Downsizing from 1280x720 while maintaining 16:9 ratio

[pooksahib]

Hi. I've just started playing around with video files and the first thing I've learned is that it's damn complicated. The second thing I've learned is that this is probably the best place to come to for advice - there's loads of helpful stuff here.

Here's my scenario: I like to burn files on my PC to a DVD disc so that I may play them on my DVD player and watch them on my TV. I'm NOT making a conventional DVD, just leaving the files as avi,mpeg or mp4 which my DVD player can handle.

As you all probably know, such files can't be larger than 720x576. A few of my files are 1280x720 which is 16:9. If I'm to get the truest picture on my 16:9 TV then am I correct in saying that I should resize to, say, 720x405 or 640x360?

Trouble is, I use Xilisoft Video Converter and the re-size choices are 720x576;720x480; 320x240; 480x272; 640x480; 352x240.

Only 480x272 is 16:9 but I suspect picture quality would suffer with such a small dimension.

What is the best method/program for converting a 16:9 video (my 1280x720 vids) so that I can watch them on the TV without any black bars?

Grateful thanks for any suggestions.

[Cauptain]

Try 624x352 is 16x9 and good resolution to resize.

Try MEGUI to xvid (.AVI) encode.

[marioval]

Don't use xilisoft (just my opinion). I would load them into xmediarecode and choose your output profile of "DVD Standalone" (you can then choose avi or mp4, then for the resolution go to the "Crop/Preview" tab and check the box that says "keep aspect ratio", then set the width to 720 and let xmediarecode figure the height for you. You will also need to go to the "video" tab and configure your output settings there (codec, bitrate, fps, etc). Then go to the audio tab and set your desired audio outoput settings...... xmediarecode is not as noobalicious as xilisoft but a much better program once you learn the basics.

[aedipuss]

i'd try 1024x576 mp4 first. handbrake or mediacoder are free and should work if the standalone can actually play mp4. if not 720 mpeg-2 with the widescreen flag set like marioval suggested.

[Cauptain]

As you all probably know, such files can't be larger than 720x576

i'd try 1024x576 mp4 first. handbrake or mediacoder are free and should work if the standalone can actually play mp4. if not 720 mpeg-2 with the widescreen flag set like marioval suggested.

1024x576 not working in DVD player.

Handbreake and mediacoder are good, but MEGUI is best which. If you can try 720x400 or 624x352.

[pooksahib]

Many thanks to you all for those suggestions. I should perhaps have mentioned at the start that most of the files I'm putting to disk are .wmv. I've installed MEGUI and, disappointingly, wmv is not among the supported file types. I'll now try xmediarecode and report back...

[edDV]

Comes back to source file definition. Most movies are ~2.35 to 1 aspect ratio so will have letterbox at 1280x720. TV program source may be "adapted" or shot in native at 16:9 (1.77 to 1).

Classic DVD conversion would be to 720x576 with wide flag. Any DVD player would detect that as stretch to 1024x768 (16:9). Unfortunately many DVD players don't honor wide flags for the optional formats. This differs player to player.

Safe tactic is encode divx/xvid/etc to square pixels (e.g. 720x405, 640x360, etc) but those WILL show letterbox.

In other words, test your player and don't expect other players to display the same result.

[Bonie81]

with size 640x360 (16:9), i was successful for editing purpose or converting into different container without any problem.

[edDV]

with size 640x360 (16:9), i was successful for editing purpose or converting into different container without any problem.

But 640x360 is so low res*. If I can't have HD, 1024x576 display is OK.


* especially with low bit rate 16x16 blocking.

[Cauptain]

Many thanks to you all for those suggestions. I should perhaps have mentioned at the start that most of the files I'm putting to disk are .wmv. I've installed MEGUI and, disappointingly, wmv is not among the supported file types. I'll now try xmediarecode and report back...

WMV working normal in MEGUI...strange.



You opening WMV files in AVS script creator??

[mike20021969]

WMV working normal in MEGUI...strange.

EDIT - original comment deleted to to mis-understanding question.
Oops.

[Cauptain]

WMV working normal in MEGUI...strange.

EDIT - original comment deleted to to mis-understanding question.
Oops.

No problem man.

For all file type, open before with AVS Script Creator or make your AVS file. For AVI, try DirectShowSource if Avisource not working.

[pooksahib]

Well, I'm pleased to say I'm a lot further forward now. I installed the portable version of xmediarecode and, thanks to marioval's clear instructions, I had a converted copy of a wmv file within minutes. I left all the video/audio settings as 'default' except 'bitrate'. The original file had a bitrate of 4000 so I changed the xmediarecode bitrate from 2000 to 4000. Would you all have done the same?


As regards MeGUI, I originally went straight for 'one click encoder' (I like things simple), that's why I couldn't load a wmv file. Now that I've figured it out, isn't MeGUI overly complex? Create an avs file / create a video file / create an audio file / mux the two together. No wonder I had problems with it...


Anyway, I managed to convert the same wmv file with MeGUI. The bitrate of the new mp4 file is just 988 which, to my mind, says 'poorer quality' (although the vid looks perfectly OK). There are many settings you can change with this program but I can't see 'bitrate' anywhere. Need I be concerned with what the bitrate is?


The wmv file I used for testing was only 17 seconds long and 8.96MB. Using xmediarecode the new file was 8.64MB, with Xilisoft it's 14MB but with MeGUI it's only 2.27MB. That just seems too small. Or maybe the program's just really efficient?


I want to have the best picture quality possible. Which of the many settings within MeGUI would you recommend changing?


One final question on MeGUI: I opted for an mp4 file so which muxer should I be using – Adaptive Muxer or MP4 Muxer (both seem to work)?

Safe tactic is encode divx/xvid/etc to square pixels (e.g. 720x405, 640x360, etc) but those WILL show letterbox.

I don't understand that. If I create a video with a 16:9 ratio then surely the picture will fully occupy a 16:9 TV screen? If there are bars above and below then the actual video can't be 16:9, it would be more like Cinemascope, no?


Well, that's a fairly long post and I sincerely thank you all for reading it and helping me out. Like I said, this video editing lark isn't easy but it's good to know there's somewhere like this to go for assistance. Regards to all.

[edDV]

Safe tactic is encode divx/xvid/etc to square pixels (e.g. 720x405, 640x360, etc) but those WILL show letterbox.

I don't understand that. If I create a video with a 16:9 ratio then surely the picture will fully occupy a 16:9 TV screen? If there are bars above and below then the actual video can't be 16:9, it would be more like Cinemascope, no?

If you create a !6:9 video it will fill the frame. But most movie content is wider than 16:9 so will show letterbox unless cropped.