DVD to MPEG2 16:9

[ecras]

I am currently trying out different solutions to put my DV on DVD.
Now I have tried Ulead workshop and that works beautiful, I really like the templates that come with it.

However I use my SONY TRV900 to record in widescreen. This outputs a file
in the format 1024* 576. Ulead WORKSHOP can process this file but it makes it 720*576 so I end up with a stretched picture with tall people.
(UWS even has a button for 16:9 but it is not operational yet-it's greyed out)

Any suggestions ? DVDit PE doesn't work with DV , I have tried.

[bira]

1024x576???? How come??

I thought DV standard was 720x576.

[bb]

Sounds like the resized format. But for DVD compatibility it should be stored as 720x576 with the 16:9 flag switched on. The player should then do the resizing.

bb

[bira]

I'm sorry, but I didn't get it. Does that mean that each frame has more pixels? My camera trv50 outputs a full 720x576 frame that is flagged as widescreen, so it gets resized to correct aspect ratio of 16:9.

Please explain!

[ecras]

Thanks all for your input. Due to the Sinterklaas time in the Netherlands and a HDD crash (yes , 2 weeks old...) a slow response.

I have realized indeed that the DVD format always requires 720*576, so I see why processeing the 1024*576 is not going to work. The 1024* 576 is exactly 16:9 by the way. The SONY , hoever is not a true widescreen DVcam, it sacrifices some resolution to create 16:9 out of 4:3 CCDs, and makes two black bars above and below the picture. So I would agree with resizing comment from bb.

My question is of course : how do you set the flag for widescreen in DVD encoding programs (or is it during authoring ?)

I have experimented a bit and found that CCE does not accept 1024*576 as input, so that is no go (which really is a pity, because it is top quality at relatively high speed!)

TPMG does accept 1024*576 but warns that this will result in non DVD compliant output. Forcing the settings to 720*576 does work and creates a picture with black bars on top and below, just like the original DV movie! ENcoding takes about 3 minutes per 1 minute real time (compared to UWS 6 minutes...and delivering a stretched picture)

WHen I put the TMPG encoded file in UWS (@ 8000kb/s CBR) no recoding so extremely fast authoring with lot of features in menu's etc. from UWS)

SO I have found a very workable method, still trying to improve quality however. The DVD quality doesnt match the DV !!

[hdv]

Are you sure is 1024 x 576? DV format specs are 720x480 for NTSC or 720x576 PAL.
Isnt't maybe 1024x576 the camera resolution for still pictures?
16x9 format is still 720x576, the pixels shape are the difference, watching this material in a 4x3 monitor the pixels get compressed horizontal and that's the reason the picture gets streched.
Like squeezing a cushion.:)
My question is of course : how do you set the flag for widescreen in DVD encoding programs (or is it during authoring ?)
You have to set the aspect ratio in your encoder program and/or the authoring program. This flag is use in the player to adjust the proper aspect ratio of the TV/monitor use.

Input the DV stream in virtualdub and check File Information it'd tell you the aspect ratio and the codec you're using.