[HELP]Convert from rm to DVD

[bronwman]

First sorry for my poor english and poor knowledge of video convertion.

I had converted from a rm video to DVD format with TMPGENC 4 XPRESS, the video source information is:
aspect ratio:4:3(448*336)
FPS:30
and output setting is:
aspect ratio:4:3(720*480)
NTSC

Then when playback on computer, i found that there are black borders added on left/right side which is about 8 pixs width per side. I wonder it is normal? If the output video size is 702*480, the black borders do not appear.

Would anyone help me?

[Alex_ander]

If you don't have black borders in the input video or already have them cropped, check your resize settings (hope they are the same as in v.3 of TMPGEncXpress). Select 'full screen' in resize filter and uncheck 'keep aspect ratio' (it might be on by default). You can test your setting before encoding in preview pop-up window accessible from the output page.

[guns1inger]

448 x 336, when converted for DVD and allowing for non-square pixels, comes out at 704 x 480. The borders have been added to maintain the correct proportion. Resizing to 720 x 480 without them would distort the image. So yes, this is normal and this is correct. Chances are you won't see them on your TV anyway as they will be hidden in the overscan area.

[Alex_ander]

448 x 336, when converted for DVD and allowing for non-square pixels, comes out at 704 x 480. The borders have been added to maintain the correct proportion. Resizing to 720 x 480 without them would distort the image. So yes, this is normal and this is correct. Chances are you won't see them on your TV anyway as they will be hidden in the overscan area.

I believe we are talking about a problem in a particulaar encoder (TMPGEncXpress3/4). It has a default 'keep aspect ratio' setting that results in resizing the input video until one of its dimensions reaches frame size in pixels for NTSC(PAL). If the input video is square-pixelled (avi, rm etc.) the result of such resizing always gives more than noticeable borders (e.g. NTSC is 3:2 in pixels, not 4:3 as the input video). Then simply unchecking 'keep aspect ratio' solves the problem completely. Since it's a default setting in TMPGEncXpress3 I always have to do this manually.

[bronwman]

Thanks for your help, it's wonderful!

So,to an DVD video, all video image will be shown on computer screen, but a part of image will be hidden in the overscan area on TV. On the other word, you can't see all video image both computer and TV. Right?

To Alex_ander: If uncheck 'keep aspect ratio', is the output video still an standard format of DVD?

Another question:
When I convert AVI(with aspect ratio 16:9) to DVD format, no black borders were added on left and right border. Why?

[guns1inger]

Because 16:9 is wide enough to fill the screen. If it was wider than 1.78:1 (16:9) then you would get borders top and bottom.

I would not turn off the "Keep Aspect Ratio" function, as it has a very clear purpose - it is designed to allow you get to a DVD compliant resolution without distorting the image. If you turn it off then you will get a full frame, but your image may not be correct. Computer images can be any aspect ratio. DVD cannot. If you want the image to look correct on your TV, sometimes you have to live with borders.

[bronwman]

Got it! Thanks very much!!

Because 16:9 is wide enough to fill the screen. If it was wider than 1.78:1 (16:9) then you would get borders top and bottom.

I would not turn off the "Keep Aspect Ratio" function, as it has a very clear purpose - it is designed to allow you get to a DVD compliant resolution without distorting the image. If you turn it off then you will get a full frame, but your image may not be correct. Computer images can be any aspect ratio. DVD cannot. If you want the image to look correct on your TV, sometimes you have to live with borders.

[Alex_ander]

If uncheck 'keep aspect ratio', is the output video still an standard format of DVD?

Another question:
When I convert AVI(with aspect ratio 16:9) to DVD format, no black borders were added on left and right border. Why?

Unchecking 'keep aspect ratio' will resize your video to 720x480 (in 'full screen' mode rather than 'centre') before encoding but after you select DVD NTSC template, and just selecting that template in this encoder (not resizing) makes the video DVD-compliant. This is the right setting for an input video that is correctly displayed on 4:3 screen. Though you'll have 3:2 in pixels after encoding, the displayed image will be still 4:3 as written in MPEG for your output DVD template. Adding any borders, be they displayed or not would distort proportions of the original video.
You have to do the same resizing for 16:9 anamorphic input/output, otherwise you can end with extra top/bottom borders not much noticeable on 4:3 display, but the AR will actually differ from 16:9.
With correct resizing you shouldn't have 'empty' encoded pixels unless your input or target video is letterboxed or really different from 16:9 (e.g. 2.35:1).