4:3 asset encoding at 16:9

[stagescrew]

This may not be a S2D question, but I have been archiving some older 4:3 tv series, six episodes per DVD. It's going good until this. One episode in particular encodes at the wrong aspect ratio. What is an "AVI PAR" and can I force S2D to ignore this? Thanks in advance for any help.

According to the logs (boldface by me):
=================== AV Details ===================
File Size: 201 MB
file=E:\Secret.Photo.avi
FormatName=avi
Num_Frames=44580
DurationInSecs=1487
Duration=00:24:47.4
VideoCodec=mpeg4
Width=544
Height=352
Standard=NTSC
BitRate=1134
AudioStreamCount=1
Audio1SampleRate=44100
Audio1Codec=mp3
Audio1BitRate=128
Audio2SampleRate=-1
Audio2Codec=NULL
Audio2BitRate=-1
=================== AV Details ===================

AVI2MPG: 3832kbs Full-D1
12:56:17: Looking for AVI PAR...
12:56:17: video:696988kB audio:40738kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead 2.234441%

12:56:17: AVI has PAR 16:9. VTS will be 16:9
Using user defined matrices
Pass 1/2: Processing Secret.Photo.avi
12:56:18: ffmpeg version CVS, build 3276800, Copyright (c) 2000-2004 Fabrice Bellard

All the other assets are similar to this: (S2D does not find an AVI PAR, and it encodes OK)
=================== AV Details ===================
File Size: 202 MB
file=E:\Secret.Building.avi
FormatName=avi
Num_Frames=44779
DurationInSecs=1494
Duration=00:24:54.1
VideoCodec=mpeg4
Width=544
Height=352
Standard=NTSC
BitRate=1135
AudioStreamCount=1
Audio1SampleRate=44100
Audio1Codec=mp3
Audio1BitRate=128
Audio2SampleRate=-1
Audio2Codec=NULL
Audio2BitRate=-1
=================== AV Details ===================

AVI2MPG: 3832kbs Full-D1
14:02:48: Looking for AVI PAR...
14:02:48: video:695794kB audio:40672kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead 2.252019%

Using user defined matrices
Pass 1/2: Processing Secret.Building.avi
14:02:49: ffmpeg version CVS, build 3276800, Copyright (c) 2000-2004 Fabrice Bellard

[ChrissyBoy]

Well some avi files - mpeg4 - have non square pixels. So S2D tries to take this into account. Usually an avi has 1:1 pixel aspect ratio and so if the dimensions are 4:3 the dvd will be 4:3 or if the dimensions are 16:9 then the dvd will be 16:9...

BUT if the pixel aspect ratio is 16:9 then the DVD is 16:9 too.

If this is in error for this one file i will need to see a sample to correct the algorithm.

When i get back from my travels (28th) i can take a look at a sample...

[stagescrew]

Thank you for your quick response. I created a 5mb sample with your utility, but I was unable to upload to your FTP server-"connection time out" Perhaps your server is down or more likely my FTP xfer programme is set up badly.

In the meantime, I reserched and found a utility called mpeg4modifier from here: www.moitah.net that purports to alter the AVI PAR without affecting the original asset. I looked at both files and they were the same i.e. square pixels.

Success! I ticked the 4:3 NTSC button, saved it as another file, and S2D then encoded it propetly.

Do you still want to see the original?

[ChrissyBoy]

Well if you have it sorted then no - i have a raft of emails to plough through at the moment. BUT if it happens again then yes i would like to get it resolved.

(thanks for your patience)