2.35:1 Aspect Ratio Retension Problem HELP!!

[F-ING HOSTILE]

HI- I'm new to dvd burning, so please forgive my ignorance in advance I've made backups of several of my DVDs using the "DVD to DVDR For Dummies" guide (under "How To".."DVD RIP"). This has proven to be a simple method with which I can retain the highest quality video, digital sound and original chapters (no menus or special features). Everything works great when copying standard 1.33:1 Full-Screen (4:3), and 1.85:1 widescreen (16:9) movies. The problem comes when I attemp to copy a 2.35:1 widescreen movie. If I use the 720x480 settings given to me (by DVD Decrypter, DVD2AVI, and TMPG) the finished movie is stretched into the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, resulting in the "long face" look. It seems that most of the software used cannot distinguish between the two main widescreen aspect ratios. They are all viewed as 720x480 (16:9). DVD Decrypter reads the original 2.35 DVD as 720x480, so I ripped the files, and attempted to use the "clip + resize" function of DVD2AVI v1.76 to correct the resolution. After taking in the black bars to 720x360, I had my aspect ratio back. I used the same numbers for TMPG, and came out with a perfect 2.35 video. The only problem is that when I try to compile the DVD, using DVD Maestro, it will not accept the "corrected" M2V file. When I attempt to import the M2V, it prompts an error that reads, "Illegal Picture Resolution For DVD Video". I've tryed leaving DVD2AVI's 730x480 resolution alone, later rescaling it in TMPG, but with the same error. I have a feeling my problem might be with my TMPG settings (I have set all the specifics exactly as described in the guide, with the exception of the video size). If there are a few settings corrected, perhaps DVD Maestro will alow my M2V to import. Also, I just tryed a newer version of DVD2AVI (v 1.82). This version lets you choose the actual 2.35 ratio, and automatically resizes accordingly (to 720x272), but TMPG will not support this d2v file for some reason. If I could get TMPG to support my DVD2AVI v1.82 d2v(that already has the correct ratio), mabye i could use that without trouble. I would truly appreciate any advice that you could give. THANKS!!!

Also- If anyone that has successfully copied a 2.35 movie (retaining the correct ratio) could tell me how it's done, or point me towards a guide, that would really help!

I was just able to get TMPG to except my DVD2AVI v1.82 2.35 d2v, but in order to keep the ratio right, I'll have to change the video size on TMPG, most likely still resulting in an error when I get to DVD Maestro. Mabye another authoring program would let me compile a DVD project using the resized M2V?

[sammie]

The only way I've found to get it exactly right is to use avisyth to "resize" then "add borders" of the appropriate size. The new CCE basic seems to have presets for both formats, so we'll see how that works as well.

[Vejita-sama]

Ok, here's the 'problem.' Most DVDs released now are apomorphic. That means that they are authored so as to preserve the 'original' aspect ratio, then flagged as either 16:9 or 4:3. Widescreen TVs actually have a DAR of 1.77:1 but that's a whole other discussion.

Movies that have DARs of 2.35:1 or 2.39:1 are also flagged as 16:9. Now clearly that isn't going to look right on any TV. So what happens is the MPEGs are actually encoded with black bars at the top and bottom on the video (demux the m2v, or preview the VOB files in DVD2AVI).

If you DVD player is set to 4:3 it adds letterboxing on the fly (as normal) this PLUS the black bars that are already in the MPEG preserve the original DAR. For a widescreen TV only the black bars that already part of the MPEG are displayed.

So in answer to your question. X(S)VCDs have a DAR of 4:3 (only). Like "sammie" what I normally do is framesever to CCE w/ avisynth (TMPGenc can read avisynth files too). Here's what I normally use:

LoadPlugin("c:\..\MPEG2DEC.DLL")
mpeg2source("c:\..\movie.d2v")
bicubicresize(width,360,0,6)
addborders(0,60,0,60)

for width I use either 480 (SVCD) or 352 (CVD). I did that AVS file from memory so double check it

[F-ING HOSTILE]

Thanks for the replys!
What versions of Avisynth and CCE do you guys use?
Also, Is anyone aware of any good guides reguarding Avisynth?
THANKS!!