Change/Set aspect ratio in AVI file

[cheerful]

I got an AVI file with 1440x1080p. It's a recording of 1920x1080p. MPC shows an aspect ratio of 20:11

Is there any way to change this aspect ratio to 16:9 as it should be?

Thanks!

[Cornucopia]

You just need to treat it like it's anamorphic (just like 720x480 @ 16:9). 1440x1080 is 4:3 with square pixels. It's 16:9 with 4:3 pixles.

What (editing/conversion) software do you have?

Scott

[cheerful]

Using Media Player Classic which can force aspect ratio. It also shows the aspect ratio the file as 20:11, which I could not understand why.

[fung0]

I have somewhat a related question: I have a number of AVI files that show up with incorrect aspect ratio by default. (For example, I get widescreen films that fill 4:3 the frame, showing up stretched vertically instead of getting the proper anamorphic stretch to display in a letterbox on my screen.) Yes, I can force 16:9 in MPC. But I can't do that on my current living room setup, as my big old CRT doesn't have an aspect-ratio override like the newer flat panels.

My LG player handles just about any file I throw at it... But is there a way to alter the default displayed aspect ratio on already-encoded DivX or XviD files, so that my DVD player will know to show them that way?

(I've been Googling this for a while, but there's no obvious search term that would pop up the answer I need.)

[jagabo]

MPEG4Modifier can set the MPEG4 Display Aspect Ratio to whatever value you want. Not all set-top and software players will respect it though.

[fung0]

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that right away.

[fung0]

Seems to work so far. If nothing else, it saves me having to make the setting manually every time in MPC. So that's an improvement. I'll have to burn something to try it on my LG standalone.

Thanks!

[fung0]

No good on the LG standalone, dammit. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[jagabo]

You're only other choice is to reencode with square pixels. Or get a new DVD player. The Philips DVP-5960 supports the MPEG4 DAR flag.

[fung0]

Thanks... if that really is the only other option, at least I can give up looking. Might be worthwhile, for some material. I've re-encoded a few AVIs using AutoGK (for other reasons), and usually the loss is pretty bearable. I'll have to play around with the settings a bit...