Changing Aspect Ratio on wmv to divx conversion.

[steve_hawthorn]

I have a lot of wmv files in 4:3 format, and am tearing my hair out trying to convert them to DivX or Xvid with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

I've tried using AVS video converter and Riverpast Videocleaner Pro, I've altered the pixel-size in the DivX codec from square to 16:9 PAL, I've used MPEG4Modifier, I've tried everything I can think of..

BUT although on the PC the aspect ratio change is recognised by VLC player, when I put the converted DivX files on DVD, my standalone DVD player(s) ignore it and I get the bars down the side as it happily displays the original 4:3.

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[OkeN]

Try AviDemux and crop your video for an 16/9 aspect then encode to avi (source 1:1 and output 16:9).

Good Luck.

[jagabo]

BUT although on the PC the aspect ratio change is recognised by VLC player, when I put the converted DivX files on DVD, my standalone DVD player(s) ignore it and I get the bars down the side as it happily displays the original 4:3.

Since your Divx/DVD player is ignoring the DAR flag you will have to crop/resize/reencode the video so that it is 16:9 (for example, 704x400) with square pixels, as OkeN suggested.

[steve_hawthorn]

Thanks, as you can tell I'm new to this, do I have to convert the wmv file to divx first, or will avidemux do the job?

[jagabo]

AviDemux will let you crop/resize while it converts your WMV to Xvid. Press the Filters button in the Video section of the main window.

As far as I know, it doesn't allow you to use external encoders (it has many built in) so you can't use Divx. This shouldn't be a problem because Xvid is mostly compatible with Divx. Just be sure not to use features you player doesn't support (this is true when using Divx and another program too). Frames over 720 pixels wide or 576 pixels tall, GMC, and QPEL are often not supported by Divx/DVD players.

You might find this site useful:

http://www.jarnot.com/twiki/bin/view/Public/DVP642LisaBsAVIGuide

It deals mostly with the Philips DVP-642 but much of it applies to other players too.

[steve_hawthorn]

Thanks for all your help - I'm making progress, but not quite there yet

When I play the original wmv (672 x 544) in VLC player and pump it out thru S-Video to the TV it is slightly letterboxed so the characters look Ok ;

when I play my re-encoded Xvid (704 x 400) on my standalone it fills the screen so the people look stretched - very tall and skinny ;-(

BTW, the reason I'm doing this is to give the progs to someone who doesn't have a computer.

[jagabo]

Try setting VLC's "Aspect ratio" to "Default".

[steve_hawthorn]

Thanks all, looking good