TMPGEnc Aspect Ratios

[Jono]

I am not sure what to use for the aspect ratio settings in TMPGEnc. I've looked through all of the guides and posts I could find, but simply got more confused - please help !

The first parameter I'm interested is the SOURCE ASPECT RATIO (on the ADVANCED tab). The default I've got is '4:3 625 line (PAL)', but am concerned that as I'm using widescreen DVD's as the source, maybe this should be set to '16:9 625 line (PAL)'. I've tried cutting VCD disks with both settings and can see no difference one-way-or-another on my widescreen TV. Is this parameter something that is auto-detected (and I should leave it as '4:3'), or should I change it to 16:9 every time I copy a DVD?

The second parameter I need info on is the ASPECT RATIO (on the VIDEO tab). This is greyed out and is set to '4:3 625 line (PAL)'. I assume is a setting for how the film is output. If so, shouldn't this be set to 16:9 as I want to use the VCD on my widescreen TV. It won't allow it to be changed.

Maybe I'm looking to these settings too deeply and should just leave both settings as 4:3 (i.e. the default)? Any comments would be appreciated !

[Truman]

Load unlock.mcf from the TMPG\templates dir. Then you can change everything.
Source aspect ratio depends on the source. If you have a 16:9 encoded DVD, select 16:9.
Aspect ratio (on the video tab) refers to the format of your TV set. Select 16:9.
Remember, that you can not play a DAR 16:9 encoded VCD on a 4:3 TV set. So if you can switch between 16:9 and 4:3 display on TV, you stay better with a DAR 4:3 output. Just in case you want to lend the VCD.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Truman on 2001-11-23 12:17:59 ]</font>

[poopyhead]

if u use dvd2avi, it will tell you the source aspect ratio. if the original DVD is fullscreen it will definitely be 4:3 (not 4:3 704x480). If the original DVD you have is region 1, then the source aspect ratio will also be NTSC, i.e. 4:3 525 line NTSC. if the original DVD is widescreen, then i've seen 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen DVD movies before...so you dvd2avi to find out. In terms of the video tab, that's your output video, which i've set to 4:3 NTSC, in case you need to display on your TV.

[Jono]

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On 2001-11-23 12:14:12, Truman wrote:
Load unlock.mcf from the TMPG\templates dir. Then you can change everything.
Source aspect ratio depends on the source. If you have a 16:9 encoded DVD, select 16:9.
Aspect ratio (on the video tab) refers to the format of your TV set. Select 16:9.
Remember, that you can not play a DAR 16:9 encoded VCD on a 4:3 TV set. So if you can switch between 16:9 and 4:3 display on TV, you stay better with a DAR 4:3 output. Just in case you want to lend the VCD.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Truman on 2001-11-23 12:17:59 ]</font>
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Truman,
You have been very helpful - thanks ! This forum is great.
Jono.

[Jono]

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On 2001-11-23 18:38:42, poopyhead wrote:
if u use dvd2avi, it will tell you the source aspect ratio. if the original DVD is fullscreen it will definitely be 4:3 (not 4:3 704x480). If the original DVD you have is region 1, then the source aspect ratio will also be NTSC, i.e. 4:3 525 line NTSC. if the original DVD is widescreen, then i've seen 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen DVD movies before...so you dvd2avi to find out. In terms of the video tab, that's your output video, which i've set to 4:3 NTSC, in case you need to display on your TV.
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Looks like I missed DVD2AVI telling me the aspect ratio; that makes things a whole lot easier. Thanks for your explanation. Combined with the info from Truman, I now understand it fully. Thanks!