encoding 2.35:1 anamorphic dvd - black bars on left and righ

[duckweed11]

Hi,

This is driving me crazy. I ripped a 2.35:1 (cinemascope right?) widescreen PAL anamorphic dvd of mine to PC using smartripper's file mode, then use dvd2avi to make a d2v and wav, convert the d2v to a stuttering avi with VFAPI, open the avi in virtualdub, and then frameserve it to TMPGEnc. If it helps, in VirtualDub the picture is squashed, as an anamorphic picture should be I think. Ok in VDub, before frameserving, I have to complicate matters by using the smart resize filter to resize to 352 X 288. Currently that's set to "fit height and width w/letterboxing". Aspect ratio adjust in the smart filter configuration is "4 / 3" to get the right aspect ratio.

In TMPGEnc, I set the souce aspect ratio to 4:3 625 line PAL(is this right?) and I set the output aspect ratio to 4:3 625 line PAL (is this right?). The image positioning setting is "center" since the video's already set up correctly in VDub (right?). I've actually tried so many different settings for the two aspect ratio settings that I can't remember which ones produced what... but the main problem that keeps happening is that I get black bars on the left and right hand sides of the screen in the finished encoded file.

Now I'm pretty sure it's a simple problem to fix, but I just can't seem to understand what it is I'm doing wrong and what I need to change. One of you experts probably can see what I'm doing wrong straight away

Anyway, if you can tell me what I'm doing wrong, at any stage of the process, or suggest a different method that would work, please say so! Thanks for your time.

Simon

[flaninacupboard]

why are you using virtual dub? you can open the file dvd2avi outputs (whatever.d2v) in TMPGEnc! all you do now is set source aspect ratio to 16:9 PAL 625, video arrange is full screen [keep aspect ratio] and output is 4:3 PAL 625. this should produce a 352x288 file with black at top and bottom, and the movie in the middle in the correct aspect ratio.

[Truman]

If you want to resize with Vdub, you should resize to 352x224 and add 2x32 pixel borders.
Then set the source in TMPG as 4:3.
btw, the DVD is 16:9 anamorphic (1:2,35 widescreen), right?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Truman on 2001-08-20 10:26:45 ]</font>

[duckweed11]

Firstly, thank you incredibly for your help. I downloaded the latest version of TMPGEnc since I was using TMPGEnc 12a before (mpeg-2 encoding), and then encoded a small test file. Strange thing is, the same thing happened when I played it in the GDivX player I was using. Which was puzzling cos you seemed like you knew what you were saying...

so I used Windows Media Player and fullscreen works fine! Thanks for that if you hadn't posted I would probably have given up Why GDivX doesn't do the full screen i'm not sure but hey...

I was using VirtualDub most importantly because it allows for subtitles to be added to the movie (VobSub filter). In light of this (I need the subtitles) can someone lead me through a way of adding subtitles to the movie in that will still work fullscreen? Perhaps using the Smart Resize filter and VirtualDub, and specifying the options I should use for my PAL 1:2.35 anamorphic DVD in TMPGEnc? Sorry if you think I'm lazy, I have read through the VCD cookbook, Nicky Page's guides, SoD's guides, and a few more but I'm now completely confused and need someone with experience who can help me through this film specifically rather than a general guide.

The other reason is that the Smart Resize filter has a lot more options. I am especially interested in the "filter mode" option, which allows me to specify nearest neighbour, bilinear, bicubic, precise bilinear and precise bicubic. And these would improve the quality of the final VCD right..? Okay I just tried encoding a small clip with TMPGEnc 12a, VDub as frameserver as was originally intended, MPEG-2 encoding, "Fit to Frame" position (*not* keep aspect ratio), and 4:3 chosen as both input and output aspect ratios (well that's what I think I should be using since Smart Resize has already resized it right?). I had to use my DVD player on my PC to play it back fullscreen... and as before with GDivX, the aspect ratio looks ok, but the movie doesn't take up the full horizontal screen width, black bars on the left and right. Is this a problem with the players by chance? GDivX and DVD Station (H+ card). Now because I hate to leave a problem unsolved, if someone definitely knows a way of using the smart resize filter and TMPGEnc with the correct options to make a MPEG2 file from my vobs that will play fullscreen in DVD station, please tell me what i need to do.

and thanks again flaninacupboard, and also Truman.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: duckweed11 on 2001-08-20 11:38:43 ]</font>

[duckweed11]

Truman, thanks for the reply... yes the dvd is anamorphic 1:2.35 widescreen, but it's also PAL... does that change your resize recommendations? Should the pixel border be all round, or just at the top/bottom or sides? The output in TMPGEnc I presume is 4:3 as well?

And last question... do I resize with those dimensions specifically so that the whole movie will fit in? Is that sacrificing aspect ratio accuracy compared to 352 X 288?

[Truman]

If the dvd is 16:9 anamorphic (1:2,35 widescreen with borders top and buttom), set new width 352, new height 224, filter mode whatever you want, check letterbox image, frame width 352, frame height 288.
If you have a real 1:2,35 anamorphic DVD, set new height to 176 instead of 224, everything else as set above.
TMPG aspect ratios both 4:3 625linePAL. Video arrange method (source/advanced tab full screen[keep aspect ratio]).
This work well on a standalone dvd player, windows media player and WinDVD.

[duckweed11]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
If the dvd is 16:9 anamorphic (1:2,35 widescreen with borders top and buttom), set new width 352, new height 224, filter mode whatever you want, check letterbox image, frame width 352, frame height 288.

If you have a real 1:2,35 anamorphic DVD, set new height to 176 instead of 224, everything else as set above.</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

What's the difference / how do I know the difference between the two? The first one you call "16:9 anamorphic (1:2.35 widescreen with borders top and bottom)". Mine is widescreen, it's 1:2.35 aspect ratio, and it plays with borders top and bottom. On the other hand I believe my DVD is also the second thing, in that it's "enhanced for 16:9 display" (says on the back of the case - means anamorphic?), and has an aspect ratio of 1:2.35. Which one?!!!

thanks again btw

[Truman]

So it is 16:9.

[duckweed11]

Soz truman.. in your last last post, u didn't mention the "2 X 32 pixel borders". Do I still put them in or does the letterboxing option take care of that?

cheers
Simon

[Truman]

dvd2avi does not rezise. It shows you a 4:3 image, so a 16:9 source look stretched vertically.
Resize with Vdub to 352x224 and check "letterbox image".
By setting new width/height to 352x288 Vdub adds borders (32 top and 32 buttom).
btw, if you use this settings, don't crop with dvd2avi. It isn't necessary anyway.

[duckweed11]

Hi,

Truman thanks, it worked! Just finished encoding, and tested it a bit. But when I click on fast forward or even click on the timeline in Windows Media Player, the picture and sound just freezes (although the timer keeps going up). WMP is the only player I have (DVD station and GDivX are the others) which shows the movie fullscreen letterboxed which is why I used it to test this movie. DVD Station and GDivX when watching fullscreen leave bars at the left and right still, but I'm not worried about that if I can watch it in WMP. so does anyone know how to encode the movie so that I can fast forward and basically "search" through the picture?

thanks truman, and all
Simon