Conversion/Preview video is squashed square

[enchant]

If I open a DVD, and on the conversion tab, hit Go/Preview video, the preview window shows a sample screen, but the aspect is very off. The preview window is square, so the video is squeezed horizontally. It's not an accurate representation of the settings. By looking at the height of the black borders on the top and bottom, I can usually guess whether the aspect will be correct. The final SVCD mpg file looks great in spite of what the preview window showed. Here is a preview from a dvd that I ripped today.

http://www.ssih.com/tmp/preview.jpg

[Jason28]

That window is more used to see what the encoded video will look like not to measure what the aspect ratio will be.

[enchant]

Ok, then what I'm seeing is correct? Seems kind of strange, but I'll take your word for it.

Is there a better way to verify the aspect ratio?

[Jason28]

Ya you can read the box of the original movie if you have it (and you should if you are asking for help here :p ) or you can look at Amazon.com. Most of the time they have the correct aspect ratio but they have been known to be wrong.

[DDogg]

enchant, actually I have always felt the same way. I do wish the preview would reflect the proper aspect ratio, but I always just lived with it as so many other things had priority with D2S was actively coding.

[enchant]

Originally posted by Jason28
Ya you can read the box of the original movie if you have it

The box only says "Widescreen". Is that always 16:9?

[manono]

Hi-

The box only says "Widescreen". Is that always 16:9?

No, just the opposite. If it's 16:9, it usually says "Anamorphic", or "Enhanced For Widescreen Televisions". I would do as Jason28 suggested, and also check Amazon, or perhaps IMDB, to confirm.