352x240, but not really?

[ShenaCat]

Hi-

I am converting 640x480 and 800x600 AVI files to MPEG-1 for use on a VCD. I am using TMPGEnc to successfully convert these files to a good sized 4:3 ratio (308:231) which fills around the video with black space to make the 352x240 size of MPEG-1. This should theoretically playback on my DVD player as full screen with some small bits of blackspace around the video to account for overscan.

What is occuring is that while the files believe they are 352x240, they are actually being stretched to 352x270 on playback. I figured this out by noting that the images on the video appeared out of proportion, and by playing with playback preferences on the Core Media Player, found out what ratio it was coming up with as default. When I force Core Media Player to use the 352x240 settings, it displays the video properly and everything is in proportion. However, I cannot change the settings to do this on any other player, and certainly not my standalone DVD player.

Is there something I'm doing wrong when converting these files to MPEG-1? Can anyone give me any tips?

Thank you.

[LT. Columbo]

not certain what you wish to achieve here but;

if you want the SAME aspect ratio as the original files (wide screen) when played back, then use "keep aspect ratio 2" in tmpgenc's "other settings". nothing will change.

[tigerman8u]

Is their any special reason you didn't convert the files to dvd compliant 352x240 ?

[ShenaCat]

Hi. Thanks for answering-

The problem with that setting is that the video gets cut off on my TV thanks to the overscan of the TV. I have to make the video smaller than the "keep aspect ratio 2" wants to make it in order not to get the top and bottom of the video cut off.

Since that setting would make the video 320:240 which is a perfect 4:3 ratio I calculated the 4:3 ratio of 308:231 which shrinks it enough to compensate for the overscan (all the video is now visible on-screen on the TV). In TMPGEnc the preview of the video shows the correct proportions as does the video if I force it to be played back on my computer at a 352x240 screen size. However, on the TV and on some players on the computer, it does not play the video back at 352x240 despite it being set to MPEG-1 NTSC 525 line 4:3 (which is supposed to be 352x240). It instead stretches the video so it plays out of proportion.

[ShenaCat]

I am converting the files to NTSC Film setting (MPEG-1 NTSC 525 line 352x240) but I am resizing the video to 308:231 to compensate for overscan on the TV. So it is the same 4:3 ratio but should simply display with black filler around the outside edges of the video. It does this fine in the preview window of TMPGenc & the core media player when I force playback to actually be 352x240 but if I just pop the cd in my DVD player or play it back on any other computer player it will stretch the video (as if it is not really set to 352x240).

[LT. Columbo]

i have seen this before...it's the t.v causing all the trouble i see...

well then i'd use "custom ratio and "tailor" it to fit on your screen.

but if you ever play this on another tv, then it won't look right either. is it possible to use the zoom feature on the dvd player?

[ShenaCat]

Hmm. I've tried zoom just now, and it does zoom but a little too much and there's no way to set the zoom manually (just settings 1, 2, or 3).

I think it's odd that it would be the TV, since the players on the computer also default to stretching it too. I am wondering if it just isn't something in the way the file is encoded that is sending the wrong information about the dimensions. I will try it on my other TV tomorrow though to see if it is also stretching it oddly.

[LT. Columbo]

the original file before encoding looks fine on the pc?

[tigerman8u]

"I am wondering if it just isn't something in the way the file is encoded that is sending the wrong information about the dimensions."

if it doesn't play properly on your other tv try another dvd player and it could be as you stated here

[ShenaCat]

The original file (an .AVI) does look fine. That's what I'm using to compare the way the newly encoded file looks.

I checked and it does display the same way on the other TV. I played it in our other DVD player too and same problem. Since this duplicates on the applications on my computer as well I suspect it's the file for some reason.

Is there a different encoder any of you could suggest for me to try besides TMPGEnc 2.5 Free version?

[LT. Columbo]

although i don't use it, some speak highly of mainconcept. i think you will have the same problem though...

if the original file looks fine, with "keep aspect ratio 2" enabled, nothing will change. something else is going on in tmpgenc.