Sizing for Tv output

[NixNeon]

An example is 720 x 480. If I am going to be outputing the video from my computer to my tv what sizing would work best?

[jggimi]

You shouldn't have to change a thing for TV-out with an .avi player.

Most -- ok, all that I've ever used -- reproduce the square pixels of the pc monitor on a standard TV, with either S-video or composite video. Your 4:3 pc monitor image (1024x768, 800x600, etc.) will be displayed on the TV.

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A little bit on pixels and aspect ratios:

720x480 is the standard resolution for NTSC DVDs. This is an aspect ratio of 1.5:1 (6:4) with square pixels. The video stream, however, is designed for playback at either 1.33:1 (4:3) or 1.78:1 (16:9). Most movies are at other aspect ratios, so the 720x480 video stream will include letterboxing to reestablish the film's aspect ratio once the stream is converted to 16:9 or 4:3.

Most dvd -> .avi processes -- such as Gordian Knot, which I understand you've used -- have you crop out the "built-in" letterboxing in the 720x480 video stream, and resize in square pixels to correct for the stream's 4:3 or 16:9 display aspect ratio.

[valnar]

I had a simple question on this. I'm starting my first DivX project which is converting some TV episodes (Buffy) from the DVD Series source to DiVX format.

I'm confused on the whole aspect ratio stuff(and interlace too, but thats another story). I assume the DVD is in 720x480 (NTSC) and 29.97 fps.

What do I want to change when compressing for playback on a computer monitor? Keep the aspect ratio close to 1.33? Deinterlace to progressive? Is there a FAQ covering recommended options depending on the source?

Thanks!
Robert

[jggimi]

What do I want to change when compressing for playback on a computer monitor? If you use Doom9's DivX 5 guide, and follow it step by step, you will be creating video for playback on a computer monitor (square pixels), using the Gordian Knot encoding suite, which includes DVD2AVI as one of the steps.

PC monitors have square pixels, and also have a 4:3 aspect ratio. You set your resolution to 640x480, 1024x768, 800x600... and these are all 4:3 aspect ratios with square pixels.

I don't know the "Buffy" DVDs, but, since it was for TV broadcast the aspect ratio is likely 4:3, or close to it. You'll end up with a 4:3 resolution, but likely smaller than 640x480.Deinterlace to progressive? That depends on the source. If the series was shot with video cameras, than de-interlacing is likely. If it was shot on film at 24 frames per second, then transferred to video via Telecining, it will need to have the Telecine process reversed (called Inverse Telecine, or IVTC).Is there a FAQ covering recommended options depending on the source? www.doom9.org/ivtc-tut.htm