Divx => VCD...What am I doing wrong??????

[Skid]

Hello all. So I'm having a horrible time converting avi files to vcd compliant mpgs.... I am using TMPGEnc v. 2.52.34.129 to encode the movie swordfish. The properties of swordfish are:

640x272
23.976 fps

So, my problem is, that its a widescrene film, and I got instructions on maintaining the ratio, however, it was still off. The instructions were as follows:

Once you've run "Unlock.mcf", do the following:
1) Load .AVI file into TMPGEnc
2) Set to "System Video and Audio" (lower right side)
3) Click on "Setting" radio button
4) Click on "System" tab, change mode to "MPEG1-VideoCD" (from default of "MPEG1")
5) Click on "Advanced" tab, change "Video arrange method" to "Center (Custom Size"), change dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240
6) Change "Source aspect ratio" to "16:9 525 line (NTSC)"
7) Under the "Video" tab, change the dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240. Set the ratio to "16:9 525 line (NTSC)" and set "Motion Search Precision" to "Highest Quality".
8) Change "Rate Control Mode" to "Automatic VBR (CQ_VBR)
9) Press "Start"


So, I did all that, and the mpgs ratio was still off. When I forgot about changing the dimensions like it told me in step 5 and 7, my result was a perfectly proportional mpg, which was unexceptable to nero, or any other vcd burning program. This is becasue the dimetions were not compliant with a standard vcd, so I guess steps 5 and 7 are necessary. So this led me to beleive that what I need to do is add black bars to the top and bottom of the mpg. However, I'm not sure how to do that using TMPGENC. I figured out how to do it in the Panasonic MPG encoder, however, the quality of the result is not comparable to that of TMPGENC. Can someone please help me? Eather by telling me how to add black bars using TMPGENC, or perhaps by cluing me into the fact that my procedures might be wrong....


Thanx,

Hoop

[wee haggis]

If you have to you can uncheck the compliance box in Nero.
I would also look a using other Templates like Sefys.
Other than the Advanced Custom setting(ie:352x240 or whatever you require ...use preview to test),the template sets everything.
I've done over 50 compliant and non using Nero but lately I've used VCDEASY which I prefer.

[Skid]

Well, I tried a bunch of different templates, but still, the aspect ratio is way off. I think I need to add black bars, but I dont know how. I heard its possible using Virtual Dub. Does anyone know what I can do because I have a feeling that all widscrene movies are going to be like this.

Thanx

[Sefy]

Just do these two modification in TMPGEnc - Settings/Advanced:
Source aspect ratio = 16:9 Display
Video arrange method = Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)

If you use these on a Wide Screen movie, it will retain the black bars required for the wide screen effect on a VCD.

[spidey]

I've also found that since your clip has already been encoded into the avi, simply use Source Aspect of 1:1 VGA and you could resize and frameserve through Vdub. This has worked flawlessly too.