Will 720x540 appear too large on a SDTV?

[GSHARQ]

I have a bunch of shows on DVD and I want to compile several episodes onto one DVD to watch more conveniently.

I am using a program to convert the DVD files to MP4/H264 video format, but when I use the default settings, it converts the resolution from 720x480 to 720x540.

I'm wondering if this means that the picture will appear too large (cut-off) when displayed on a standard definition television. Should I manually change the resolution to 720x480 for optimal display?

[manono]

I'm wondering if this means that the picture will appear too large (cut-off) when displayed on a standard definition television.

No. What's the ratio of your standard-def TV (Width/Height)? 4:3, right? What's the ratio of 720x540? 4:3, right? Now what's the ratio of 720x480? 3:2. Does that answer your question? If you play it at 720x480 black bars will appear above and below the picture. The picture may get cut off anyway, but it'll be because of your TV set's overscan, and not because you used 720x540.

Should I manually change the resolution to 720x480 for optimal display?

That depends on 2 things - whether or not your encoding program can set a PAR value so it gets resized at playback time, and if your player honors that PAR value. Many don't.

Since you don't understand any of these things (judging from the fact that you even asked the question in the first place) I'd say let your encoding program handle the tough decisions. What is the program you're using?

[DB83]

You may also mention the player you intend to use to transmit the converted files to the tv. Many do not support mp4/h264 AFAIK

[hello_hello]

I am using a program to convert the DVD files to MP4/H264 video format, but when I use the default settings, it converts the resolution from 720x480 to 720x540.

Are these 4:3 aspect ratio DVDs? If so..... so you know what's happening.....
DVD don't use square pixels. They always have a 720x480 resolution (NTSC), but they can display using either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, depending on the DVD. A common method for converting DVDs is to resize them to square pixel dimensions while encoding. It seems that's what's happening here. 720/540 = 4:3.

If your player plays the encoded files now, you at least know it'll play encoded video using square pixels correctly. It's possible to encode a 720x480 DVD as 720x480 while setting the aspect ratio to either 4:3 or 16:9, but many players ignore aspect ratios in MP4/MKV files, in which case the encoded video won't display correctly.
If your program can set the aspect ratio while encoding and your player doesn't ignore it..... well we don't know which encoding software you're using and you'd just have to try a 720x480 encode in you player to see if it displays correctly.

Should I manually change the resolution to 720x480 for optimal display?

If the DVDs are 4:3 and your program resizes using square pixels then no, you definitely don't want to resize to 720x480. Instead, maybe try using 640x480. Even though in theory the resolution is lower than 720x540 there's virtually no visible difference between the two and it'll help keep the file sizes down, or allow you to increase the quality a bit without increasing the file sizes etc.

[jagabo]

it converts the resolution from 720x480 to 720x540.

I'm wondering if this means that the picture will appear too large (cut-off) when displayed on a standard definition television.

No. The player will resize any 4:3 DAR video to fit the 4:3 display. 1440x1080, 1280x960, 720x540, 640x480, 320x240, 160x120, will all fill the screen.