First time defualts rendered incorrect AR

[Rambam1776]

Okay – some quick explanation and introduction stuff. I’ve been ripping movies for about 18 mos, almost exclusively with DVDdecypter and AutoGK. I’m not exactly a noob, but for the very limited amount of experimenting I’ve done, that’s a fair thing to call me. I’d do more experimenting, but with my old, slow machine, who wants to set up lots of 7 hour experiments?

Anyway, every set of .IFOs and .VOBs I’ve ever sent into AutoGK came out as an Xvid .AVI file that worked just fine, although occasionally they are a little too dark. Last night I ripped a film and the result was a letterbox picture that was fairly squashed. I’ve just taken some time to search this forum and read some posts and TUTs. If I gather correctly, the film may be “mis-mastered” as 16:9 instead of 4:3, and I should switch that option in the hidden features? I’ve never actually messed with those, I have always used the defaults. The notes left me with the following:

[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Input file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_0.IFO
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Output file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis.avi
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Output codec: XviD
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Audio 1: English AC3 2ch
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Subtitles: none
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Format: AVI
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Target size: 700Mb
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Audio 1 settings: Auto
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Started encoding.
[6/19/2009 5:42:22 AM] Demuxing and indexing.
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_1.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_2.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_3.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_4.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_5.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_6.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Processing file: F:\DC 911 - Time Of Crisis\VTS_05_7.VOB
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Source resolution: 720x480
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Found NTSC source.
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Source aspect ratio: 16:9

It’s possible or even probable that I don’t understand something correctly here. As I said, I always just used the defaults and had no issues. Am I on the right track?

[BigDid]

Hi,

I’d do more experimenting, but with my old, slow machine, who wants to set up lots of 7 hour experiments?
To save time, you can try settings and verify by asking a preview; only a few minutes to wait ;)

Anyway, every set of .IFOs and .VOBs I’ve ever sent into AutoGK came out as an Xvid .AVI file that worked just fine..
You are lucky because with the newer protections I often have weirds things happening. So I have learned to confirm the infos from the IFO by trying the 1st VOB instead of the IFO, you could do the same.

If all fails, you can force the aspect ratio CTRL+F9 (for hidden options) check override input aspect and try "original" or "4:3" whatever does the job. Ask for preview to confirm the good AR and if all ok, go encode.

Did

[manono]

Yeah, that docu is 4:3. The dummies that produced the DVD must have encoded the thing as 16:9. The reason it plays OK as a DVD is because the IFOs will state it's 4:3 and most DVD players get the DAR from the IFOs rather than from the VOBs. AutoGK gets that info from DGIndex which, in turn, gets it only from the VOB files. You'll have to go into the Hidden Options and do as BigDid suggested in his last paragraph. 4:3 is what you want to set.

[CWR03]

I'm not very familiar with AutoGK, but wouldn't ripping the movie in IFO mode and loading the main IFO into AutoGK load all the pertaining .VOB parts and draw the correct AR from there?

[manono]

...but wouldn't ripping the movie in IFO mode and loading the main IFO into AutoGK load all the pertaining .VOB parts and draw the correct AR from there?
Only if the IFO and the VOBs both have the same DAR. That's why there's that 'Override Input AR' box in the Hidden Options - for cases where they differ. Again, a DVD player gets the DAR from the IFOs; AutoGK gets it from DGIndex which gets it from the VOBs. They are usually, but not always, the same. Just look at the example Rambam1776 provided:
[6/19/2009 5:47:30 AM] Source aspect ratio: 16:9

And then read a review of the Documentary:
The non-anamorphic video is ok, although I can't figure out why it's not enhanced for widescreen televisions.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/12385/dc-9-11-time-of-crisis/