Converting 2.35 avi to DVD - very confused plz help.

[N3m1515]

Hi

I am still experimenting with Xvid to DVD conversion as I have purchased a Divx player for the bedroom. :)

My problem is I can never quite figure out the aspect ratios. I think I could just manage it but the fact that I like my import DVDs and need to convert to look good on my PAL TV is confusing the issue even more.

I am now trying (for fun I thought) to convert a 640x272 (2.35:1) Xvid to DVD and see how it looks on my TV (PAL).

I want to keep the proper ratio obviously and my TV displays any NTSC conversions fine, I do not need to encode to PAL at all as my player/TV plays them without a problem.

What I would like to know is the avisynth script settings for resize, if necessary and the add borders as I have tried and have not found a solution that looks good. This is also taking a lot of time i.e converting, muxing and burning etc.

As I said the avi is 640x272 - 2.35:1 and want to watch it on my TV preferably with full detail, I do not mind borders/black bars (as some of my friends constantly complain about).

Any help would be grastly appreciated.

P.s I have tried all the maths formulas. D'oh I must be a bit slow ehhhh!

:thanks:

[SeeMoreDigital]

I have to ask why, if you've bought a Divx player for the bedroom, do you want to convert your XviD AVI's encodes to the DVD format...

Surely your 640x272 XviD encodes should be displayede at the correct AR?


Cheers

[N3m1515]

No problem SeeMoreDigital .

They are just fine, nothing wrong whatsoever, they do all (except one) play perfect. I would like to know how to convert back though just in case, and just for the hell of it.

I just wanted to get the conversion the other way down pat even though I may hardly ever use it. As I said above it was supposed to be for fun, I should have known better.

I suppose it would come in handy to know. Plus I can't stand it when I think I should know something but don't get it! :scared:

Cheers.

[SeeMoreDigital]

There are of course loads of complicated methods out there to choose from... but if you require a very, very simple method... give the free version of DivXtoDVD (0.5.2.99) a try ;)

I works fine at resizing MPEG-4 640x272 square pixelled content to MPEG-2/DVD 720x480/576 anamorphic....


Cheers

[manono]

Hi-

If you're using AviSynth for the job, then let FitCD (http://shh.sysh.de/fitcd.html) figure it out for you.

[scharfis_brain]

resize 640x272 to 704x432, add 72 pixels each on top and bottom, encode as progressive 16:9 PAL.

[SeeMoreDigital]

resize 640x272 to 704x432, add 72 pixels each on top and bottom, encode as progressive 16:9 PAL.When would you add 8 pixels to the left and right of the image... to match the width of the DVD source?


Cheers

[scharfis_brain]

never. DVD-spec allows 704x576 and 704x480.
So no problem here.

[Kika]

@N3m1515

If 720x576 is needed in case of a stupid authoring program, resize to 704x432, add 72 pixels each on top and bottom, 8 pixels each on left and right, encode it as 16:9 PAL progressive. This results in a perfect anamorphic PAL-File. It's the same, scharfis_brain suggested, just adding the borders to get 720.

If you wish to spare bitrate, resize to 704x328, add 120 pixels on top, 128 pixels on bottom and 8 pixels each on left and right, encode it as 4:3 PAL progressive.

[mpucoder]

I don't see why you would add 8 pixels to the sides after resizing to 704. 704x480 or 704x576 is a DVD compliant resolution and has the same pixel aspect ratio as 720 width. DVD players use the same pixel clock for 704 and 720, adding black on the sides for 704. 704 was intended for PAL, as this is the actual active area of the television standard. 720 is intended for NTSC as its active area is about 710 pixels.

[scharfis_brain]

active image for NTSC is 711x486
but with a cropped height of 480 pixels, the according width can be lowered to 702, too :)

[N3m1515]

Thanks for all the replies so far. :D They have been a great help and have solved my initial problem.

I am just hoping that some of you check back as I have a new never before encountered problem.

I have spent hours encoding my file to see how it turns out and when I imported it into Maestro it will not import and complains of 'Incorrect Frame Rate'.

Gspot displays the rate of the avi as 23.976. Once encoded Bitrate Viewer says the MPEG2 file is 23.98 (which Maestro says is illegal).

What have I done and what can I do as I am hoping I can fool my authoring prog to import and I will not notice any difference.

If worst comes to worst then I will have to encode again, but how do I stop getting that error.

Am I better off converting to 25.00 fps. If I do what do I need to do to the audio, as I have never done that before either.

More help needed, thanks again you guys. :thanks:

[scharfis_brain]

if the file is 23.976fps (23.98fps is just a rounding error of the viewing application)
resize to 704x360 and add 56 px on top and 64 on bottom.
then encode as 16:9 NTSC (704x480@23.976fps)

[N3m1515]

Thanks again scharfis_brain.

I am not understanding why you recommend doing that, I am too tired :scared:

I will just go ahead and do it. :D

I am using CCE 2.50 so how do I specify it to encode at 23.976fps?

Danke.

[SeeMoreDigital]

DVD players use the same pixel clock for 704 and 720, adding black on the sides for 704. I've just generated some MPEG-2 DVD test encodes at 704 and 720 x 480 pixels (I even muxed them using MuxMan) And my Pioneer DVD player noticeably shows a difference!


Cheers

[mpucoder]

23.976 IS an illegal framerate, use pulldown to convert to 29.97

@SMD - In order for that test to work the 704 pixels of the 720 encode must match, ie use black borders in the 720 encode, not a resize.

[SeeMoreDigital]

SMD - In order for that test to work the 704 pixels of the 720 encode must match, ie use black borders in the 720 encode, not a resize.Yep you are right!

The first tests I carried out had a red border, the second tests have a black border....

And for those who would like to see it for themselves.... burn these NTSC 16.9 DVD Test Files (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/seemoredigital/Temp_Test_Files/NTSC_16.9_DVD_Test_Files.7z) to DVD ;)

I'll have to see if my Pioneer player does the same with anamorphic MPEG-4 files too!

But as my next DVD player will be connected via HDMI to my display, I still don't like the idea of having vertical black borders on my DVD's, especially as these borders can be seen via a digital connection :(


Cheers

[Kika]

I don't see why you would add 8 pixels to the sides after resizing to 704. 704x480 or 704x576 is a DVD compliant resolution and has the same pixel aspect ratio as 720 width.

I know. But as i wrote: "...in case of stupid authoring programs" ;)

[SeeMoreDigital]

I know. But as i wrote: "...in case of stupid authoring programs" ;)You could use eight pixel wide coloured mattes instead of black ones ;) LOL


Cheers