another aspect ratio question - I'm getting there .....

[markmarkymark]

I think I may have discovered my problem in understanding ..

using the wizard on manual in TMPGenc and selecting the VCD template I have then set aspect ratio to 1:1 and full screen (keep aspect ratio) in settings / advanced ...

but the video still did not look like a preview of the origonal divx...

i then noticed in the settings / video section (which is normally locked) that the aspect ratio was set to 4:3 (greyed out). Why is this ? Is this a function on the template ??

Anyway, I unlocked this tab and changed the value to 1:1 ..now its fine. Should this still burn OK as a VCD (I mean I have not changed the standard ??) ....

[banjazzer]

It may not play correctly on your DVD player. Generally, even with widescreen TV, it is better to leave this setting in its locked position at 4:3.

And the preview settings in TMPG do not always accurately reflect the encoded movie. The best way is to use the source range setting and encode a small sample.

[markmarkymark]

thanks ...

Well the story is that with this particular Dvix movie - unless the aspect radio is set to 1:1 (in video section) then it looks kinda stretched in the vertical direction (the heads of people are a give away) ...

However, whilst 1:1 gives good clarity and looks the best, it does mean that watching the movie on my 4:3 TV takes some getting used to, since at least a 1/3 of the screen (shared top and bottom) is taken up by a border ....

thanks once again ...

[banjazzer]

When I play on my widescreen TV, most stuff has borders, unless I use the zoom function. Increasingly, DVD players will allow various zoom settings, too. On my standard 4:3 TV most stuff fills the screen, but occasionally I will get large borders top and bottom. This is really down to the original material, and the only way around it (short of zooming) is to cut off the left and right edges when encoding.

[markmarkymark]

thanks again for your very generous help .... I really feel I'm learning something usful here ... in fact the whole site is an amazing learning resource !

cheers

mark