Do I absolutely have to do a full conversion or can I just modify the scale

[aardvark2zz]

I have a 1 hr long 320 x 240 divx avi video and want to make it a 640 x 240 divx avi video (i.e. double its width only).

I want to play it on non-highend divx avi (DVD disc) players.

Do I absolutely have to do a full conversion or can I just modify the scaling/dimension parameters (and the divx player will dimension it as it plays) ??

Thanks in advance.

[jagabo]

Use Mpeg4Modifier to change the aspect ratio without reencoding. Some players may not respect the AR flags though.

[yoda313]

I have an easier option that may or may not be satisfactory for you.

Simply use the zoom button on your tv. Assuming of course a - this is a widescreen video that is letterboxed and b - that you have a widescreen tv.

Zooming in will enlarge it without distorting it and in realtime.

It won't be the same as if it was properly 16:9 anamorphic of course but it saves the hassle of reencoding. Especially if its only one video you are doing. Just zoom in and forget it.

Your only problem might be if its like a tv broadcast that might have some interview sections in full frame 4:3 and then flips back to letterbox. Then simply "unzoom" so you see the whole picture.

Hope that helps.

Edit - please try jagabo's suggestion also though. I don't believe I've ever done that myself so I can't say how easy or time consuming it is. But give both suggestions a try.

[jagabo]

please try jagabo's suggestion also though. I don't believe I've ever done that myself so I can't say how easy or time consuming it is.

Trivial. Open file, set PAR or DAR, Save. Takes hardly any time at all.

[aardvark2zz]

Use Mpeg4Modifier to change the aspect ratio without reencoding. Some players may not respect the AR flags though.

Will look into it very soon. Thanks a lot.

yoda313: I want to make it perfect and permanent for mere mortals. I only want to do a doubling in WIDTH; and not change the height. It's a home movie filmed with a cinemascope lens onto a 4:3 frame.

[sanlyn]

CinemaScope was originally produced at 2.55:1, then was standardized in 1954 or so at 2.35:1 (also called Wide Panavision). If you extend 340x240 (1.3333:1) to 640x240, you've stretched it to 2.6666:1. If you want to go from 1.33:1 to 2.35:1 standard CinemaScope, change it to 564x240.

What your player or TV will do with it is anyone's guess.