MainConcept 1.4.2 aspect ratio problems DivX to DVD convert

[sfx70]

Hi there
I have a DivX (720x400px) that I wanna convert to DVD.
The problem that I get is that the mpg produced is a bit vertically streched. I chose 352x480 with keep ratio checked.

In TMPGEnc this is no problem because I choose Video Arrange Method Full Screen (Keep aspect ratio 2) and the image is the same as the DivX. TMPGEnc adds black on top and bottom to make it display on a 4:3 TV set.

I don't understand why MC would stretch the height of the video and not keep aspect ratio.

I like MC cuz it doesn't crush like TMPGEnc and it's a lot faster on 2 pass VBR.

Anyone know why this happens??

Thanks

[DJRumpy]

If the software player that you play the MPEG with doesn't understand MPEG aspect ratio's, then the playback will appear 'tall'. Does the video appear tall when it's played back on your standalone DVD Player?

[sfx70]

Yes it's high on the standalone PowerDVD as well and ... I think I figured it out..
If the source is 16:9 aspect ratio then I chose 16:9 instead of 4:3 and the pictures doesn't stretch
I don't know if this is the ultimate solution but works for now..
anyone run into this?

[DJRumpy]

I'm sorry, but I'm still having a hard time understanding what your saying. Are you saying that PowerDVD looks tall, or your standalone player (like a Sony DVD Player) looks tall?

[tim6661234]

I had the same problem but the source was 2.11:1 rather than 16:9.
You have to manually work out how of a border you'll need and set it up.
Personally I couldn't be bothered when TMPEnc did it without a problem.
16:9 -> 16:9 works well though.

[DJRumpy]

Just do the math.

850 / 2.11 = 400 vertical (rounded to nearest 8)

Resize to 720x400.

Add 40 pixel top letterbox, and 40 pixel bottom letterbox to fill out to 480 vertical and encode.

[tim6661234]

Where did the 850 come from in your calculations
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick today

[DJRumpy]

DVD MPEG supports two aspect ratios. 16:9 and 4:3.

Convert those ratios to decimal:

16 / 9 = 1.77
4 / 3 = 1.333

Next, you take the vertical hight for your video, and multiply it times the aspect ratio of the display it is intended for (in this case 1.77, since your video is widescreen)

1.77 * 480 = 850 (rounded to nearest even)

( A 4:3 television would stretch it out to 640 pixels in width: 480x1.333 )

850 pixels is the full width that a DVD mpeg is stretched out to on playback.

Here's the long version: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=174200