Problem with Vob to DivX Coversion Image Size

[Baggins]

Hi, Newbie with my first post.

I've recorded a TV Prog with my Sony DVD Recorder onto DVD+RW.
Ripped it to my Laptop with DVD Shrink and am trying to convert it to DivX with StaxRip.
Everything works fine, but the resulting .avi file, when played is stretched vertically.

When I checked the StaxRip main screen & log file it shows the correct aspect ratio (4:3), but the width & height seem to be the wrong way round. See section of log below;

Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 958 MiB
Duration : 41mn 9s
Overal bit rate : 3255 Kbps

Video
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Standard
Duration : 41mn 9s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 2773 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9800 Kbps
Width : 352 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3[/b]
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 1.933

Audio
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 41mn 9s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -400ms

Menu
Format : DVD-Video

Any ideas as to why this is happening and how it can be overcome?

Many thanks in advance

[jman98]

Width : 352 pixels
Height : 576 pixels

Your height is MUCH bigger than your width, which will result in exactly what you describe - vertical stretching. Maybe you need to reverse them, but do note that 57x352 is an aspect ratio of 16:9, not 4:3.

[jagabo]

Your source is half D1 PAL. Resize to a 4:3 frame size or use the MPEG4 DAR flags.

[Baggins]

Thanks for your quick replies.

jagabo, I'll check out the DAR Flags later, but why is the source half D1 PAL?
Is it something to do with the Freeview DTV source or the DVD Recorder?

Thanks.

[jman98]

Damn it. I completely glossed over the DVD recorder bit in the original post because the subject was talking about Divx conversion. Anyway, half D1 recording is normal for DVD recorders. It's what they do when people record at low bit rates (ie. trying to get 3 or more hours on a single layer DVD). It's your DVD recorder doing this. Either use the MPEG4 DAR flags as Jagabo says (note that some DVD players that support Divx may not honor this flag) or record at a mode that puts only 1 or 2 hours on a DVD blank. I would suggest doing the latter as it's more likely to yield good results on a variety of playback devices.

[jagabo]

Even if you record at full D1 (720x576) you will have to resize or use DAR flags to get the right aspect ratio.

[Baggins]

Thanks for your detailed answers, now I understand what's causing the problem.

[manono]

Or just resize it to a 1.33:1 ratio, such as 640x480, 576x432, 512x384, etc.