choosing correct aspect ratio in TMPGenc for converting

[giantsquid]

I've converted many avi's using TMPGenc and don't seem to have any major problems.

I just started thinking about the aspect ratio. Sometimes when I use the TMPGenc wizard and select my avi to convert, it has a box on the first page(the same page that I select my file to convert on) that lists it's aspect ratio. Now this will be filled in with the default. Sometimes it says 4:3, sometimes a different ratio.

What I was wondering was...Should I leave it at the default to get the best quality. I always go into advanced and change to keep aspect ratio-full screen. But untill now, I always change the ratio to 1:1 vga. I've never had any problems, but I'm now wondering if I would get a better picture quality if I left the aspect ratio alone.

Should I leave aspect ratio alone? or should I always change it to 1:1?

Thank you.

-Giant Squid

[puertorican138]

Keep it at 1:1 (VGA).

[giantsquid]

Thank you very much. *WHEW* That's what I've been doing, and I would have been upset with myself to hear I could've gotten a better quality, but now I'm glad I know.
Thanks
-Giant Squid

[puertorican138]

Thank you very much. *WHEW* That's what I've been doing, and I would have been upset with myself to hear I could've gotten a better quality, but now I'm glad I know.
Thanks
-Giant Squid

Sure pal!!! :P

[txpharoah]

If the final product will be viewed on a tv, then 4:3 is the correct aspect. If on your computer, it really does not matter. Either are fine. 1:1 looks better in Windows Media Player, but other software doesn't usually care.

[puertorican138]

If the final product will be viewed on a tv, then 4:3 is the correct aspect. If on your computer, it really does not matter. Either are fine. 1:1 looks better in Windows Media Player, but other software doesn't usually care.

If the source file that you encoded from was a DivX, then the source aspect ratio would always be 1:1 (VGA). If the source that you encoded from was a DVD, then the aspect ratio would be 4:3 or 16:9 depending on the Aspect Ratio of the DVD.

[Gnerma]

Okay I've heard before that the aspect ratio should be 1:1 if encoding from a divx file but nobody has ever said why. Because neither the divx file nor the TV are 1:1 aspect ratio mediums. For that matter VGA is not 1:1 either, to my understanding it is 4:3 just like a TV (800x600 = 4:3).

What I am trying to say is... if neither the source, or destination of the video is 1:1, why 1:1? And what difference does it make anyway?

[Nitemare]

The 1:1 option if basically for non-standard sizes. Yes, Most Divx files are either 4:3 or 16:9, and you could probably select those options and be okay IF you're sure they're correct.

Now, let's say that someone made a divx file and changed from "widescreen" to "full screen" but they did it incorrectly. Now you select 4:3 as your source and "full screen:keep aspect ratio" and encode but find that your finished product has a screwed up aspect ratio. By selecting 1:1 you're assured that what you see on the PC will be what you see on the TV after you've burned your discs.

It also keeps any PAL to NTSC conversions from looking wrong and you can take any crap file you downloaded from the net and make it look right (aspect ratio... not quality) on your DVD player.

Conversely, when burning a captured a non-divx interlaced AVI file, you always want to select 4:3 as your source and refrain from deinterlacing (for SVCDs... for VCDs you might as well deinterlace). Selecting the 4:3 aspect ratio makes the finished, interlaced video look correct on the TV. Slecting 1:1 for an interlaced AVI will probably yield bad results.

I hope this wasn't too much info all at once!

Regards,
Nitemare