encoding avi files with 16x9 asspect ratio

[lonnic]

I have a very good NTSC .avi file in 16x9 aspect ratio and am trying to make a vcd using nero. The nero encoder for avi to mpeg is really awful, so I used tmpgenc. The resulting mpeg file looks great on my computer, but nero says that it is not the proper format for compliance. I tried burning with non-conmpliant format, but it won't work on my stand alone dvd. I used the mpeg-vcd option in tmpgenc, but must have had settings wrong. Can anyone help me encode this correctly?
Thanks much.
lonnic

[setarip]

"I tried burning with non-conmpliant format, but it won't work on my stand alone dvd."

1) Have you previously successfully played any CD-rs burned in VCD format on your standalone?

2) Does your burned VCD play properly on your PC?

In TMPGEnc, load your .AVI, change mode from "MPEG1" to "MPEG1-VideoCD" under "System" tab, under "Advanced" tab, select "16:9 525 line NTSC" and "Center Custom Format". Set dimensions to either 352x288 or 352x240. Under "Video" tab, select "16:9 Display". Click on "Start"

[lonnic]

I thank you for your help. Yes, I have played a burned vcd in my stand alone. I had used nero to encode and it played, but the quality deteriorated after a few minutes. My files also played on the computer. I will try your suggestions.
thanks. lonnic

[setarip]

My pleasure.

By the way, make sure you're using the same brand of Cd-R that played successfully on your standalone (or use virtually any R/W CD).

Let us know of your success ;>}

[lonnic]

vcd aspect ratio

I followed your suggestions and succeeded in making a playable vcd with good quality video. I silll have some problems, however. The aspect ratio is still not right. I think that it falls somewhere between 16x9 and 4x3, but the video still is somewhat dstorted, particularly when circular objects are (like the earth or moon) are shown. Worse, the audio/video synchronization is off in spots. It gets worse toward the end of the clip and is quite noticable in close-up conversations. Has anyone else had this problem and can anything be done for it?

[setarip]

Did the "Cinemascope" distortion exist in the original .AVI?
Did somebody crop off the top and bottom black borders (This will force the video image to be vertically stretched)?

[lonnic]

The video was fine in the original - but since it was DIVX, it probably was cropped. Can anything be done at this point?
I have another problem, however, in the video/audio sync. I have (again) a very nice 4x3 Divx file with audio encoded 48000. When I encoded through TpmgEnc, I set it to 44100 as specified , encoded, and the sync was off. I went to Virtual Dub but can't find 44100 in the mp3 format lists. I am beginning to think that I am hopeless. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.
lonnic

[setarip]

"The video was fine in the original - but since it was DIVX, it probably was cropped. Can anything be done at this point?"

Load the original DivX .AVI into VirtualDub. Select the "Resize" filter. Do NOT alter the dimensions at the top of the information box. rather, put a check in "Expand Frame & Letterbox Image". Increase the frame height by a multiple of 16. Depending upon the original format, you may eventually discover that you need to add as much as 208 to the frame height (Some widescreen movies are 720x480, with the actual picture being only 272 pixels high!). After you've done this, also under "Video', select "Compression" and select the same codec and settings that were used for the original .AVI. If you don't know what was used, select the fast Motion DivX codec (don't change its configuration).

If I did this correctly, you should be able to click on an image at the bottom of my message. If not, you'll see the results when you perform the changes in VDub.

"I have another problem, however, in the video/audio sync. I have (again) a very nice 4x3 Divx file with audio encoded 48000. When I encoded through TpmgEnc, I set it to 44100 as specified , encoded, and the sync was off. I went to Virtual Dub but can't find 44100 in the mp3 format lists."

From the "Audio" dropdown menu, change to "Full Processing Mode". Click on "Conversion". Select "Change to 44,100 Hz". then click on "Compression". Select .MP3 and, in the right side window, you should see a FULL list of .MP3 settings from 48,000Hz on down to 8,000Hz. If the window is blank, put a check mark next to "Show all formats". Save your file with a new name.

Use TMPGEnc with this new file.

"I am beginning to think that I am hopeless. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated."

"Surrender all hope, all ye who enter here!" - Dante's Inferno - Naaaah! Hang in there, because it can only get better ;>}

[IMG]f:\temp\lbox.jpg[/IMG]

[lonnic]

I really appreciate your help and hanging in there with me.

thanks
lonnic

[setarip]

I look forward to hearing how your latest efforts work out ;>}

[lonnic]

I still can't get the audio to convert correctly. I am using the latest VirtualDub (1.48). I went to conversion and specified 44100 (the file is encoded at 48000), then went to compression for mpeg layer3 and checked all formats. Nothing higher than 24000 appeared. I am completely stymied. I tried to convert using Windows media audio v2 but nothing ever happened. Virtualdub just spun its wheels and did nothing. Am I missing a codec? I thought windows xp had most of them.

I do apologize for being such a dummy, but apparently the results need to be put in front of my nose.

Thanks much
lonnic

[setarip]

"Am I missing a codec? I thought windows xp had most of them. "

From what I understand from other postings at these forums, XP "likes" to overwite your previously installed MP3 codecs with its lower quality version. Try downloading and installing the Radium MP3 codec, or if not already on your system, install the DivX v.3.11 codec package, which includes automatic installation of the Radium MP3 codec.

[lonnic]

I downloaded the Radium codec and it works fine. I also tried resizing the Divx file. It did work. The vertical stretch was reduced but nor elinminated. It did make the vcd more watchable. I really appreciate the info. I think that maybe I have just one more question. I got a message on one file that it had an illegal VBR encoding and needed CBR. I needed to decompress the audio to .wav and them recompress. I tried with virtualdub, but there was only the pcm option. This option left me with audio skew. Is there a codec which will allow me to decompress to WAV with an .AVI file? I really appreciate all your suggestions.
Thanks. lonnic

[setarip]

"I really appreciate the info"

My pleasure ;>}


"Is there a codec which will allow me to decompress to WAV with an .AVI file?"

No codec is necessary - and, YES, you can do it in VirtualDub.

As long as you can initially load the file into VDub, you should be able to save out the audio in .WAV format by simply selecting "Save WAV" from the "Files" dropdown menu ;>}

[lonnic]

I feel like an idiot!! I did as you suggected and decompressed the audio and recompressed with mpeg layer3 and all is well. One thing that did happen was that upon recompression the audio was offset from the video by abour 3/4 sec. I used virtualdub to remove the offset and the new file plays fine. I never did figure out why the offset occurred in the first place. One possibility which I will run by you is that there was a glitch in the video at the begnning of the file. Even though the audio played fine in spite of this in the original, could this have had an affect on the subsequent audio recompression? It happens early enough in the file that I cannot tell if the new audio is offset before the glitch and okay after it or okay all the way through.
Thanks again for all your help.
lonnic