Aspect Ratios

[thanser]

I guess I don't understand something here. I make an SVCD MPEG file, which is 480x480. In any typical media player it displays at 480x480 - why is that? What happened to my 4:3 aspect ratio? Why 480x480?

If I play this same file in PowerDVD, it displays in the 4:3 ratio, but much larger than 480, that's for sure. Why is that? I want it to play at 100%, not enlarged.

I've yet to burn an entire SVCD, just test the MPEG files. Because MPEG will play on either platform, I thought the MPEG files would run in the default system media player, like Windows Media Player.

Does an SVCD require software such as PowerDVD to run, or not?

Thanks, and Happy Holidays.

[doot]

The vertical lines are interlaced so you require double to get the 240 vertical lines. I get the same when I play back in win media player but is ok when played with PowerDVD or my home DVD player.

[vitualis]

I guess I don't understand something here. I make an SVCD MPEG file, which is 480x480. In any typical media player it displays at 480x480 - why is that? What happened to my 4:3 aspect ratio? Why 480x480?

Because your typical media player doesn't understand the concept of "display aspect ratio" and cannot correctly adjust for it.

If I play this same file in PowerDVD, it displays in the 4:3 ratio, but much larger than 480, that's for sure. Why is that? I want it to play at 100%, not enlarged.

That's just one of PowerDVD's quirks. It correctly adjusts for aspect ratio, but it also tends to enlarge the video (it does the same for VCD).

I've yet to burn an entire SVCD, just test the MPEG files. Because MPEG will play on either platform, I thought the MPEG files would run in the default system media player, like Windows Media Player.

Unfortunately, WMP is kind of dumb with regards to aspect ratio. Curiously enough, WMP 6.4 which was any entirely different program to the current incarnations (and undoubtedly the best of the line) did adjust for aspect ratio.

Does an SVCD require software such as PowerDVD to run, or not?

On a PC, you genenally need (and it is a good idea to) a software DVD player (or another specific player that understands for a SVCD or VCD is) to play S/VCDs. In addition to correct aspect ratio, you can also make menus and chapters.

Regards.