attachment 65017 - Click to enlarge]

[Alwyn]

VideoRedo:
On the Output Profile screen, choose Aspect correction>Custom Crop and Border

Click the Cropping and Resizing button, then choose the Standard to Pillar Box preset.

Result: 4:3 with pillar boxes = to 16:9.

And of course batch 'em all in VRD.

So it's not a full featured NLE.

Correct, it's a "redoer".

[rw1954]

jagabo: I tried using Handbrake, and it seems the program can only create MP4 files, which I can't use. VideoReDo will only accept .mpg and .vob files.

Alwyn: I have VideoReDo Plus, and it does not have an Output Profile screen. It has an Output File Options window for choosing basic video and audio formats, but there's no way to change the aspect ratio.

davexnet: I downloaded and installed Shotcut, opened the 4:3 file I want to convert and adjusted the settings accordingly (resolution 720 x 480, aspect ration 16:9), which added the pillarbox, and it looks good, but I haven't been able to export the converted video as either an .mpg (mpeg-2) or a .vob file. The results are either unplayable or flawed (no sound, wrong extension, etc.) When I used the .mpg settings, the program creates an mpeg-1 file that works fine, but the video I want to merge this file with is mpeg-2, and VideoReDo won't combine them. I tried other settings, but the only exported file that's worked was mpeg-1. Any suggestions?

[ProWo]

Use clever FFmpeg-GUI.
Load your file, click main, click video conversion, click resize, set Pad Width and Pad Height according your desired target video (in my example target is 1280x720, source was 960x720 (4:3)), select the desired encoder and click convert.


[Attachment 65024 - Click to enlarge]

If done, click multiplex, the new created videostream is shown in green, click multiplex.
If done, you have a new 16:9 video with black bars left and right.

[rw1954]

Prowo: I downloaded FFmpeg-GUI and tried to install it, but I can't get the program to work. It says I need to download more files (FFmpeg, FFprobe and FFplay), but when I click on the link it just takes me back to the same download page, and those files are not available for download.

[ProWo]

Download ffmpeg here in the software section

[davexnet]

It would be useful for the OP to state his source resolution and format.
In fact this info should have been included in the first post

[rw1954]

ProWo: What about FFprobe and FFplay? Do I need those too?

davexnet: As I said in the first post, the source is 4:3. I didn't know that the format mattered, or I would've mentioned it. All the files I'm dealing with are .mpg (MPEG-2). VideoReDo can also work with .mpg (MPEG-1) files, but it can't combine MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 (just as it can't combine different aspect ratios). It also works with .vob files (which can be combined with either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, but not both).
Shotcut seems like it can do the job. I was able to pillarbox the 4:3 video, but I haven't been able to export it. I did manage to export he file as .mpg (MPEG-1), which looks good, but unfortunately with this project I can only use .mpg (MPEG-2) or .vob files. I assume there's a way to export the converted file as either .mpg (MPEG-2) or .vob, but nothing I've tried has worked, and I can't figure what I'm doing wrong. Any advice?

[ProWo]

Yes

[davexnet]

davexnet: As I said in the first post, the source is 4:3. I didn't know that the format mattered, or I would've mentioned it. All the files I'm dealing with are .mpg (MPEG-2). VideoReDo can also work with .mpg (MPEG-1) files, but it can't combine MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 (just as it can't combine different aspect ratios). It also works with .vob files (which can be combined with either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, but not both).
Shotcut seems like it can do the job. I was able to pillarbox the 4:3 video, but I haven't been able to export it. I did manage to export he file as .mpg (MPEG-1), which looks good, but unfortunately with this project I can only use .mpg (MPEG-2) or .vob files. I assume there's a way to export the converted file as either .mpg (MPEG-2) or .vob, but nothing I've tried has worked, and I can't figure what I'm doing wrong. Any advice?

Start the project as new, and the first thing to do is to set the video mode (making sure to set "Pal" or "NTSC" appropriately).
Then add your source and export

[rw1954]

ProWo: Where can I download FFProbe and FFplay?

davexnet: Here's what happens with Shotcut... Everything is fine until I try to export. If I select the MPEG format, it creates an .mpg file, but it's MPEG-1. If I select the mpeg2video format, it creates an .m2v file. If I select the VOB format, it creates a .vob file, but there' no sound. I don't know what else to try.

[davexnet]

I'm runnning the latest beta, not sure if there s any difference
https://github.com/mltframework/shotcut/releases/download/v22.05.23/shotcut-win64-220523.exe

[rrats]

VirtualDub2

[davexnet]

VirtualDub2

vdub2 doesn't create mpeg-2 files

[rw1954]

I found a solution! I have a converter that will change .avi files into .mpg (MPEG-2) files, so I tried exporting the pillarboxed video from Shotcut using the .avi format, and it worked! Then all I had to do was convert it to MPEG-2, and problem solved! Thanks, davexnet and everyone else who offered advice! I love this web site!

[davexnet]

I found a solution! I have a converter that will change .avi files into .mpg (MPEG-2) files, so I tried exporting the pillarboxed video from Shotcut using the .avi format, and it worked! Then all I had to do was convert it to MPEG-2, and problem solved! Thanks, davexnet and everyone else who offered advice! I love this web site!

As long as you can tolerate the qualty loss of two encodes Vs. one -
hopefully you used a lossless intermediate then there's no issue

[jagabo]

ProWo: Where can I download FFProbe and FFplay?

They're usually included with ffmpeg. The archive downloaded from this site includes them.


[Attachment 65036 - Click to enlarge]

[pepegot1]

Try Adobe Cloud Express. It's free and might do want you want. Google it. This might work: https://express.adobe.com/sp/