Maximum and best resolution this DVD player can support

[Chaffee]

You've probably seen some questions like this, I've been searching through forums but didn't find exact answer. I'd like to convert couple of WMV (and few MPEG4) video files which are in 1280x720 resolution (same as TV's maximum resolution) to XviD so those could be playable in a standalone DVD player (non-HD). I do the conversion to AVI-XviD, set the frame rate to 25 and get them playable after encoding to 352x288 resolution. Video has black bars (since it's not a widescreen resolution) but that's not the proble, real problem is low video quality (due to low res). I tried to encode it to 720x480 and it didn't work. Do you have any clue what's the maximum resolution I could achieve on this player? It's some of the cheaper ones, wasn't sure which one.

[Richard_G]

Where in the world are you? Frame rate of 25 and 352x288 are European PAL standards, but 720x480 is US NTSC Full D1 (see What is DVD at top left). You need to encode to DVD Full D1, 720x576 if PAL. Bitrate will affect quality far more than resolution.

[Baldrick]

Try convert to a 16:9 size like around 720x406 or 640x360. Make some short samples and test on your player.

[Chaffee]

Where in the world are you? Frame rate of 25 and 352x288 are European PAL standards, but 720x480 is US NTSC Full D1 (see What is DVD at top left). You need to encode to DVD Full D1, 720x576 if PAL. Bitrate will affect quality far more than resolution.

I'm in Europe, so it's PAL standard then. I encoded it to 720x576 XviD, we'll try with that option. Should I keep it on 25 fps or raise it (keeping in mind that it's PAL standard)? I've been earlier thinking that higher fps's have been causing some troubles with playing files too. Thank you!

Try convert to a 16:9 size like around 720x406 or 640x360. Make some short samples and test on your player.

I can enter those resolutions only manually. Will try to encode couple of files in that res. and try it then. Thank you!

[jagabo]

Most DVD players that support Divx/Xvid AVI have a max limit of 720x576 25 fps, or 720x480 30 fps.

[jman98]

352x288 is PAL VCD resolution. That's REALLY old. Not sure where you came up with that idea from as VCD was only officially used in Eastern Europe and you don't sound like an Eastern European in how you write. Low resolution does not necessarily equal low quality. Quality really depends on bit rate. If you use a sufficiently high bit rate, even 352x288 could look good. However, some resizing programs don't do a very good job. I'm guessing that the combination of resizing so much and your video program probably choosing a very low bit rate to encode with led to the poor quality.

You should probably tell us what you are using to encode. Some general tips include NOT using QPel or GMC at all for the best chance of your DVD player being able to play it. You should also avoid packed bit stream for the same reason. Finally, note that many DVD players don't support Divx/Xvid playback at all.

[Chaffee]

Most DVD players that support Divx/Xvid AVI have a max limit of 720x576 25 fps, or 720x480 30 fps.

Thank you for the info! Like I mentioned above, 720x480 isn't playable with 25 fps, does it mean it could be playable on this player if I encode it to 30 fps?

352x288 is PAL VCD resolution. That's REALLY old. Not sure where you came up with that idea from as VCD was only officially used in Eastern Europe and you don't sound like an Eastern European in how you write. Low resolution does not necessarily equal low quality. Quality really depends on bit rate. If you use a sufficiently high bit rate, even 352x288 could look good. However, some resizing programs don't do a very good job. I'm guessing that the combination of resizing so much and your video program probably choosing a very low bit rate to encode with led to the poor quality.

You should probably tell us what you are using to encode. Some general tips include NOT using QPel or GMC at all for the best chance of your DVD player being able to play it. You should also avoid packed bit stream for the same reason. Finally, note that many DVD players don't support Divx/Xvid playback at all.

I'm using free tools: Any Video Converter 5 and Freemake Video Converter. Fps is 25 by default, and it works in combination with VCD resolution. Tomorrow I'll see if it works in 720x576/25 fps.

[jagabo]

Most DVD players that support Divx/Xvid AVI have a max limit of 720x576 25 fps, or 720x480 30 fps.

Thank you for the info! Like I mentioned above, 720x480 isn't playable with 25 fps, does it mean it could be playable on this player if I encode it to 30 fps?

No. The file may use some of the Xvid features that players don't support. QPel and GMC. In those cases you have to reencode. Or maybe the audio codec isn't supported.

Also, some players don't support files over 1 GB or 2 GB.

See if you can play these:

[Chaffee]

jagabo unfortunately I can't try those files right now. I'll try that tomorrow since I don't use a st DVD player, I'll let my friend try that at his place since he and his family have been using standalone DVD player. I'll also try to convert same file in different combinations and ask him which ones of those he's able to play. I'll also recommend him this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Designer-Habitat-Nano-3-0-Flashdrives/dp/B005ERNITE/ref=cm_rdp_product Seems like a great solution for his needs.

[Chaffee]

Just to confirm, everything above worked, all resolutions. Even 720x480 functioned on 30 fps (I created 7 different files with different resolutions and fps). I'll probably stick to 720x406 in this case since it's 16:9 resolution. Thank you for your help and suggestions lads!

[jagabo]

I'll probably stick to 720x406 in this case since it's 16:9 resolution.

406 (mod 2) is a risky number. A lot players in the past couldn't handle that. I'd stick with 404 (mod 4, safer), 408 (mod 8, even safer) or 400 (mod 16, safest), and live with the slight AR error. You won't even notice it.

[Chaffee]

I'll probably stick to 720x406 in this case since it's 16:9 resolution.

406 (mod 2) is a risky number. A lot players in the past couldn't handle that. I'd stick with 404 (mod 4, safer), 408 (mod 8, even safer) or 400 (mod 16, safest), and live with the slight AR error. You won't even notice it.

Ok, so which one of those you would recommend the most? Those are widescreen resolutions aye? Since it's 720p TV I'm going out of pool of some standard resolutions in favour of widescreen ones. But if 720x406 works on their DVD player it's not really important that it's playable on other players. And sorry for my ignorance what does AR means?

[jagabo]

But if 720x406 works on their DVD player it's not really important that it's playable on other players.

If that is you only criteria then it's ok. But if you want to be safe and be sure it will play on their (or your) next Divx/Xvid DVD player, or almost every one in the world, use 720x400.

And sorry for my ignorance what does AR means?

Aspect Ratio. 720x400 is about a 1 percent error in aspect ratio. Nobody can see that. In fact, before the advent of modern fixed pixel displays most CRT TVs had a greater AR error than that.

[Chaffee]

But if 720x406 works on their DVD player it's not really important that it's playable on other players.

If that is you only criteria then it's ok. But if you want to be safe and be sure it will play on their (or your) next Divx/Xvid DVD player, or almost every one in the world, use 720x400.

Ok, thanks!

Aspect Ratio. 720x400 is about a 1 percent error in aspect ratio. Nobody can see that. In fact, before the advent of modern fixed pixel displays most CRT TVs had a greater AR error than that.

Aaa got it. Haven't been really using that abbrev.