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View Full Version : Expression Encoder 4 Aspect Ratio Problems


Monkeylord
3rd July 2012, 22:55
Hi,

I'm having a hell of a time with Expression Encoder. Not having many problems actually encoding, in fact I've found the settings that give me a decent output. My problem is with the stupid aspect ratio.

I'm trying to encode my DVD's (a healthy mix of movies and tv shows) to WMV so they can be streamed to either of my Xboxes. My GF likes to hide away in the bedroom watching shows and movies if I'm playing games.

Unfortunately this means I'm limited to certain formats, and I've narrowed it down to two - X264 with DPLII audio, or WMV with 5.1 audio.

Naturally, I'm preferring the WMV with 5.1 for when we watch stuff together on the main TV.

With X264 I can get a decent picture and set the correct aspect ratio so that if I watch a 2.35:1 movie I can encode it at 720x304 and it'll stretch out to a 2.35:1 picture. Only problem is, I'll lose the 5.1 sound.

Alternatively, I can encode to WMV and keep the 5.1 sound, but no matter what I choose, it simply won't encode it to the correct aspect ratio.

I found Crypto's WMV Aspect ratio changer, but it did nothing. Anything I encode, when I watch on the PC it displays fine, but on the 360 it displays in 5:4. A quick snoop with Mediatab confirms it.

The alternative is to resize to 852x480/1024x576 and use square pixels, but this is less than ideal as it increases the encoding time and file size unnecessarily.

Also, I use an avisynth script for all the deinterlacing and pre-processing, and despite supporting Avisynth I find EE4 crashing more often than not (6 core system with 8GB ram). Is there anything I can do to minimise this, short of uncompressing in Virtualdub first? (once again, not ideal).

benwaggoner
12th July 2012, 19:25
Have you tried setting Frame Size and Aspect Ratio to both be Same as Source? That should turn off scaling entirely, and retain the aspect ratio of the .VOB.

It won't strip out any letterboxing, however, but since you're playing on a living room device, that won't matter for most content.

Monkeylord
18th July 2012, 23:53
Have you tried setting Frame Size and Aspect Ratio to both be Same as Source? That should turn off scaling entirely, and retain the aspect ratio of the .VOB.

It won't strip out any letterboxing, however, but since you're playing on a living room device, that won't matter for most content.

My source isn't a VOB (well, it is, but delivered via an avisynth script which outputs square pixels regardless of original input file).


I've since given up and gone back to WME Command Line encoding. It may come out slightly "fuzzy" but at least it works.