Making 16:9 Aspect Ratio Recognized in AVI

[moviebuff2]

Hi everyone:

I have an AVI which, when played in stand-alone DivX player like Philips DVP642, is recognized only as 4:3.

But the video is in fact 16:9. I know its aspect ratio is 16:9 because DivXToDVD automatically recognized this ratio when I converted it to VOB (for testing purposes). Also, VirtualDubMod recognized its 16:9 ratio.

The frame size is 624 x 386. I found out that resizing/expanding the video to 624 x 464 would make my Philips DVP 642 display the correct aspect ratio of 16:9. However this would require one more compression, which would mean further loss of video quality.

Would someone please tell me what I can do to make the 16:9 ratio be displayed properly when I play the AVI file in my Philips DVP642? I have tried to use the player's video set up/TV display function but failed to make it show the video in 16:9.

I have many other 16:9-aspect-ratio AVI files which play fine with the DVP642.

Thanks

[guns1inger]

Your philips won't see it as 16:9 because it would have to pillarbox to display it, and I don't think it can. It's actual display aspect ratio is 1.62:1. If you converted that to 16:9 DVD, the actual image would only be 640 pixels wide, with vertical bars filling out the image. If the AR was 1.78:1 or higher you would be OK. I do seem to remember a post some time ago where someone responded with a patcher for avi files that could alter the display aspect ratio. Most player programs seem to ignore this data anyway, but it might fix your problem. I cannot currently locate the post, a quick check of the tools section didn't turn up anything.

Your primary issue however, is that this video is closer to 4:3 than it is to 16:9

[moviebuff2]

Hi guns1inger:

I don't quite understand what "pillarbox" means; but I would guess it has something to do with resizing the video.

The Philips plays all my other 16:9 AVIs just fine. Only this AVI file cannot be displayed properly.

Thanks for your input.

[guns1inger]

Pillarboxing occurs when you try to fit a video that is less than 16:9 into a 16:9 frame. Black bars are added to the side of the frame inorder to fill out the space. Think of it as letterboxing for tall video. Your video has an aspect ratio that is taller than 16:9. It can't fit in a 16:9 frame and go edge to edge without stretching horizontally. If you play it in a 4:3 frame, you will get black bars top and bottom - very thin ones, but they will be there. If you try to fit it in a 16:9 frame you will get wider black bars up both sides.

Run it through DivxtoDVD and see what you get. I suspect that all your other AVI files are 1.78:1 or wider.

[moviebuff2]

I did run it through DivXToDVD. I let the software automatically choose the aspect and it said 16:9.

BTW, I am thinking about comparing the information of this file (frame size, bitrate, etc.) to the ones that play fine in the Philips. What should I look for in the information. VirtualDubMod shows a lot of info (video & audio). Do I need another software?

[guns1inger]

I mean let DivxtoDVD encode it as 16:9, then check out the bars up the sides.

I would use FitCD, as it will tell you the actual aspect ratio of the source, and let you see the results of anamorphic (16:9) and non-anamorphic resizing on it's visual display.

[moviebuff2]

I did that too. The DVD shows 16:9 with 2 big black bars (top & bottom), instead of 2 thin ones as shown in AVI.

Unfortunately, I am trying to fir 2 to 3 titles onto a DVD. This can only be done with AVI files since VOB files would be to large.

[guns1inger]

Tick the anamophic box (for 16:9) and the bars go vertical instead. If not, you aren't using the same numbers you gave above.

/Edit

Sorry, mis-read your previous post. If DivxToDVD gave you widescreen with letterbox bars then the numbers you gave in your first post must be incorrect.

[moviebuff2]

OK. I just used G-spot to get the information. It says: 624x386 (1.62:1) [~21:13] for xy.

What I don't understand is why DivXToDVD automatically encoded it as 16:9 as it indicated in its description. And, the resulted DVD does show 2 big black bars (top & bottom) when it is played in the Philips.

[guns1inger]

OK. I get it. DivxtoDVD encoded it as 16:9, so you will get black bars across the top and bottom, simply because it is 16:9. However, you will also have vertical bars up the sides, giving a framed appearance to the video. This is also what it would look like if the philips played it 16:9, which I suspect is why it won't.

I have an LG that is certified for Divx playback. It will only change AR if you tell it to. If you have it set to 16:9 for avi playback, all avi playback is 16:9, regardless of how pillarboxed it might be.

[moviebuff2]

However, you will also have vertical bars up the sides, giving a framed appearance to the video.

No, I don't. In the DVD, the picture shows only the top and bottom black bars. No side bars.

The AVI also shows only top & bottom black bars, but the bars are very thin. Both sides (left & right) of the video are cut off a little to compensate for the increase in height; thus no picture deformation (no elongated faces ).

Anyway, below is the pront screen I got from DivXToDVD. Please let me know if you need more info.

[moviebuff2]

Hi guns1inger:

I think I've got it.

4:3 = 1.3333

16:9 = 1.778

Since my AVI's computed aspect ratio is 1.6166, DivXToDVD automatically selects 16:9 aspect ratio and automatically adds more black areas to the top & bottom bars to keep it at 16:9 without deforming the video.

Whereas, the Philips will take a look at the ratio 1.6166 and says "Hm...not 1.778? Down to 1.3333!" , and trims off the sides.

Am I correct?

[guns1inger]

DivxtoDVD shouldn't add black bars to the top or bottom to make this 16:9, however your player will do this if you play it back on a 4:3 TV. What Divx toDVD will do is stretch the image vertically to fill out the 16:9 frome from top to bottom, then fill in the ends with vertical black bars. What the Philips should do is play it back 4:3 with thin bars top and bottom.

[moviebuff2]

Hi guns1inger

You are absolutely correct.

To make my situation worse, the DVD shows some strange orange pixels in the top left corner of the picture. I guess this is the result of all of those stretching/adding.

BTW, resizing/expanding filter in VirtualDubMod did not help this AVI file. The filter worked with other AVIs. I don't know why.

Thanks for you help.

[guns1inger]

The only way to affect the AR without distortion is to crop is down until is 1.78:1 or more. This eans throwing away some of the image at either the top, the bottom, or both.

1.62:1 is an unusual AR. It is either a very badly cropped widescreen image, or a moderately badly cropped 1.66:1 image. If you want to leave it as an avi, you will have to live the fact it will be displayed 4:3.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks for your help, guns1inger.

I agree, 1.62:1 is an unusual AR.

Cheers

[moviebuff2]

Hi guns1inger:

I tried to resize/expand with VirtualDubMod.

For resize, I kept the original of 624(W) x 386(H). For expanding, I tested 3 different settings: 636 x 386, 640 x 386 and 644 x 386. Please note that I only expanded the width, not height.

The setting that the Philips will display the video best is 640 x 386. The sides are still trimmed a little, but not like in the original 624 x 386. The top & bottom black bars are also larger (more height); this helps prevent the video from being out of proportion.

The setting 644 x 386 shows 2 black side bars so I don't want to use it.

Thanks again for your help.