Need some input on an aspect ratio problem on a DVD I burned

[gastrof]

A friend has a "show" he posts on the internet, and the other day I used aTube Catcher's screen recorder to get my own copy of the newest recording. (Then had to convert it from .wmv to .mpg.)

The recording was in 720x480.

I used AVStoDVD to set up a menu and so on, and ImgBurn to create the disc, but when I burned the DVD...

It wouldn't display correctly on the TV screen. There was a thin black line at the top of the picture, as if the 480 hadn't stretched the full length of the screen.

I went back and used AVIdemux to change the aspect ratio to true 4x3 (which I know you really shouldn't do) and made the picture 720x540.

I then used that .mpg with AVStoDVD and ImgBurn, and made a new DVD.

Played back without the black bar at the top.

Why would a 720x480 recording not stretch to fill the screen, top to bottom? What would make it not quite make it to the top when "stretching", and leave a black bar?

I mean, aren't all vids in NTSC normally 720x480?

I'm pretty sure the automatic settings on AVStoDVD took the 540 and made it 480 for the DVD.

Why would the original 480 leave a black bar, but the new one (made from 540) come out all right?

Any ideas?

[DB83]

Possibly your original capture/recording had square pixels as a result of the conversion (I do not see what program you used for this so maybe no AR flag set). AVStoDVD then converted this to proper 4:3 by adding a border top and bottom.

Your 720*540 with no borders is wrong as you now have a slightly stretched vertical.

Take a closer look at the original conversion process.

[gastrof]

No. 720x540 came out looking perfect.

There never were any "borders" on the video. The original picture reached to the very edges of the 720x480 preview screen (all four sides) in AVIdemux. I simply knew it was coming out bad so changed it to true 4x3 by making the height 540.

The resulting DVD playback was flawless and the aspect ratio was not stretched, but rather correct.

720x480 is NOT true 4x3. Your TV has to actually stretch the height to make it fit.

I simply did it before ImgBurn got ahold of it. (And since it controls the final results, it would have forced the 540 back to 480 before making the DVD.)

As for the original capture, I said it was done by aTubeCatcher.

By the way-
"square pixels"?

[DB83]

I am not looking for a lecture. I was trying to assist. You said your 720*480 did not look right. I was trying to tell you, IMHO why.

I am not concerned with TubeCatcher. Did that convert from wmv to mpg ? No. So what did you use and how did you do it ?.

720*480 is 3*2. Simply maths. But apply a 4:3 flag to it and it displays just like your 720*540 clip did. If the conversion did not have a flag I merely summised that Avs2dvd could not understand the soruce and 'made' it to a 4:3 by adding borders during the authoring stage. You did say that there were borders. Something added them.

'Imgburn controlling the final results' sure. And the moon is made of green cheese. But I am not about to waste my waking hours to explain this one.


BTW ALL NTSC dvds are 720*480. But you know that already. Even the 16:9 ones. Now go and look up non-square pixels.

[_MrC_]

DB83 has probably already correctly guessed (and explained) the issue. To double check, gastrof, could you post here the AVStoDVD project log file?



Bye

[gastrof]

I am not looking for a lecture. I was trying to assist. You said your 720*480 did not look right. I was trying to tell you, IMHO why.

I am not concerned with TubeCatcher. Did that convert from wmv to mpg ? No. So what did you use and how did you do it ?.

720*480 is 3*2. Simply maths. But apply a 4:3 flag to it and it displays just like your 720*540 clip did. If the conversion did not have a flag I merely summised that Avs2dvd could not understand the soruce and 'made' it to a 4:3 by adding borders during the authoring stage. You did say that there were borders. Something added them.

'Imgburn controlling the final results' sure. And the moon is made of green cheese. But I am not about to waste my waking hours to explain this one.


BTW ALL NTSC dvds are 720*480. But you know that already. Even the 16:9 ones. Now go and look up non-square pixels.

I didn't lecture you. I addressed your reply.

Again, I used aTubeCatcher to get the video off the internet, using its screen recorder feature. The resulting video was 720x480. No borders were added. I know this, because when I used AVIdemux to convert to 720x540, there was no cropping needed. (No black bars to remove.)

I did indeed use AVStoDVD with ImgBurn to produce the final results. Why do you question what I told you?

The first attempt was made using just the screen recording made by aTubeCatcher.

When this showed up with a black bar on the TV screen, I looked at the recording on my computer. It wasn't displaying in 4x3, but as 720x480, that is, a bit squashed. (By the way, doing the math, I get 4x2.667, not 4x2 for that.)

I then had to put AVIdemux into the mix, between the aTubeCatcher and AVStoDVD/ImgBurn step.

Using the 720x540 video, the results on the authored and burned DVD played out as true 4x3. I do know AVStoDVD/ImgBurn converted that video to 720x480 before burning the disc.

Since then, I've experimented with another video that was acting the same way when burned (black bar at the top of the screen), and use AVIdemux to re-encode it, still as 720x480.

