Adjusting size

[kirkmc]

I Googled for a fix for converting 4:3 to 16:9 but I don't think that is what I want. My file is 'squashed" at 4:3 aspect and just needs widening.
I have Handbrake and VideoRedo but if either do that I can't see how.
Any help/suggestions appreciated.

[hech54]

If you were to draw a 4cm by 3cm box on a piece of paper, you can see what needs to be done.
You need to zoom into the image and lose some of the image's top and bottom.
Anything else is squashing or stretching.
The End.

[kirkmc]

Not sure I follow.. there's nothing to lose from top/bottom. It *is* stretching that's required as it has been squashed.
So zooming in will just keep the squashing, yes ?
But how would that be done? With what.

[theewizard]

if it is squashed
you just want to change the display aspect ratio
any number of video editing programs can do that

you can even do that on the fly playing in vlc by going to video, aspect ratio, and select what you want

i see a lot of youtube videos that have been stretched sideways, old TV clips that have been stretched to 16:9
people with fat faces, clocks and tires that are oval not round

try avidemux
add video filter
change aspect

[LigH.de]

Depending on the formats of the video content or the container, you can even add/edit an aspect ratio flag without any recompression. Especially the MP4 and the MKV container are well supported with tools to edit their attributes with minimal changes. For MKV you may use the mkvtoolnix package, for MP4 you can use MP4Box as CLI multiplexer (or several GUIs if you are not so experienced on the console).

Unfortunately you did not tell us any technical details (usually a MediaInfo report is the expected minimum) which kind of media file you have.

[kirkmc]

Thanks for the tips and links. Will check them out. Yes I see the improvement with VLC. That's my goal to save it like that for viewing on a TV.

You want a media info file still ?

[hech54]

I still don't understand whether you are trying to FIX a 4:3 to 16:9 conversion or trying to create one.

[Cornucopia]

Real simple tool to use: math.

The universal formula

 DAR = PAR * Width / Height

can be expanded to 2 instances (e.g. DAR1, DAR2) and then find one commonality so you can plug it in, merge them together, and solve for the missing info. Standard algebraic methods.

Then, most conversion/re-encoding apps can do the job using the new settings arrived at. This works EVERY time.

Scott

[LigH.de]

@ hech54: Probably just adding a missing AR flag or editing a wrong one.

@ kirkmc: Yes, a MediaInfo report would help us knowing if either of the mentioned tools can help you, according to the available video content format and container format.

[kirkmc]

I am trying to fix a file that's too narrow (squashed). It was created this way, somehow (by someone else). I think it was broadcast in 4:3 format but also squashed further. Playing with VLC Aspect ratio will improve it, but afaik, won't Save it like that. I'd yet to try some of the tools suggested here (thanks).

--
General
Complete name : \\Jill-pc\Movies\AA Series\The Jeremy Thorpe Scandal.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 691 MiB
Duration : 1 h 0 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 1 598 kb/s

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=12
Duration : 1 h 0 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 1 310 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 9 523 kb/s
Width : 352 pixels
Height : 288 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.517
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed : Open
GOP, Open/Closed of first frame : Closed
Stream size : 566 MiB (82%)
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.470 System B, BT.470 System G
Matrix coefficients : BT.601

Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 1 h 0 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf)
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -30 ms
Stream size : 111 MiB (16%)

Menu

[jagabo]

If that's really supposed to be 16:9 DAR use DVD Patcher. First make a backup copy. Then open the file in DVD Patcher, change the Aspect Ration to 16:9, Patch: Entire File, Patch: Now.

[kirkmc]

Thanks jagabo, I made the adjustments in DVD Patcher and the aspect was much improved, played in Media Player Classic - Home Cinema 1.5.3.370.
But when played in the TV there was no change at all. I have PC Networked to Rasp Pi and use KODI for streaming.

Incidentally what does DAR/PAR stand for ?

[manono]

Display Aspect Ratio, Pixel Aspect Ratio.

[jagabo]

I made the adjustments in DVD Patcher and the aspect was much improved, played in Media Player Classic - Home Cinema 1.5.3.370.
But when played in the TV there was no change at all. I have PC Networked to Rasp Pi and use KODI for streaming.

I was surprised to hear that so I checked on my RPi/Kodi. I saw the same thing. The AR flag was ignored. But VLC doesn't render it properly either. It displayed the video as 2.1:2 DAR, not 1.78:1. I also tried remuxing the video into MKV flagged as 16:9 but the RPi displayed it as 4:3. It looks like you'll have to resize and reencode.

[kirkmc]

Thanks for info jagabo. Good to know we're seeing the same thing. Should I now try Handbrake? I'm sure that allows resize but it'd be trial and error here, unless you can suggest some figures ? Or would MP4Box (which I've not used) be preferable?