Auto GK Height

[hotluck]

I have done some comparisons between the original DVD and a DivX 5 verion of 16:9 James Bond Films.

1. sound (AC3) isn't as good.

2. More importantly, the pix height is less on the DivX version. both have black bars top and bottom. The DivX flix just have a larger black bar area. I've been using AutoGK in the 75% Target Quality for storage on my Hard Drives.

Any ideas on why? Is there something else I should be doing? I enjoy the relative ease of Auto GK. But, is it time for me to move up to something else. (Waiting for the Kiss Tech DP-600 unit for network playback).

Thanks for your help..

HL

[manono]

Hi-

1. sound (AC3) isn't as good.

It's the exact same sound as on the DVD. It's untouched. So, what's the problem with it? Too soft? Then go into your AC3 Filter settings and fool around. One thing you can do is to go to the Presets and change it to Loud.

2. More importantly, the pix height is less on the DivX version.

That question is a little vague. Can you be more specific as to exactly how you're making these comparisons? Is it all done on the computer, or on a TV?

[hotluck]

thanks for the tip on the sound for the PC. found that one.

I'm talking about the TV. Maybe I'm just being critical of the sound.

I'm using a panasonic TH-42PX20. Philips DVP-642.

The picture on the Pany as per measuring tape. The original DVD plays with a 2" black stipe top and bottom.

With a DivX version playing the stripes measure 3 1/4". Clearly a loss of vertical picture.

anyone???

HL

[manono]

Ahh. Now we're getting somewhere. I've read that all DVD/MPEG-4 players with the ESS chipset (of which your Philips is one) display .avis with bad AR on widescreen TV sets. They're all slightly squashed looking. I guess the result is that people look fat and shorter? Look around for posts about the Philips players and the ESS chipset in the Hardware Players Forum (http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=73). Here's one:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82304

I don't own such a player myself, but maybe others can confirm (or deny).

[hotluck]

thanks very much for the insight.

I thought I checked the "ESS" option of AutoGK when I installed it.

I'll do a reinstall and see what happens.

Thanks again for the direction.

HL

[manono]

Checking the ESS chipset option only (so far) affects the choice of matrices. So it won't help with your problem. I think that len0x is investigating the problem, though, and may supply a fix soon. However, it seems to me that Philips could fix the problem easily with a firmware upgrade. It seems a shame to encode a movie that will look right only on your player/TV, but look screwed up on a computer or anyplace else. I'd bug Philips Support about it, if I were you.

I'd guess that one (not very good) solution for your problem is to use the TV's Zoom to stretch the video out a bit.

[hotluck]

I did reinstall and James Bond is back to full size. I understand what you say about the disk being unique to my player.


Thanks, I'll follow up with Philips. For whatever that's worth.

HL

[hotluck]

Spent a half hour with Philips Tech support. they sent me to:

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpcontent.pl?hlt=Link_Software&searchtxt=642/37&slg=ENG&mid=Link_Software&cat=DVD_PLAYERS_RECORDERS_CA&sct=DVD_PLAYERS_SU&grp=HOME_AUDIO_VIDEO_GR&ctn=DVP642/37&DCT=FUS&DID=ENG

for a firmware update. Look in the upper left corner for the Download Link.

I'll report back if this fixes my problem. The above link is for Philips firmware Version 0531. Good for the following Philips DVD Players:

DVP
630/00
630/02
630/04
630/05

632/00
632/02
632/04
632/05

640K/69
640K/75

642/17
642/37

http://www.p4c.philips.com

As usual, if your player is operating OK, don't do a firmware upgrade you may not need. i.e. don't come yapping at me when you muck it up.

HL

[hotluck]

Update:

I installed the new firmware on the philips 642. No help on previously recorded dvds. i.e. the size was still reduced.

With the ESS option checked when installing AutoGK, size is just as it should be. Strange.

thanks for the help.

HL

[Wolfman]

has the AR been "fixed" in Agk for ESS players then ??

FWIW when I had this problem some while back I did bug YAMADA (dvx6100) and they replied that they couldnt release new firmware, that the base code was down to ESS, and it was they who needed to fix the AR bug.. I havent checked for new firmware or new AGK recently :rolleyes:
But I did get round the problem by using GK and choosing 1:1 input pixel ratio...

Still prefer AGK tho :D

[hotluck]

As far as I can tell, yes. AR looks normal on James Bond play back.

Be sure to check the ESS option Box when you install AGK.

HL