please help with svcd

[pet_gal]

when I encode avi to vcd the final picture on TV is OK
but when I encode the same avi to svcd the final picture is always with black borders and squeezed (circle looks oval)

what's wrong with my encoding or..?

[theDruid]

We'll need a lot more details...

What are you using to encode? What settings?

[pet_gal]

I have 720x576 PAL avi-file captured from panasonic minidv camcoder. I use TMPG to encode to vcd and svcd

[theDruid]

Have you tried the different Arrange Setting options (under 'clip frame' in the wizard)? I'd stick with 'Full Screen (Keep Aspect Ratio)'.

Also, are you viewing the clips TMPGEnc outputs in a proper player?

If you view a SVCD/MPEG-2 file in Windows Media Player or something similar, the picture will look very odd, as the player does not pay attention to the aspect ratio information included in the file. If you play it with something like PowerDVD, you'll see it displayed correctly (i.e. as it will appear on a TV screen).

cheers,
mcdruid.

[pet_gal]

I use "full screen" in arrage settings and in WinDVD and Zoom Player picture is w/o borders and normal (not squeezed)

[theDruid]

Good - so does that mean you've fixed your problem?

[pet_gal]

no
WinDVD shows normal picture but TV squeezed

[theDruid]

Pardon?

Do you mean the mpg file on your PC, when played in WinDVD, looks normal; the aspect ratio looks correct (not squeezed), and the borders / letterboxing are as you expect...

But... the file when authored and burnt as an SVCD (using what software?) and played on your standalone player, seems to display the picture wrong?....

I'm trying to fill in the gaps here - but I'm having trouble understanding exactly what problem you are having I'm afraid.

Can you elaborate a little more? I'm trying to help, but I don't know if I understand the problem.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[pet_gal]

yes, you are right

in WinDVD picture is without borders and not sqeezed but after burning TV shows squeezed picture with borders.
One more point, when I burn svcd-file to vcd noncompliant disc (sorry for involved explanation) picture is not squeezed. I use for burning nero or vcdeasy - result is the same.

Maybe my pioneer-464 can't display svcd w/o borders but displays correctly only vcd...

[theDruid]

I presume that the SVCD file is compliant in terms of resolution etc..?

i.e.

PAL 480 x 576 pixels (CVD 352x576)
NTSC 480 x 480 pixels (CVD 352x480)

... and when you say borders - are these borders at the top and bottom as per normal letterboxing?

Do you know what aspect ratio the footage should be? 4:3 (fullscreen) - I presume, from what you're saying.

It may be just a quirk of your player I suppose - good SVCD support is not as universal as VCD support AFAIK. Have you looked in the player section over on the left?

[edit]Have looked at your player in the list, and there are no reports of anything like your problem with SVCD. You could try downloading & burning some of the SVCD samples onto CD-RW (on the What is... SVCD page) to see if they seem to work okay.[/edit]

cheers,
mcdruid.

[pet_gal]

biggggg thanks for your replies.
Probably problem is with player. I read in comments for previous model of Pioneer DVD player about the same problem.