MeGUI, Aspect Ratio, & Blu-Ray preset.

[hello_hello]

I start with a 4:3 PAL DVD. I resize without using the ITU resize method , then I crop off a little bit of crud from the sides etc. I use the "resize to mod16" anamorphic encoding option and set the resolution to 720x576.

First I encode only using the default x264 settings. MeGUI indicates it's setting the aspect ratio to 4:3,
"Set DAR in encoder to 4 : 3"
My encode is exactly 4:3.

Next I use the target device option and set it to Blu-ray. Same cropping and resizing, same entry in the Script tab.
"Set DAR in encoder to 4 : 3"
My encode is now 785:576.

My problem seems to be that with the Blu-ray target device option set, then 12:11 is assumed for the SAR which is basically over-riding the resize method chosen while setting up the encode and effectively forcing the use of the ITU resize method. Fine if the DVD is actually using the ITU method as then the aspect ratio would remain intact, but if it doesn't then a little aspect ratio distortion is introduced.

In my case I'm actually encoding using the MKV container for playback on both a PC and an MKV compatible Blu-ray player and I'm assuming the same Blu-ray encoder settings should be used even when playing MKV files on a standalone device. I'm also naively assuming the Blu-ray player will obey the aspect ratio in the stream the same way a PC does, so using the Blu-ray setting the aspect ratio will be a little off. I know it's not a huge difference but it'd be nice to use the chosen resize method or there doesn't seem much point in being able to choose.

So I guess it'd be great if MeGUI had two Blu-ray target device options, one which enforces the 12:11 or 16:11 storage aspect ratio and one which doesn't. Maybe the first could be called "Blu-ray" and the second called "Blu-ray MKV" or something similar?

Comments anyone?

[Ghitulescu]

The BD will gladly accept a 1:1 copy of the DVD. No reencode needed, PAR/DAR fully obeyed, fully compatibility across all DBplayers assured. That will take however a little bit more space.
Since MKV is not yet standardized, every manufacturer may freely chose what to support and what not. Many DBplayers I know accept only external subtitles to MKV (most people on Earth do not speak English), some play them only from USB sticks but not from optical media, and so on.

[hello_hello]

The BD will gladly accept a 1:1 copy of the DVD. No reencode needed, PAR/DAR fully obeyed, fully compatibility across all DBplayers assured. That will take however a little bit more space.

Hence it not being the best option any more. Plus MKV encodes can also be used with various portable devices. The "little more space" thing makes 1:1 copies of DVDs impractical for use with other devices.

Since MKV is not yet standardized, every manufacturer may freely chose what to support and what not.

As far as I know the MKV format is about as standardised as the AVI format. If you're saying MKV support is not yet standard in Blu-ray players, well no it's not. However if a Blu-ray player does support MKV then it'd be safe to assume it at least supports an MKV with a video stream which uses the same encoder restrictions you'd use when encoding for authoring a Blu-ray disc (athough the limited number of Blu-ray players I've tested using MKV encodes seems to indicate they'll play encodes using nothing but the default x264 encoder settings).

I've not heard of a Blu-ray player which supports MKV but which doesn't support non-standard Blu-ray resolutions or aspect ratios. It'd make no sense as most MKVs aren't encoded using standard Blu-ray resolutions or aspect ratios in the same way AVIs don't use standard DVD resolutions or aspect ratios.
Therefore to my way of thinking it'd make sense for MeGUI to have two Blu-ray target device presets. One which enforces aspect ratios for encoding to author a Blu-ray video disc, and another which enforces all the same encoder restrictions except resolution and aspect ratio for use when encoding MKVs and MP4s.

[Ghitulescu]

I'll try to explain again what standardized means. It means it has a SMPTE/AES/JIT/EBU number, or an ISO number.
That Microsoft or Hitachi or Toshiba is behind a format, doesn't means it's standardized. Look at Sony inventions - all of them but last are museum items.
MKV is not standardized, it bears no ISO/SMPTE/etc number, it doesn't enforce any features to the manufacturers (because it can't do this :)). Each manufacturer picks what he likes/can do from this standard (and of course what they are allowed to do) and that's it.

[hello_hello]

I'll try to explain again what standardized means. It means it has a SMPTE/AES/JIT/EBU number, or an ISO number.

No it doesn't.

Dragging up a 2 month old thread to find an excuse to contradict me? How sad....

[Ghitulescu]

Now one can really see your character. If s/he would have by now any doubts ...

I don't contradict people, I make statements of technical nature (and in this particular case, also of legal nature).

But the thief always is afraid not to be stolen himself :) You see the world through the glasses of a man used to contradict whatever he might think changes his small world. The topics here are not contradictory discussions, but complementary ones, each of us trying to solve the problem an user has. It's you that brought the spirit of contradiction here, and now you get what you wanted - with the notable exception of few, nobody really cared to get involved in a discussion with you. I would rather think twice if I were you .... but I am not you :)


PS: I was trying to find how many threads have you started to discuss your problems and found this one.

[hello_hello]

Wow, that was barely coherent waffle...


PS: I was trying to find how many threads have you started to discuss your problems and found this one.

Why? You're not going to turn into a bunny boiler on me are you? :scared:

While you were counting the number of threads I've started, did you also count the percentage of them you replied to with irrelevant information? Like this one.

I posted about the effect MeGUI's Bluray preset has on aspect ratios when using particular video dimensions, and my idea there should be a second preset which doesn't enforce the "official" Bluray aspect ratios.... for use when encoding to MKV. You offered your "help" in the form of explaining how players follow aspect ratios when playing DVDs (no kidding?) and then went right off the topic by talking about subtitle support.
Maybe you just didn't understand what the topic was about.... much of the time it's hard to tell if you're being intentionally or unintentionally irrelevant.

[hello_hello]

I'll try to explain again what standardized means. It means it has a SMPTE/AES/JIT/EBU number, or an ISO number.
MKV is not standardized, it bears no ISO/SMPTE/etc number, it doesn't enforce any features to the manufacturers

ITU is just a recommendation. It's not mandatory. It's really at the discretion of the HW manufacturer whether to comply or not with the ITU-R provisions and how to do it.

So much for standardisation....