Aspect Ratio Question - Encoding 640x368 AVI to Widescreen DVD

[MarkyBoy666]

I don't currently own a widescreen TV, but have been encoding AVI video (source 640 x 368) to 16:9 DVD using TMPGenc, so that I'll be able to play the DVD on both 4:3 and widescreen TV.

In TMPGenc I've been using the aspect ration settings of...source - 1:1 vga, destination - full screen (keep aspect ratio)...HOWEVER! I've just found out that apparently 640 x 368 is NOT true 16:9 (it's slightly narrower apparently), even though most AVI is sized to this ratio. I was wondering if anyone could answer me the following questions:

1. When I finally come to view my discs on widescreen, am I going to be presented with horrific looking black bars down the left and right of the screen?

2. Has all my video, all along, been actually distorted (narrowed), and should I have actually used Full Screen instead of Full Screen (Keep Aspect Ratio)?

3. Am I an idiot?

I'd be so grateful for any advice from you well-informed experts on this subject! Although I think I already know the answer to number 3...

[foxyshadis]

1. From what I remember, Tmpegenc's default, at least for the newer versions, is to resize it up without anamorphic settings, then add any remaining black borders, so it never adds them to all sides at once.

2. It's a few % difference, but people can rarely tell the difference unless played right next to the original. Some of the long-running arguments around here attest to the fact that pinning the exact AR down isn't always a simple matter, anyway. Full Screen (not keep ratio) isn't exactly related to this, it's an option that lets you turn on anamorphic encoding, which is unnecessary when your source has a low vertical resolution already. Going back to your original DVD would be the better quality option by far, though.

3. Your girlfriend would be better qualified to answer that. :p

[MarkyBoy666]

Cheers! I think my best plan is to buy a widescreen TV and to stop being so tight ;)

Having said all that, my DVD player has a setting to display 16:9 video as either Letterbox or Pan&Scan on my 4:3 tv, so I'm guessing that if I view in Letterbox then any left/right black bars created during encoding would be visible using this setting. I guess I'll know the horrific truth when I get home from work and check it out...

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hi Marky...

If you play one of your encodes in VLC player or MediaPlayer Classic and take a "still image".... Can you show us what it looks like please?


Cheers

[MarkyBoy666]

Cheers, will try to get a grab when I get home. However I have a HORRIBLE feeling I should have used Full Screen instead of Full Screen (Keep Aspect Ratio) when encoding using TMPGenc - my mistake was assuming my source material to be perfect 1.78:1, whereas in actual fact it's now clear it's 1.74:1 (as most AVI caps appear to be).

I think this may be a case of living and learning...

[MarkyBoy666]

Media Player reveals the dreaded black lines :(

I think I feel a serious session of re-encoding coming up...