divx to vcd/svcd. help.. can't keep FULL letterbox on TV

[Kikaida]

Hi, please forgive me if there is a large thread about this somewhere.. if there is, could someone share an URL with me? Thanks.

OK, simply, I am using TMPGEnc to convert various divx files to vcd, xvcd or svcd. The divx files I convert that aren't letterbox all come out great, no problem. However, when my source file is letterbox, like this one that's 640x288, I get problems. It seems to convert fine when played back on my computer using a couple different players: ATI file player, WMP 6.4, but when I test burn a sample onto a CDRW and play it on my TV I am losing quite a noticable chunk of the sides. My DVD standalone player is one many of you are probably familiar with: Pioneer DV-525. I have tried altering settings on my player, but that doesn't seem to make any difference to the appearence.

I have tried quite a few variations on the settings under 'Source Aspect Ratio', but haven't been successful. If I try the SAME file and settings as an XVCD, I seem to gain a little more of the sides of the picture back than I get using the SVCD format.

This is not a problem with a specific file, like the one I mentioned above, but a recurring problem with MANY letterboxed divx files.

All I want to do, lest I confuse with my jabbering, is to KEEP the FULL picture I see in a divx file when I convert it to an vcd/svcd/xvcd file and play it back on my player.

Is this possible, or am I pursuing a lost cause. I thought I could figure this out on my own, but I am getting pretty frustrated. More to the point, I am getting quite a backlog of letterboxed divx files on my computer.. it's a regular logjam.

HELP!

If you want me to share more specific info, please mention it.
ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

[frotsen]

If you use FitCD, you can calculate what size to resize to, and maintain aspect ratio.(Read the help file)
Tmpgenc: Under advanced tab: choose Center Custom size, and enter the calculated size.
And under videotab: size . Enter the total size of the movie 352*288 (PAL vcd) or 480*576 Pal Svcd. This way you will add boarders to the movie and then maintain the aspect ratio.

I have wrote a guide for "Avi to Svcd", where i'm using FitCd to calculate and maintaining the aspect ratio
http://home.hib.no/studenter/ing99fkt/
but it's in norwegian.......

Hope it's helps
frotsen

[Kikaida]

Thanks, Frotsen!
I'm going to study that FitCD program and hopefully figure it out this weeknd. The studying of Norwegian might take me a little longer
Looking forward to getting into this!

Thanks!
Kikaida Wolf