Convert DVD to WMV

[HappyFunBoater]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I'm having trouble finding the right place to ask these questions.

I'm trying to convert the title track on a DVD to WMV at the same quality level as the original DVD. I'm using TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress and want the output to be 16:9 with Dolby Digital audio - exactly like the DVD. I will be displaying the WMV via an Xbox 360 on a 16:9 HDTV.

I have several questions:

(1) I want to maintain the same aspect ratio, but am very confused about the Clip Properties window. The Aspect Ratio says ''Pixel 40:33 (NTSC 16:9)''. But 40/33 (1.2) is not the same as 16/9 (1.7). Are the pixels not square? Also, the source format says that it is 720x480 (1.5). Why are there three different ratios?

(2) Given question #1, how do I setup the Aspect Ratio in the WMV Format screen? My choices are (a) Pixel 1:1 (Square pixel), (b) Display 16:9, (c) and Pixel 40:33 (NTSC Wide). I have an HDTV at 16:9, but I don't know which output aspect ratio to select.

(3) I want the quality to remain the same, so what maximum and average bit rate do I select? I checked the DVD vlip propeties and the maximum was about 9800MB/s and the average was about 6000MB/s. So is this what I set the WMV output to?

(4) Will WMV support Dolby Digital? The format screen implies that it only supports stereo.

(5) The default output is 29.97 fps (Progressive), but should this be 60 fps to match HDTV input? Or since the input is only 29.97 fps will it make no difference if I move the output to 60 fps?

Thank you very much for your help.

[eltoro]

I too am doing the exact same thing using my XBox 360. I am also using TMPEGEnc 4.0 XPress. I puzzled over these same questions and I think I have some answers.

(1) I want to maintain the same aspect ratio, but am very confused about the Clip Properties window. The Aspect Ratio says ''Pixel 40:33 (NTSC 16:9)''. But 40/33 (1.2) is not the same as 16/9 (1.7). Are the pixels not square? Also, the source format says that it is 720x480 (1.5). Why are there three different ratios?

The video on the NTSC DVD is 720x480, however that doesn't mean that video should be displayed at the 1.5:1 aspect ratio. The clip will either be 4:3 or 16:9. More than likely the movie clip will be NTSC 16:9. So what you need to do is on the format tab change the Size to match the 16:9 aspect ratio (720 x 404). That should fix the problem.

(2) Given question #1, how do I setup the Aspect Ratio in the WMV Format screen? My choices are (a) Pixel 1:1 (Square pixel), (b) Display 16:9, (c) and Pixel 40:33 (NTSC Wide). I have an HDTV at 16:9, but I don't know which output aspect ratio to select.

If you set the size right based on my testing the Aspect Ratio selection in TMPEGEnc does not seem to matter. I've tried both 1:1 and 16:9 and the video appears wide screen on my HDTV.

(3) I want the quality to remain the same, so what maximum and average bit rate do I select? I checked the DVD vlip propeties and the maximum was about 9800MB/s and the average was about 6000MB/s. So is this what I set the WMV output to?

Actually I think you mean the DVD bit rate is 6000Kb/s to 9800Kb/s. 6000MB/s would be 6GB a second! I'm still working on a good bit rate for WMV9, but based on my testing something around 2000-3000 Kb/s seems good. Bottom line I'd recommend doing some test clips and see what you think is good.

(4) Will WMV support Dolby Digital? The format screen implies that it only supports stereo.

Yes it will! However you need to goto the Audio tab under format and select "Windows Media Audio 9.1 Professional" as the Audio Codec. That will give you various 5.1 channel options. As for bit rate, I've played with a few
and think 384 Kb/s 5.1 24bit seems fine.

(5) The default output is 29.97 fps (Progressive), but should this be 60 fps to match HDTV input? Or since the input is only 29.97 fps will it make no difference if I move the output to 60 fps?

I wouldn't mess with the fps. Leave it. As a note it has to be Progressive. If you try to Interlace (which you don't want anyways) it will error out.

[HappyFunBoater]

Thank you, eltoro! About a month ago I asked this question on several different forums, including mail directly to TMPGenc, and you're the first one to answer.

And, yes, I meant 6MB/s. 6GB/s would be quite amazing.

BTW, I'm also using this with an Xbox 360 - or at least that was my plan. It took SO damn long to convert the files, plus the quality seemed lower, that I just gave up and hooked a computer directly to my TV with a 1080p video card. But I think I might go back and try the settings you suggest and see if it makes a difference.

Thank you very much!

[scrytch]

For anyone here that may be interested in an easy way to convert DVD's to WMV files to play back on Media Center (and Xbox 360), through trial an error I have put a guide together to remind myself of the steps, and to possibly help others. You can look at it here:

My DVD to WMV Conversion Guide.

(This is an extended version of a post I did here in this thread about 3 hours ago that for some reason has been deleted. I can only assume an admin here seems to think that I have broken point 12 in the Forum Rules or something).

If I have (which I don't believe so) it would be nit-picking - especially seeing I make no money from my guide, I have no ads on my site, it is original work and I am selling nothing.

I hope this post remains here, but hey - it's not my forums - I'm just trying to help.

Regards,
Shane.

[HappyFunBoater]

That's excellent. Thanks Scrytch.

BTW, you mention AnyDVD, but then you don't actually use it in the instructions. What does it do? I assume that it's used for decrypting the DVD.

[scrytch]

That's excellent. Thanks Scrytch.

BTW, you mention AnyDVD, but then you don't actually use it in the instructions. What does it do? I assume that it's used for decrypting the DVD.

Yeah - AnyDVD does the decrypting on the fly - making the job easier and removing the need (in most cases - some DVD's are stubborn) of an additional decryption program.

Disclaimer: Of course - only copy/rip DVD's that are legal in your part of the world.

Regards,
Shane.

[mlb5000]

For anyone here that may be interested in an easy way to convert DVD's to WMV files to play back on Media Center (and Xbox 360), through trial an error I have put a guide together to remind myself of the steps, and to possibly help others. You can look at it here:

My DVD to WMV Conversion Guide.

(This is an extended version of a post I did here in this thread about 3 hours ago that for some reason has been deleted. I can only assume an admin here seems to think that I have broken point 12 in the Forum Rules or something).

If I have (which I don't believe so) it would be nit-picking - especially seeing I make no money from my guide, I have no ads on my site, it is original work and I am selling nothing.

I hope this post remains here, but hey - it's not my forums - I'm just trying to help.

Regards,
Shane.

This guide appears to be for PAL only. What are the measurements for NTSC?

Thanks,
Matt