Nero keeps changing the aspect ratio

[cheeth]

I'm trying to burn an SVCD with Nero 5.5.9.0 and it keeps changing the aspect ratio from wide screen to 4:3. The original MPEG-2 file is 720x272 wide screen.

[KingJohn]

Super Video-CD NTSC (MPEG-2 480x480 29.97fps CBR 2520kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps)

Super Video-CD PAL (MPEG-2 480x576 25fps CBR 2520kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps)

[banjazzer]

If you are burning an SBVD-compliant mpeg-2 with Nero, the encoding has already been done for you. Nero will retain the aspect ratio and framerate of the original. If you are using Nero to encode to mpeg-2, then don't. It is not good at encoding. Prefer to use TMPG to encode and Nero to burn.

However, as you say your mpeg-2 is 720x272 you don't have an SVCD-compliant mpeg-2. So you will need to re-encode, and Nero is not the tool for the job.

[cheeth]

I didn't encode the original AVI files, they're originally 720x272 (ultra wide screen). I used TMPGEnc to convert them to SVCD MPEG-2 format. Is there anyway to bun this to CD so it plays in letterbox format?

[banjazzer]

In which case choosing Source aspect ratio=1:1(VGA) and Video arrange method=Full screen(keep aspect ratio) should do the trick. I don't know what mode you normally use in TMPG, but if you do a test sample at least using CQ you will see roughly what your encode will look like as it starts. Also, it might be worth unlocking the template and setting Video>aspect ratio to one of the 16:9 option if you want to view on a widescreen TV. If you do unlock just be careful your other setings don't drift off.

[KingJohn]

I didn't encode the original AVI files, they're originally 720x272 (ultra wide screen). I used TMPGEnc to convert them to SVCD MPEG-2 format. Is there anyway to bun this to CD so it plays in letterbox format?

The default settings in TMPGEnc should be just fine, but if you have changed anything it might have retained the setting.

1, load SVCD template
2, Settings > advanced > Full screen > keep aspect ratio
This will ratain the black borders, which you can zoom them out, on a wide screen TV

[cheeth]

Thanks, full screen (keep aspect ratio) did the trick.