what is best resolution to author a DVD at? not a newb post

[rastoma]

At least I don't think it's a newb post.

When taking a video file that has been encoded to for example 480x480, what is the best resolution to reencode that to and keep proper perspective?

If I do half D1 or full D1, the pespective comes out wrong with the video showing signs of shrinkage or stretching depending on what I used.

I don't mind having wide screen type boders, but do you any of you crop the video so that there are black borders on the sides too?

To have the highest compatibility on a DVD-R, I have been using 720x480 and cropping the video itself to a smaller resolution (I use mostly MpegEncoder).

Any suggestions?

[ZippyP.]

I think that you're confusing resolution with aspect ratio. The resolution of the mpeg should not affect the way that it displays on your TV screen. Generally, going up in resolution is to be avoided as you cannot create more pixels without introducing blockiness. So 1/2 D1 is your best bet, and just preserve the original aspect ratio, whatever encoder you use.

[FOO]

You may not be aware that there is a Storage Resolution,
and an unrelated Display Aspect Ratio.

720 x 480 is a 3:2 ratio
352 x 480 is close to a 3:4 ratio.
480 x 480 is a 1:1 ratio

All three will display as 4:3 on a TV if the DAR is set to 4:3.

[rastoma]

Ok..... I see... yes I was confusing resolution and aspect ratio.

But if a file is 480x480 won't full D1 (720x480) cause pixelation? Or just cause the video to be stretched? And if that's true, for sake of easiness, is it best to use 352x480, half D1 when authoring a DVD-R ?

I've got the encoding down pretty well, I just don't know the best aspect ratio (correct terminology this time to use..... because 720x480 is more compatbile on standalone's right?

[lordsmurf]

No, 720x480 is no more compatible than any other spec resolution (like 352x240 or 352x480).

It's not really stretched. That's just how we think.

The 720x480 is nice and high, but it does have issues on stair-step on straight lines in certain angles (even properly interlaced)... something not seen on 352x or 704x resolutions. The 720x is not really a real good resolution, but it ended up being used and added to the spec for some fluke reason. There's a while site dedicated to this fact, but I forget where it is and what the reason was. I just remember the outcome. When I encode from AVI, I actually try to use 704x480.

4:3 and 16:9 are the only ratios allowed for DVD.

[rastoma]

ok... it's making more sense now.. thanks.

last question please... or rather 2 last questions:

i have a wide screen tv so everything I've done looks ok to me... but what's made me start questioning the above is a buddy told me that on his regular TV (4:3) the people look real skinny (his description)... since I haven't seen it on his TV I'm just gathering he means the sides have shrunk to fit his TV. If I crop the video during reencode to come close to the original 480x480 he says it looks fine.

This seems to happen more often if the original video I'm reencoding has a wide screen aspect to it (black bars on top and bottom).

Does this have to do with the DAR setting? And that's in the standalone DVD player right?

When I use dvd-lab it won't accept the video file unless it's 352x480 or 720x480. So when you use 702x480 are you cropping inside of a 720x480 field?

I appreciate your time and helping me with this... I hope I'm not missing something obvious and continuing to ask something stupid.... I'm understanding it more but it's just not clicking with just yet because I don't know what's causing some videos to make the people look 'squished' vertically. (he tried on 2 different dvd players and 2 tv's).

thanks again.


so am I basically being too picky about this? do people just crop and lose some video or leave black borders all the way around on downloaded vidoes?

[Roderz]

I

buddy told me that on his regular TV (4:3) the people look real skinny

I think 16:9 can only be used with 704x480 / 720x480 (should get displayed ok on w/screen tv and 4:3 --> if player set to l/b)

If you encode 16:9 @ 352x240 will display ok on w/screen tv but not on a 4:3 - found this out my self

[rastoma]

I'm working on a video right now.... this time this avi is at 480x280.

using mpegencoder under video settings under detailed settings, if i select 340x480 a preview window opens and shows a sample of the video... it's stretched very thin (too tall). 720x480 the video looks real close but comparing to 480x280 I can see a little distortion.

so I go in and select 720x480 and under crop, I can keep proportions and keep enlarging the video until it almost is full screen but there are black bars on the top/bottom AND sides. this is not a huge deal but I just think I'm missing something. this is the same issue I have when working with an avi that's 480x480.

everything I've been trying, I have aspect ratio set to 4:3 always.

besides the issue above, what does it take to have the video look the same on a wide screen and a regular tv? just setting inside the standalone? that's not a big deal.... none of my friends have widescreen's and most of the projects I do are for them but just wondering because I know there's something I'm just not grasping here.

[Roderz]

From your info above I would encode at 720x480 and set aspect ratio to 16:9 should play on both w/s and 4:3 (L/B on standalone) tv's

[Viper10000]

rastoma,

If your goal is to put your SVCD's 480x480 clip on a DVD-R, and since you're using DVD-Lab to author this process, I don't think you need to re-encode your 480x480 clip at all. I found that DVD-Lab is the best tool that accept SVCD's 480x480 clip and author it to DVD-compliant VOBs. There's a guide at their site showing you how to do this. Here's the link.

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/tutorial/svcd.html

But if you decide to re-encode your 480x480 clip for something else, then just follow suggestions from Lordsmuf & FOO. Myself, if the original 480x480 clip looks very good, I would use KVCD half-D1, just because it save me some encoding time, and produce a small output.

But why would I want to do all of this, if there's a tool like DVD-Lab that can put my 480x480 directly to a DVD-R? BTW, the output on the DVD look the same as before.

[bugster]

rastoma,

If your goal is to put your SVCD's 480x480 clip on a DVD-R, and since you're using DVD-Lab to author this process, I don't think you need to re-encode your 480x480 clip at all. I found that DVD-Lab is the best tool that accept SVCD's 480x480 clip and author it to DVD-compliant VOBs. There's a guide at their site showing you how to do this. Here's the link.

Thats generally a good suggestion and it is something I have been known to do myself on occasion but there is one caveat to go along with it. Compatibility. Although it seems many DVD players will play this kind of DVD fine a few will not display the picture correctly. So if you are going to be playing these disks on anything but your own personal DVD player, just be aware of this potential problem.

[Viper10000]

rastoma,

Yes, bugster is correct. There's a "potential" compability issue with the process of using DVD-Lab method to put SVCD clips directly on the DVD. As the DVDLab's SVCD-on-DVD guide has stated:

"But in any case remember, playability of such DVD depends on your Player. I have 3 DVD players at home and all of them plays such DVD fine, but I did choose them specifically to be able to play SVCD's. "

I guess if your player (or your family/friend's player) has no problem playing SVCD, you should be able to play these "non-standard" DVD fine also. After using this DVD-Lab method, I have tried on 4 players (Apex, Sampo, Norcent, Yamakawa), and they all play my SVCD-on-DVD without any hitch. Of course, these 4 players can play SVCD in the first place.

Cheers,

[rastoma]

ok.. thanks for everyone's advice and tips... i think they're all gonna help me.

thanks again.