stretch a 4:3 video back to 16:9

[applefruit]

I got this video. It was recorded off a 16:9 channel, but it's
encoded such that it's now 4.3 with everything really thin.
Anyone got any ideas how to make the people fatter and stretch the
video back to 16:9?
thx

[guns1inger]

What format is the video ?

For Mpeg or DVD you can use DVD Patcher and IFOAR2WS

For Xvid/Divx you can use Mpeg4Modifier

[applefruit]

DivX in a .avi file

[guns1inger]

Mpeg4modifier can be used to change the aspect ratio flag. Players (software and hardware) that understand and respect the flag will play it back correctly. Others will ignore it. If you want a hard fix then you have to resize and re-encode, and probably sacrifice some quality into the bargain.

[applefruit]

I just want to stretch it so that for example, wmp will play it at 16:9
AMENDMENT:
the video is actually 5:4, not 4:3, if it makes any difference.

[applefruit]

and tell me how to "resize and reencode" anyway please

[guns1inger]

WMP is probably the worst for aspect ratios. Try VLC or The KM Player.

You can resize using either an avisynth script, or virtualdub and it's resize filter.

[applefruit]

I want to resize it to give it to a friend who can't be bothered using km player or vlc. He has all the codecs (including divx, real etc from k-lite codec pack or whatever), but doesn't want to install other programs, just used wmp. Personally, I would want to use divx because it can be played in wmp and compression rate is high.

Also, I have seen virtualdub being recommended by others on forums, but I have never used it and can't seem to find a tutorial on how to use virtualdub to change and re-encode the video to change the aspect ratio.

[poisondeathray]

Personally, I wouldn't re-encode it:

1) Irreversibly lose quality (converting from a lossy codec to a lossy codec). To make the end quality resemble the initial file, you have to increase the bitrate to compensate - making the file bigger, yet with slightly worse quality!

2) Wastes time (probably 1-2 hour depending on system)

I would just put the .avi into an .mkv container and change the aspect ratio at the container level. This takes maybe a minute compared to an hour, and you lose no quality. Any player that can play .mkv files will recognize the aspect flag - this includes your friend with k-lite. All you do is select the video stream, and under format specific options, select the aspect ratio, press merge...done!

If you really want to re-encode, let me know and I'll help you out with steps

[applefruit]

ok
I've tried to re-encode with vegas, mpeg4, and virtualdub.
mpg4 doesn't do anything
vegas and virtualdub estimates it will take between 15 hrs and "unknown".

can anyone tell me briefly how to re-encode, and in detail, how to put it into a mkv container or flag it or whatever. (i know i am hopeless...)

[poisondeathray]

1) Open your .avi in mkvmergegui by pressing "add" (it's from the mkvtoolnix kit)

2) Highlight the video track (not the audio track), and go to the "format specific options" tab

3) In the Aspect Ratio radio tab, select from the drop down menu, 16/9

4) Press start muxing

Should take about 1 minute.

If you still want to learn how to re-encode, let me know, and I'll help you out with the steps...

You can also make the people "fatter" by asking them to move to America... [/JOKE]

Cheers

[applefruit]

so racist...
did you do the screenshots yourself?
also, what would be the result file? ie. would it be an avi or .mkv or...?

[poisondeathray]

The end result will be an .mkv file, because the aspect flags are at the container level. You can always get back the original .avi by using mkvextractgui - this way quality is 100% preserved, nothing is permanently degraded (unlike re-encoding). Any setup that can playback .mkv files, will acknowledge the aspect ratio flag. If you friend has k-lite, this will work (basically it would be ffdshow and haali media splitter)

Cheers

[applefruit]

Mpeg4modifier can be used to change the aspect ratio flag. Players (software and hardware) that understand and respect the flag will play it back correctly. Others will ignore it. If you want a hard fix then you have to resize and re-encode, and probably sacrifice some quality into the bargain.

Also, do you know how to "change the aspect ratio flag"?
Is the mkv way you taught me different from the above?

