Ulead Moviefactory messed up my Aspect Ratios - Sort of...
 

Howdy Ya'll,

I'm looking for advice on a small problem I've encountered here, cause I don't quite know what to make of it.

I'm currently putting together James Bond collection.

I'm averaging 3 movies per DVD+R/RW using a variation on Kwags Half D1 KDVD template (My variation is that I upped the bitrate a little).

Now, on the encoding PC and a couple others, the finalized mpegs play perfectly using WinDVD, PowerDVD & Hollywood+.

Here's where it gets a little strange ....

Using Moovyfactory, I assemble the three titles into an image with a simple 1-2-3 menu for the three movies. I burn them to a DVD+RW so that I can see if they came out OK before a burn it to a permanent DVD+R.

When I play back the DVD+RW on the same encoding machine using WinDVD, the aspect ratios are screwed up !! The image is vertically stretched 8O .

What's even weirder is that when I take this disc and pop it into my Pioneer DV-343 consumer player, it plays with the correct aspect ratio on all three movies 8O 8O .

Is Moovyfactory messing with the movies in a way that screws up WinDVD ??

If it is, what DVD authoring package should I be using to avoid this from hapenning ? :?

Thanks

So I guess your original DVD collection is anamorphic. That's why it plays with the correct aspect on your TV. There is nothing wrong. :wink:

-kwag

Yeah, they are anamorphic, but then why do the original DVD's or any other anamophic DVD's play on this same system properly ?

That wuz why I wuz asking, cause this is the first time that they play screwed up. And they do play fine as straight mpegs, just not once authored to a DVD

Me confused 8O

Could it be the output aspect you selected when you imported your mpegs in the authoring program?
It should have been set 16:9. Not 4:3.

-kwag

Hey Kwag,

In Moovyfactory you simply add your mpegs as is, assuming they're compliant. There is no dialog or setting for aspect ratio that I can find anywhere.

I'll finally be putting the patch for DVD Workshop on the system tonight, so maybe I'll give that SW a shot ......

Ok. I asked you that, because in DVDit, it will ask you if the source is 4:3 or 16:9.

-kwag

Hey Kwag,

I am currently recreating the disc image from the same Mpgs using DVD Workshop. I'll put that on a disc and see what I get.

Will let ya know 8O

Later ... 8)

Well, I finished the disc, and got the exact same result, crap :x .

Anyway, how about if I try to "un-anamorphic" it.

Kwag, can I use FitCD to turn these movies into normal 16:9's instead of anamorphics ?

Thanks

Yes. You "un-check" the "Anamorphic" on the destination on FitCD.
If your original is Anamorphic, and your target is an anamorphic DVD, you had to "check" Anamorphic on the Destination. If you wanted to create a 16:9 non-anamorphic DVD, you would have "un-checked" Anamorphic on the Destination on FitCD.

-kwag

Yeah, I thought so. I could have sworn that I had set it that way, but obviously I hadn't.

Anyway, back to the drawing board to reencode all three again 8O .

Of course, I will work with small samples, till I get it right.

Thanks Kwag ...

Is CD-R (KVCD plus) capable to hold an "Anamorphic" mpeg file or it is only applicable to DVD -/+ R(RW)?? Also, is this "anamorphic" only beneficial to 16:9 monitors (Plasma or tube TV), 4:3 ordinary TV should not use this anamorphic option??

Anamorphic is only applicable to DVD's.
BTW: Here's an excelent explanation on video and aspect ratios, etc.
And a hell of a good site!. I've got it on my bookmarks.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/video-format.htm

-kwag

I'll be adding this one to my bookmarks as well.


I think I solved my aspect ratio problem!! :D

I did indeed have anamorphic unchecked for the output in FitCD. Just for fun I loaded the d2v file directly. set source and output ratios to 16:9. Encoded a 3 minute clip, & it plays with proper aspect in my player & in Windvd/PowerDVD Duhhh? I hate it when I over complicate things ....

Anyway, I'm letting one of the films reencode overnight (what's left of it) and will burn this to a DVDrw in the morn & try it out !!

I hate it when I do stoopid things :oops: .....

Later Y'all

Well, I did indeed have it wrong .......

The movie was reencoded & burned to disc. It was played by WinDVD and PowerDVD on one system, Hollywood+ on another, and on my consumer Pioneer DVD player. Played perfectly, with the correct aspect ratio on all players! :lol: .

One thing that I did notice though. It's primarily a weakness of WinDVD. When I reencoded the movie, WinDVD played the movie as a full screen, not understanding that it was anamorphic. PowerDVD or Hollywood+ did not have this problem. Once burned, WinDVD did behave itself.

Bottom line is, don't always believe that the output of an encode, as shown in WinDVD is 100% accurate.

Actually you should read the changelog over at TMPGenc.net on version 2.57 and what they consider acceptable for Mpeg2 playback.. Big change.

Later y'all and thanks for the assist Kwag 8) .