That also came out looking correct (no black bar) after AVStoDVD/ImgBurn created the DVD.

The only thing I can now figure is that aTubeCatcher, whether directly downloading a video or using its screen capture feature, does not flag the vids as any aspect ratio at all, and they play out as whatever they are.

I don't know why even AVStoDVD/ImgBurn couldn't flag the videos as 4x3, but it seems AVIdemux did just that.

The problem is solved, but I am left wondering what's happening now with vids obtained thru aTubeCatcher (this never happened before), and why AVStoDVD/ImgBurn didn't force the DVD into true 4x3, since there is a setting for that there (just as there is with AVIdemux).

Oh well...

DB83?

Please, in the future, try not to get testy with someone just because what they're saying doesn't match what you expected.

You even went as far as to tell me you didn't care what the facts were on what I did, and denied my having taken the steps I took.

This makes interacting with you more than a little difficult. How can you help someone if you don't care what steps they took, or even claim they didn't take the steps they did?

[gastrof]

DB83 has probably already correctly guessed (and explained) the issue. To double check, gastrof, could you post here the AVStoDVD project log file?



Bye

I hope my reply to DB83 has added needed information, since as mentioned, I'm surprised AVIdemux was needed to flag for 4x3, since I thought AVStoDVD did that.

Anyway, I'll post the log file here after I've changed the show name, for reasons of anonimity.

[gastrof]

<5/12/2012 11:15:39 PM>
START PROCESS
<>
<5/12/2012 11:15:39 PM>
PROJECT SETTINGS
DVD Video Standard: NTSC
DVD Titles number: 1
DVD Size: 2879/4450 MB (65%)
DVD Output Setup: ISO UDF Image
DVD Label: InternetShow
DVD Menu: Static Menu
Output Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos
Delete Temp Process Files: Yes
Delete Working Files: Yes
Edit Command Parameters: No
Post Process Task: Show Progress Status window
PREFERENCES
MultiThread: 1
AVS Source Filter: A2DSource
AVS UpSize/DownSize Filter: Lanczos4Resize/Spline64Resize
PAL SpeedUp: 0
Video Resolution: 0
Video BitRate Min: 2500
Video BitRate Level 1: 6500
Video Profile Level 2: 4500
Video BitRate Max: 8500
Keep DVD Compliant Video: 1
AC3 Audio Encoder: 0
Force FFmpeg for Long Audio: 1
DVD Audio Format: 0
DVD Audio BitRate: 192
Keep DVD Compliant Audio: 1
Normalize Audio: 0
Auto Delay Audio: 1
DVD Audio Language (Primary): EN - English
DVD Audio Language (Secondary): EN - English
DVD Subs Language (Primary): EN - English
DVD Subs Language (Secondary): EN - English
DVD Subs Font: Tahoma 18pt (255,255,255)
Chapters Interval: 5
Use Source Chapters: 1
DVD Burning Drive: D: TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L632H DW30
DVD Burning Speed: 4x
Auto Erase DVD RW: 1
Save Log file: 1
Display errors messages: 1
Unload ActiveMovie library: 0
Adjust ffdshow mixer: 1
Save General Settings: 0
<>
<5/12/2012 11:15:39 PM>
TITLE 1 SOURCE FILES
Video: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow.d2v
Info: DGIndex - 2960 kbps - 720x540 - DAR 1.333 - 29.97 fps (CFR) - Progressive - 44:25 minutes - 79875 frames
Audio 1: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow T80 2_0ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3
Info: AC3 - 448 kbps - CBR - 2 ch - 48000 Hz - 44:25 minutes (0 ms delay) - External
[A2DInfo.avsi]
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<5/12/2012 11:15:39 PM>
AVISYNTH SCRIPT
Import("C:\Program Files\AVStoDVD\Lib\A2DSource.avsi")
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AVStoDVD\DGIndex\DGDecode.dll")
Video = MPEG2Source("C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow.d2v")
# Audio is frameserved by AviSynth just for Preview and Edit purposes.
Audio = A2DAudioSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow T80 2_0ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3", CacheFolder="C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp")
Video = Video.ConvertToYV12
Video = Video.Spline64Resize(720,480)
AudioDub(Video, Audio)
<>
<5/12/2012 11:15:39 PM>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: QuEnc CBR 1-pass
Target Video FileSize: 2700.4 MB
QuEnc Parameters: -i "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_In ternetShow_1.avs" -o "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow.m2v" -b 8500 -1 -hq -novbr -scene -trell -aspectratio 4:3 -nointerlaced -mpeg2mux noaudio -dc 10 -priority 5 -auto -close
<>
<5/12/2012 11:38:55 PM>
END VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Created File: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow.m2v (2700.5 MB)
OUTPUT VIDEO INFO: MPEG-2 Video - 8564 kbps - 720x480 - DAR 1.333 - 29.97 fps (CFR) - Progressive - 44:25 minutes - 79875 frames
<>
<5/12/2012 11:38:55 PM>
START AUDIO DEMUXING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
FFmpeg Parameters: -i "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow T80 2_0ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3" -acodec copy "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow_1.ToFix.ac3"
<>
<5/12/2012 11:39:18 PM>
END AUDIO ENCODING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
Created File: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow_1.ac3 (142.3 MB)
OUTPUT AUDIO INFO: AC3 - 448 kbps - CBR - 2 ch - 48000 Hz - 16 bit - 44:25 minutes (0 ms delay)
<>
<5/12/2012 11:39:18 PM>
START DVD MENU BUILDING OPERATIONS
DVD Menu settings:
Style: 0
Aspect Ratio: 0
Titles Format: 0
Template: Menu Shady
Max Titles Page: 12
Enable Play All: 0
Force Play All: 0
Background Audio: 0
Max Thumbs Row: 4
Thumb Image Source: 0
Thumb Frame Position: 10%
HL Frame Format: 0
HL Selection Color: 5
HL Play Color: 0
Menu Video BitRate: 6000 kbps
Motion Menu Duration: 15 seconds
Thumb Drop Shadow: 2
Play All Shadow: 2
Arrows Shadow: 0
<>
<5/12/2012 11:39:19 PM>
END DVD MENU BUILDING OPERATIONS
Created File (Menu Page 1): C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_MenuPage1.bmp (1 MB)
<>
<5/12/2012 11:39:19 PM>
START DVD AUTHORING OPERATIONS
BatchMux Parameters: -arglist "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Ba tchMux.ini"
BatchMux ini file:
-d "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0\VIDEO_TS"
-mxp "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Mu xMan.mxp"
-l "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Mu xMan.log"
-muxman "C:\Program Files\AVStoDVD\MuxMan"
-prio LOW
-palette "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Pa lette.txt"
-v "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow.m2v"
-vidmode 4:3
-a1 "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow_1.ac3"
-a1lang en
-cellfr "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow_Chapters.txt"
-progfr "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow_Chapters.txt"
-chapfr "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_InternetShow_Chapters.txt"
-SEG2v "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_MenuPage1.bmp"
-SEG2vidmode 4:3
-SEG2s1 "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0_Menu.sst"
-SEG2s1dmode LB
-SEG2hlmnu "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Me nuPage1_Buttons.mnu"
-SEG2hlcsm "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Hi ghlightScheme.csm
-hcn "C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\InternetShow_0_Ba tchMux.hcn"
<>
<5/12/2012 11:44:11 PM>
CHECK DVD SIZE
DVD Folder (actual) Size: 2901 MB
vs Estimated Size: 2879 MB -> 0.8% oversize
vs Assets Size: 2843.8 MB -> OK
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<5/12/2012 11:44:11 PM>
END DVD AUTHORING OPERATIONS
Created Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0 (2901 MB)
<>
<5/12/2012 11:44:12 PM>
START ISO IMAGE BUILDING OPERATIONS
ImgBurn (ISO) Parameters: /mode isobuild /buildmode imagefile /src "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0\VIDEO_TS" /dest "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0.iso" /volumelabel "InternetShow" /overwrite yes /noimagedetails /start /close
<>
<5/12/2012 11:47:04 PM>
END ISO IMAGE BUILDING OPERATIONS
Created File: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Videos\InternetShow_0.iso (2901.6 MB)
<>
<5/12/2012 11:47:04 PM>
Log file created by AVStoDVD Release 2.4.2
<>

