Aspect Ratio

[stephen22]

Bit baffled here.

Recorded a TV programme on a Panasonic video recorder. Copied it on to a DVD+R (+R doesn't seem to record aspect ratio)

Extracted video with makemkv.

Edited in avidemux, saved in Copy mode as mp4, configured to 16:9.

Edited copy -
- plays in VLC with aspect ratio 16:9
- plays in all other players (WMP, Microsoft Photos, HP Films&TV) in 4:3
- Avidemux info says PAL 4:3 (16:15)

Seems I'll have to do it all again with a DVD-R. But I'd love an explanation if anyone has one.

[filler56789]

It seems only VLC respects the aspect-ratio flag in the MP4 container...

So you'd better use something like ReStream for setting the right aspect ratio in the video stream itself,
then you can copy the program into an MP4 file. :-|

[stephen22]

Thanks, but I don't want to stream, I just want to persuade the world at large that this video is 16:9.

[butterw2]

Setting mp4 container level DAR works perfectly with most software players (but may be disregarded by WMP, video editors, etc.).

Re-encoding to square pixels on the other hand always works.

[filler56789]

Thanks, but I don't want to stream, I just want to persuade the world at large that this video is 16:9.

So you think that an MPEG-2 metadata editor called ReStream has the purpose of making a video file streamable? :D
Think again. :)

[stephen22]

Think again. :)

Too much like hard work.

(I just Googled Restream)

[SnakEye]

I think it is because you did not convert your movie to Square Pixel (PAR: 1x1)

Add this Filter and it will probably solve your issue

https://i.imgur.com/G02Diod.jpg

The other alternative is to edit the MP4 settings before you export it (my example of 2048 is of a source of 720x576 with PAR: 16x15 4:3 when i upscaled to 1080p)


https://i.imgur.com/ocz04eC.jpg

[stephen22]

Thanks for all the work you've done. I was wondering how to do it without using filters or otherwise re-encoding the video.

For me one of the joys of simple editing in avidemux is that by just copying it can be quick and lossless. Presumably there's some kind of flag in the video header which tells the player how much to stretch the pixels e.g. in a widescreen display, and usually this works pretty well. On this occasion I have asked avidemux to set the display to 16:9, but all the players except vlc are ignoring it. I just wondered what the reason was and if I could do anything about it.

[SeeMoreDigital]

I was wondering how to do it without using filters or otherwise re-encoding the video.
As mentioned by @filler5678, you could have used ReStream to alter the aspect ratio flagging of your elementary video MPEG-2.

Indeed, ReStream offers a lot of useful features: -

https://i.imgur.com/c5zrfSw.png

It's a shame there's nothing similar for AVC and HEVC encoded video streams...

[stephen22]

Thanks very helpful, works nicely.

Quite hard to find - another more recent commercial programme shares the same name and occupies the first 100 items in a google search. (Useful information when recommending a programme!)

I'm sure I shall find it useful in the future.