converting mkv to dvd ratio issues

[arconreef]

I have been trying to convert an 848x480 16:9 mkv (H.624 video with AC3 audio) to a vob or mpg file for dvd playback using avi2dvd. The problem is, when I pop the freshly burned dvd with the converted video file into it, the ratio is at 4:3 despite that when I play it with VLC on my pc it plays at 16:9!

Does anyone know what the issue is?

[manono]

It sounds to me like the VOBs are 16:9 and the IFOs 4:3, but that's just speculation. You can confirm or disprove by opening the DVD in PGCEdit and highlighting the video. Then right-click and hit Domain Streams Attributes. If it says 4:3, change it to 16:9 and Automatic Letterbox.

Have you also tested with other software DVD players? And with VLC, are you playing a VOB or the DVD itself?

[arconreef]

Actually, the file I was playing was a .mpg, but I will test the vob version and update this post when I have tried it.

[manono]

Actually, the file I was playing was a .mpg...

Then it's an apples to oranges comparison, comparing software playback of an MPG to a DVD player playback of a DVD.

[arconreef]

Obviously I did not properly express myself.

I was playing an mpg file in a dvd player (as far as I know all dvd players can play them) and it was 4:3, yet when I played the SAME file in VLC it displayed the video correctly (16:9 ratio).

In my original post I said "vob or mpg". That was a mistake on my part as I should have specified which one.

In both cases (dvd player and VLC) I was playing a mpg file.

What I meant in my second post was that I will burn a cd with normal dvd formatting rather than mpg and test it in both VLC and the dvd player.

At this moment I am still waiting for QuEnc to finish it's 2nd pass of encoding.

[manono]

No, not all DVD players play MPGs or play them properly. For all I know it wasn't honoring the DAR and was playing it at 3:2 (1.5:1 or the 720x480 resolution). Does AVI2DVD even produce MPGs? Come back after you've made the DVD.

What I meant in my second post was that I will burn a cd with normal dvd formatting rather than mpg and test it in both VLC and the dvd player.

I hope you meant to say you'll burn a DVDR and not a CD because not all DVD players play Mini-DVDs or play them properly either.

[jagabo]

Playing MPG files is not part of the DVD spec and many (most?) players will not play them. Those that do play them often ignore the aspect ratio flag.