[DB83]

I did not question what you did. I asked what you did. I must now assume, since you still will not confirm that you used avidemux to convert that wmv to mpeg before authoring with avstodvd. Noone is a mind-reader but to help we all need to understand every step of the process.

What I was questioning was you percieved ignorance in the function of imgburn. You said "I simply did it before ImgBurn got ahold of it. (And since it controls the final results....." If you do not get it than I am sorry for you.

BTW that log will not help in any way since it is using your fudge of a 720*540 source. _MrC_ really needed to see the effect of the program on the 720*480 original source. And someone really does need a new calculator if he accepts 720*540 as 4:3 but states 720*480 is not 3*2. You could also look at the properties of the original wmv. I am sure that you will not find 4:3 there either.

The solution has been given. You appear now to accept it. If I am correct in the use of avidemux in the conversion process that is what you need to look at to provide the proper AR flag BEFORE the authoring stage. The blame does not lie with avs2dvd.

[_MrC_]

Let's guess that original wmv is 720x480 with 3:2 display aspect ratio flag (actually no DAR flag set).

1. Load the wmv into AVStoDVD
2. See if DAR is reported as 1.5 (AVStoDVD takes this info from the source file itselft, thru MediaInfo)
3. If DAR=1.5, right click on the title, select 'Edit Source Title Info...'/'Video Display Aspect Ratio'
4. Insert 1.333 instead of 1.5

Voilà, no more black bars!



Bye