Widely accepted codec?

[DJMartin]

Hello, I created a video, this is the specs:

1024x576 Square
DivX ProCodec 5.2
No audio copressor

The reason I am using 1024x576, is because if i try 720x576 1,422 it looks like 4:3 on my computer.

It works fine to play it my Media Player Classic with ACE Mega Codec Pack. But when I sent it to my friend and he tried to play it in VLC, it didn`t work.

I want to creat a video which everyone can play in Windows Media Player, and I don`t want it to take up much space.

How can I make this work?

[celtic_druid]

To encode @ 720x576, you need to set the PAR to 64:45, not square. VLC should be able to playback a DivX avi fine.

[edDV]

...

I want to creat a video which everyone can play in Windows Media Player, and I don`t want it to take up much space.

How can I make this work?

Use wmv format
Everyone can play that.

Another alternative is MPeg1.

[mats.hogberg]

Use wmv formatEveryone can play that.

...provided they're running Windows. mpeg1 (as suggested) is the "only" universally understood codec.

/Mats

[greymalkin]

I have often wondered about .wmv since it is a windows format. There should be a plugin for the minorities though that would allow wmv viewing.

[mats.hogberg]

There are - at least for Linux IIRC. But that's beside the point, at least to me. Everyting will play on anything if you have the right plugin...

/Mats

[edDV]

Use wmv formatEveryone can play that.

...provided they're running Windows. mpeg1 (as suggested) is the "only" universally understood codec.

/Mats

True although most MACs and Linux OS have wmv players.

Mpeg1 then

[DJMartin]

Ok, thanks. I will try that, but now I am exporting 1024x576 square pixels. Does anybody know how to export 720x576 with 1,422 pixels and still look like 16:9 on my monitor?

[codecpage]

What you are looking for is a format that has flag for different aspect ratios (anamorphic format).
MPEG2 has this, and it's also the right one for large images like yours (ratio can be set with DVDpatcher for example).
It requires a codec installed to play in WMP (nearly any DVD player software comes with this)
and MPC will even play it all by itself. You may also take the MPEG2 and make a DVD from it right away, that's a universal standard even though not every PC may have a player installed.
MPEG1 is universal, but has no aspect flags, and anything else will require special codecs to be installed as well.
So I guess there's no 100% solution for your problem.
Cheers

[edDV]

Agreed,

I'd suggest you do a proper DVD quality 720x576 MPeg2 -and- a WMV or MPeg1 version for those without codecs. MPeg1 would need to be square pixel, so for 16:9 you would need to keep it stretched out to 1024x576.

BTW: A MPeg1 file at 1024x576 is going to be huge. WMV at similar quality will be less than a third the size.

[celtic_druid]

DivX is MPEG-4 and as I already pointed out supports AR flaging. This is done at a video stream level so it works in all containers, including avi.

[Cornucopia]

What you are looking for is a format that has flag for different aspect ratios (anamorphic format).

...

MPEG1 is universal, but has no aspect flags, and anything else will require special codecs to be installed as well.
So I guess there's no 100% solution for your problem.
Cheers

Actually, you're wrong about MPEG1. It does have an AR flag (PAR, not DAR, IIRC). Problem is that only ~1/3 of the players (software; even less with hardware) support it correctly. AR differences seem to be a given with MPEG2, MPEG4, so it seems all the players do them correctly.

BTW, if you want to play with this, you can change the AR after encoding by using MPEG Sequence Maker.

Scott

[DJMartin]

Ok, it`s been a while, exam, jobs etc.

So what format should i use to export from premiere? If I want to export video:
576x720
mpeg2
1,422
with flag?

Do I have to use another program to make the aspect ratio right?
This video is created for pc playback.

Thanks