Fast simple way to resize Xvid

[Maxwellbest]

The problem
Wanting to watch a 960x528 with 1:81 DAR xvid avi on my standalone xvid/dvd player to normal 4:3 CRT. No need to transcode the sound.
So to resizing
Can you suggest a fast way to resize whilst maintaining the 16/9 aspect of this video. Have searched, but finding things quite confusing. Would avisynth/virtdub be the way to go? Tried using the Super/Mencoder option and it was brutally slow. Is there just a simple formula to select the correct resize option in Virt dub mpeg2 for example?

Cheers

[guns1inger]

AVIRecomp will do it and ensure you a compliant avi file for standalones. It won't be fast on your system, but nothing that produces quality will be.

You could also look at AutoGK or AlltoAVI. AlltoAVI is fast, however I have had compatibility issues with my standalones and it's output.

[Maxwellbest]

Yeah these look good one click encoders. However, by default they tend to resize incorrectly for my needs,which is output to a normal CRT4:3 TV. Both will give me a widescreen value, by default, it would seem. I could just go to hell with it, resize to 640 X 480 but the output would look a tad stretched, hence the emphasis on trying to keep the AR constant. Super and FFmpeg seem a fast way to recode/resize but I dont trust the output. Eg, VLC wont play it, and Windows Media plays it a fast rate. Hmmmm. Welcome to the arcane world of video! Any one like to chime in, share their wisdom and experience.

[guns1inger]

The only way to get 4:3 is to crop off the sides. You lose around 20% of the available image before overscan. What's wrong with keeping the aspect ratio ? In fact, you said you wanted 16:9 ? If you encode to the correct 1.81 aspect ratio with a 1:1 PAR (which these all do by default) then your standalone will correctly letterbox on your 4:3 TV - that is, it will add the required black bars to maintain the aspect ratio.

Avisynth/Virtualdub will use the same encoders as AutoGK/AVIRecomp etc, so the time taken will be the same.

[Maxwellbest]

Yes, trying to keep the AR. The values by default that auto GK and all to avi are coming up with are out of bounds for my standalone player, ie greater than 720X 576.

[manono]

Geez, then go into the Advanced Settings of AutoGK and set the width. 640 should be OK.

You can even go into the Hidden Options (CTRL-F9) and start hacking away at the sides, but that would be a silly thing to do.

[Maxwellbest]

Thanks guys. Was unaware that AutoGTK could resize manually as it were. I guess the question should have been what is the correct w x h to maintain AR and PAR given current settings. Thanks again.

[guns1inger]

Just set a width and let AutoGK work out the rest.

[Maxwellbest]

Thanks Guns...Too easy!