DVDR playback expands anamorphic image on 4:3 TV, + stuttering

[KHS]

I recently made an edited version of a movie and burned it to DVD. I tested it with PowerDVD 4.0 on my computer and in a friend's console player and everything worked fine, but other people have since told me that it stutters on playback - I didn't know what was causing it until I took it to my parents' house and experienced the same thing. I noticed that what should have looked like this:

http://img49.exs.cx/img49/7019/dvd2.png

looked like this:
http://img49.exs.cx/img49/6228/dvd3.png

It's encoded as NTSC 720x480, 23.976 fps progressive, 16:9 anamorphic image, and as I said it works fine in some players (i.e. it looks like the proper first example and does not stutter) but not others, which are apparently enlarging the image horizontally instead of shrinking it vertically, thereby working too hard, which causes the stutter. I used QuEnc 0.54 to encode the video and ReJig 0.5e to author it.

The only thing I can think of that might be causing it is when I load it in ReStream and it says under Sequence Display Extension 540 for the horizontal size. But the general flag for that property is not set (and I can't change it) so I don't know if that makes any difference.

[Matthew]

"Sequence Display Extension 540" = 4:3 automatic pan and scan flag in the video stream. Never used QuEnc but I know CCE sets it if you tick the "panscan" box.

Is the IFO flagged as pan and scan? This can be checked/unchecked in ifoedit.People changing their dvd player setting from 4:3 pan and scan to 4:3 letterbox should fix the issue at playback.

Now, I'm talking only about about the sides being chopped off, I'd think the stuttering issue would be separate, but that's just my intuition :P

[cona812]

Stuttering always sounds like encoding problems. What were your parameters used for encoding? A reason can be maximal bitrate is to high or wrong GOP-structur.

Cona

[KHS]

In IfoEdit, I should load VTS_01_1.IFO, correct? It says for Menu Attributes 4:3, but for Title Set (Movie) Attributes 16:9. I don't have a menu; it's just a movie disc. Does that make a difference? I also read that IfoEdit doesn't like 23.976fps progressive streams. Is that still true?

I cannot change the Sequence Display Extension flag in ReStream. It's not grayed out but nothing I do will change it. I tried just changing 540 to 720 but upon loading the resultant stream, it still leaves it unchecked and at 540.

My encoding parameters were: 2-pass, 4680kbps VBR, high quality, Trellis quantization, GOP size 12, max B-frames 2, DC Precision 10, Scene Detection (which is grayed out if I use the "Force Closed GOP" flag; only one can be on at a time), Auto Max Bitrate, 16:9 aspect ratio.

Since you brought up the GOP issue, I wonder now if that might be the problem. From the settings text file for QuEnc I see this:Forced Closed GOP
-----------------
This will cause the GOPs to be closed, so that frames in a GOP will not be referenced outside that GOP. Only use if you know what you are doing. This will also automatically turn Scene Detection off.

Scene Detection
---------------
If scene detection is on, then scene changes are detected and I-Frames are inserted. This can provide better use of GOPs. However, it can produce strange GOP sized. With Scene Detection off, the GOPs are now (as of 0.51) strictly enforced to use a strict GOP format. (i.e. it won't replace B-Frames with P-Frames in High motion)I guess it also might be the max bitrate issue, because it says, "If set to Auto the max bitrate will be set to 3 times higher than the normal bitrate" - I just assumed that it still wouldn't go above DVD spec but maybe I shouldn't have assumed that.

It's still weird that it plays in most DVD players; maybe it's just that the older ones can't handle it being out of spec.

[cona812]

I guess it also might be the max bitrate issue, because it says, "If set to Auto the max bitrate will be set to 3 times higher than the normal bitrate" - I just assumed that it still wouldn't go above DVD spec but maybe I shouldn't have assumed that.The max bitrate is limited to 9800kbit per second (sum off all displayed streams), so three times the averanged bitrate wuold be to much. You can try to check your stream with BitrateViewer (take a look at the maximalpeak of your bitrate).Forced Closed GOP
-----------------
This will cause the GOPs to be closed, so that frames in a GOP will not be referenced outside that GOP. Only use if you know what you are doing. This will also automatically turn Scene Detection off.

Scene Detection
---------------
If scene detection is on, then scene changes are detected and I-Frames are inserted. This can provide better use of GOPs. However, it can produce strange GOP sized. With Scene Detection off, the GOPs are now (as of 0.51) strictly enforced to use a strict GOP format. (i.e. it won't replace B-Frames with P-Frames in High motion)You need this settings only if your encoding assets for multiangle.

Cona

[Matthew]

Originally posted by KHS
In IfoEdit, I should load VTS_01_1.IFO, correct? It says for Menu Attributes 4:3, but for Title Set (Movie) Attributes 16:9. I don't have a menu; it's just a movie disc. Does that make a difference? I also read that IfoEdit doesn't like 23.976fps progressive streams. Is that still true?

I cannot change the Sequence Display Extension flag in ReStream. It's not grayed out but nothing I do will change it. I tried just changing 540 to 720 but upon loading the resultant stream, it still leaves it unchecked and at 540.

AFAIK you shouldn't need to change the sequence display extension, so long as the IFO is not flagged as pan and scan.

In IFOEdit (VTS_01_0.IFO), double click on the line under "title set (movie) attributes" and a box will display. There will be checkboxes, including automatic pan and scan and automatic letterboxed. Only the latter should be selected. If automatic pan and scan box is checked, then unchecking and saving will solve your problem.

BTW #1 IFOEdit is dodgy when authoring 23.976 material, that's all. Unless you are using it for authoring it's not something to be concerned about.
BTW #2 The menu thing in IFOEdit is normal, even if you don't have a menu.

[KHS]

Thank you, I will try that. Automatic pan-and-scan was checked along with automatic letterbox. I only wish I had a DVD player handy to test it with; I guess next time I go to my parents' I will find out.

Edit:Originally posted by cona812
You need this settings only if your encoding assets for multiangle.Wait, which? Closed GOP or scene detection? Or both?

[cona812]

both