anamorphic conversion with tmpgenc and CCE

[Dragonsf]

I searched this forum and the web and couldn't still find a satisfying answer to the following problem:

I have a video (m2v) from a PAL anamorphic (16:9) DVD and try to convert this to 1 DVD with a lower Bitrate.The result should have the same aspect ratio but still be in anamorphic.
It works well will CCE (setting DAR to 16:9), but it won't work with tmpgenc:after authoring the DVD with ifoedit and playing the VOB with PowerDVD, the CCE encode video is as aspected but the tmpgenc generated has the wrong aspect ratio (4:3 with the stretched display).

Question: how must I encode with tmpgenc and author with ifoedit, that the result will have the correct aspect?

I read, I could use BitRate Viewer to correct the aspect after encoding.Is that feasible?Or that the author process can change the setting inf the ifo, but how can ifoedit do that?

[DJRumpy]

You can always just change the DAR flag on your MPEG using PULLDOWN.EXE (find it in the TOOLS section). No encoding required.

Why are you using TMPGenc, if you already have a working copy of CCE? Too much time on your hands?

[Dragonsf]

1. No way to get tmpgenc encoding a 16:9 aspect mpeg.The DAR stays always at 4:3 no matter what combination I tried.
2. I tried pulldown and it worked.Disadvantage:it makes a copy of the original, but that's ok
3. I used ifoedit and changed the DAR in the ifo file:this is perfect, as no need for a second copy and the result works witn the player and the PC
4. Why tmpgenc+CCE: as noted in the other thread: CCE is not working right now with frameserving from VDub, I'm woriking on that.

Summary: with all these tools ot's possible now to get anamorphic encoding done with tmpgenc (one way or another), but a direct encoding to DAR other than 4;3 is IMHO not possible.Case closed

[VidGuy]

TMPGEnc does an anamorphic video just fine - set the source aspect ratio to 16:9 and set the video aspect ratio to 16:9 and set the video arrange method to full screen (keep aspect ratio). Now I suppose it's possible that it doesn't set the DAR correct in the final image, but my DVD players all act like it's set correctly (i.e. they switch into 16:9 mode)

[Dragonsf]

That's right, if your TV set supports 16:9 mode.On standard TV sets, your left with a stretched picture.The problem is just the bit set in either the mpeg or the ifo file.

[DJRumpy]

The flag in the MPEG may be correct, and your authoring software is setting the fallback protocol incorrectly. You can verify with Bitrate Viewer (find it in the TOOLS section). To see what DAR flag your final MPEG is set to. You already know how to change the fallback aspect ratio using IFO edit. That setting tells you player how to react if you do not have a 16:9 television. It should be letterboxing for a 4:3 display.

What type of television do you have, and what does the ouput look like on it?

[Dragonsf]

It's a standard TV set with 4:3 display.
When I use the authored DVD with the ifoedit trick, it's looks like it should bee:ltterboxed wide-screen.It does the same, when I used the pulldown.exe trick.
When I use the mpg and author it without tweaking, the movie is fullscreen and thus stretched.I can do a manual 16:9 switching, but then I get white stripes on the top of the movie.
This manual switching only works, because I got a special multinorm TV (it can display all standards and formats).But normal 4:3 TV sets don't have this 16:9 switch.
And yes, I used Bitrate Viewer to check the mpeg.It says always 4:3 aspect ratio on fresh tmpgenc'oded mpegs.

[DJRumpy]

This question seems to pop up alot. I ran a few tests.

The VIDEO tab is the key to setting your output aspect ratio flag. No matter what I set the 'Advanced' tab to, setting 16:9 on my VIDEO tab, always produced an MPEG with a 16:9 (generic) flag. Interesting enough, the only affect the 'Advanced' tab had, was to change the way my input source was resized to fit the output aspect ratio.

My input file was 240x180 (4:3)

The 'Advanced' tab settings for input had the following effects:

Center
Video was not resized.
Maintained aspect ratio.
Did not crop video.
This appears to mimic the Center - Keep aspect ratio setting (see below).

Center (keep aspect ratio)
Video was not resized.
Maintained aspect ratio.
Did not crop video.
If the input and output ratios are the same, and video is already the correct size, then this is a good choice.

Center (custom size)
Video was resized to custom setting
Did not maintain aspect ratio IF custom setting did not maintain aspect ratio.
Did not crop video unless custom size was LARGER than output size.
This one is a no brainer. Whatever size I set in the custom dialog box, my input was resized to that resolution, and centered on the screen.

Full Screen
Video was resized
Did NOT maintain aspect ratio if input/ouput aspect ratio was not the same
Did not crop video.
Also as the name suggests, this produced my input at full screen, to fit the output aspect ratio.

Full Screen (keep aspect ratio)
Resized Video.
Maintained aspect ratio.
Did not crop video.
This one resized my input up to the point, where either the movie height, hit the top of the screen, retaining the apsect ratio. If my input was 4:3, and my output was 16:9, then this would leave black borders on the left and right sides of the screen. If your input and output aspect ratios were the same, then this would be a good choice for resizing input from non-standard DivX/XviD resolutions like 640x272 to a proper VCD,CVD,SVCD, or DVD resolution.

Full Screen (keep aspect ratio 2)
Resized Video.
Maintained aspect ratio.
Did not crop video.
This appeard to function exactly like Full Screen (keep aspect ratio).

No Margin (Keep Aspect Ratio)
Resized Video
Maintained aspect ratio
Cropped video until input fit full screen on both sides and top/bottom.
This one resizes your input to fill the entire screen, clipping the edges if necessary, until the input was resized to fill the entire display. This would be useful for creating a fullscreen from a widescreen (it would auto-chop the left and right edges). It could also create a widescreen from a 4:3 movie, auto-chopping the top an bottom, until the image filled the entire screen.

Hope this helps...

[Dragonsf]

I had the same findings (with advanced tab).On my system, the Video didn't effect anything ragrding the output, but I surely try this tonight!I post my results.

[DJRumpy]

Dragon, try only a small clip (use the Source Range setting to grab a 15 second clip). Test the DAR flag on your output. It's an easy way to verify. Then just uncheck Source Range when your ready to roll.

Set your VIDEO tab to 16:9, and you'll get a 16:9 Generic flag on your output MPEG.

[Dragonsf]

Same thinking, that was exactly (source range) what I intended to do (and did yestreday - but then I was just focussed on the advanced tab).

[Dragonsf]

No way to change the aspect ratio in the video tab!it's grayed at 4:3.

[DJRumpy]

Just select the 'LOAD' button on the main TMPGenc screen (bottom right corner). Browse to your TMPGenc program directory, and then the EXTRA subdirectory. You should have an UNLOCK file. Load that, and all of your settings should now be available.

[Dragonsf]

Ok, that's the trick.Thanx again!
(Maybe I'm finding a solution to my NTSC-PAL problem too).

[DJRumpy]

NTSC-PAL Problem?