[poisondeathray]

Mpeg4Modifier should only take about a minute as well. Just select 16:9 radio button for the Display AR and press save. This will give you an .avi file. As Gunslinger said, most software players will respect the flag, but beware some do not.

Try them out, you're only wasting a minute or so...

Cheers

[applefruit]

In another forum, someone suggested using TMPGEnc DVD Author.
any comments?

"Sounds like the 16:9 flag did not get set on the disc. There are
programs that will fix it. One is TMPGEnc DVD Author. "

[poisondeathray]

In another forum, someone suggested using TMPGEnc DVD Author.
any comments?

"Sounds like the 16:9 flag did not get set on the disc. There are
programs that will fix it. One is TMPGEnc DVD Author. "

That is for authoring DVD's, not making .avi or .mkv files - completely different to what you are doing

Another option is just to get your software player to display as 16:9. Most players like MPC have settings to do this (custom aspect ratio)

[applefruit]

1
Can someone recommend a good software player that respects the flags and can play mkv files etc.?
2
Also, is it true that if I install VLC or KM player or something, I don't need codec packs like k-lite, as they have decoders built in?
3
(bit off topic - if I don't have realplayer, but have k-lite, can i still play embedded real streams/videos?

[poisondeathray]

MPC will respect flags in both .avi and .mkv - you can also choose to display custom aspect ratios
WMP will respect only in .mkv, NOT .avi

Yes, KM Player, Mplayer, VLC all have built in codecs

I think you need K-lite Mega, because it has real player alternative. Better yet, don't install any codec packs, and just install the specfic stuff you need to prevent conficts and future problems

[applefruit]

wmp can't seem to be able to play the .mkv file.
It says wmp can't play it, and askes if I want to continue.
I say yes, then it just plays the audio.
Are there any programs that can natively play mkv files?

[poisondeathray]

As I said earlier, you need ffdshow and haali media splitter for it to work (for all DirectShow players, this includes wmp and mpc). These are installed by default when you have k-lite

VLC and Mplayer will play it natively, they also have custom aspect ratio displays (so you could play back the original .avi, and just get the player to display 16:9 or any ratio)

[applefruit]

sorrysorry
got confused
So do you recommend me to get k-lite for my own pc or kmplayer/mplayer/vlc etc.?

[poisondeathray]

I would avoid codec packs, because of the potential for conflicts & problems - especially if you don't not do a custom install

I would use VLC or Mplayer, you can select custom display (and hundreds of other options). For example, in VLC, just right click as the video is playing..and it will give you many options...This way your original is preserved, and only playback is altered.

If you need to play QT or Real Media files, VLC will not play these, I would install Quicktime alternative, and Real Alternative - and use MPC to play those specific types of files

Cheers

[applefruit]

Can you compare VLC, Mplayer, and KM Player?
I have only used KM player, heard of VLC, and don't know what Mplayer is like.
ie. your comments.
thx

ps why are you called poisondeathray?

[applefruit]

and which player is your screenshot for?

[poisondeathray]

Actually I just tested and VLC can play QT .mov files, but not Real Media files

I just found out Mplayer can play everything (including .rmvb and quicktime .mov files) - so Mplayer seems to be the best choice (you wouldn't need to install real alternative or quicktime alternative then)

I take screenshots with SnagIt, but there are many other screen capture programs.

Cheers

[applefruit]

Can mplayer or vlc player or km player play embedded internet realplayer streams?

[poisondeathray]

Can mplayer or vlc player or km player play embedded internet realplayer streams?

I don't know. I am sure that MPC+real alternative can. The reason real alternative is recommended over real player is that real player installs a whole bunch of other junk on your PC, and rumored some spyware too...

edit: I don't think they (VLC, Mplayer, KM Player) can...

[applefruit]

Final question (hopefully):
Which one do you use?

[poisondeathray]

On my main system I have MPC with ffdshow, real alternative, quicktime alternative, haali media splitter installed - this is what I use mainly for playback. As backup I also have VLC and Mplayer, but 99% of the time they are not required

On my "test" system I have everything installed

Cheers