Weird aspect ratio problem when authoring SVCD's

[m0ns00n]

Hi,

Just rececently started converting DivX files to MPEG2, and them burning them to SVCD so i can watch them on my widescreen as opposed to PC monitor.

Anyway, i followed the guide about how to use tmpgenc to convert the avi file to MPEG2. After encoding is done the resulting MPEG2 files looks exactly the same as the DivX file (ie aspect ratio etc). I then burn this to SVCD using nero.

Now here's the weird thing i cant explain - when i watch the SVCD in my DVD player it chops off a fair bit of the picture. It's cutting a 2.1:1 (or something like) picture down to 14:9 by chopping off bits on either side of the picture. However, when i play this same SVCD on my PC DVD player using PowerDVD it plays fine, with the full picture being visible.

Can anyone explain this, or give me any ideas on how i can sort this. Ive tried altering aspect ratio's of the source in tmpgenc and i still get the same problem,

TIA

m0ns00n

[Gazorgan]

there are no 16:9 SVCD's. All SVCD's are 4:3 (even though they are 480x480, the pixels on a TV are not 1:1).

what was the origianl resolution of the DivX? This makes a difference. I mean teh true resolution, not what it looked like (for 16:9, you may see a 640x360, which may have issues with not being a multiple of 16). A whide screen DivX converts to a VERY skinny SVCD unless you chop off the sides before converting.

Also, is you DVD player doing a PAN/SCAN and chopping? You may get the described problem trying to play a 16:9 movie when the player is set in 4:3 mode(put it in letterbox mode).

Does it do this with all SVCD's, or jsut the ones you have converted?

[m0ns00n]

Im not sure what the original resolution was. What can i use to check?

My DVD player is set to output widescreen, but i tried it in both letter box and pan/scan and it made no difference to the picture.

It only does this with SVCD's i encode. Ones i download off IRC as image files play fine, with the full widescreen picture being visible.

m0ns00n

[DEmberton]

You've done an anamorphic WS SVCD, which isn't really part of the standard. Some DVD players will just ignore it and it'll work on a WS TV, but some will chop the sides off. Your PC player is working correctly, but AFAIK no standalone players do this for SVCD (even though they're all capable of doing the same thing for DVD).

Choose "Full screen Keep Aspect" in TMPEng, and set the source to 16:9.

Dave

[m0ns00n]

Im sure i tried that setting. It ended up keeping the picture the right size, but it still chopped off bits and stretched it instead. Might be wrong, i'll give it a try again and see what it does,

thanks,

m0ns00n