KVCD: Image size between letterbox, and smaller than dvd?
 

Hey Kwag, this is my first time encoding dvd to mpg using your template. Well things came out fine except one small thing that kind of bugs me. Using a pencil to make a mark on the side of my monitor, I found the size of the image between the letterbox are not the same between the original dvd and the finished mpg using Windvd. The original dvd image is a bit larger (from top to bottom between the letterbox) than the encoded mpg. Aren't they both supposed to be the same?

Re: Image size between the letterbox smaller than dvd
 

They're supposed to be the same. Did you adjust the input aspect in TMPEG?.

You can't just encode with the default setting with KVCD or any of the internal TMPEG templates without adjusting the aspect ratio.

And it depends of your input source if you're reading from a .d2v project file, .avs script, or AVI file, etc.

kwag

OK, here's what I did, hopefully you'll find out why it's a little bit smaller than the dvd version.

1. I ripped the vob files to the HD using smartripper.

2. Ran the vob files thru dvd2avi (forced film) to create the d2v file and the audio wav file.

3. load the d2v file using Fitcd, set crop to accurate and destination to 1/2 dvd, and get the avs file.

LoadPlugin("F:\Encoded\MPEG2DEC.dll")
mpeg2source("F:\Encoded\Magnolia.d2v")
BilinearResize(352,352,0,0,720,480)
TemporalSmoother(2,2)
AddBorders(0,64,0,64)

4. I then load this avs file with Virtualdub and start frame server (video.vdr.avi).
5. Load this video.vdr.avi file with Tmpgenc, the audio wav file, then the kvcd template, I then only change the source aspect to 1:1(VGA) and video arrange method to full screen.

Both top & bottom of the encoded mpg between the letterbox is approximately 0.15 to 0.2cm smaller/shorter than the original dvd

Just open your .avs directly as video source with TMPEG, and open your audio source also with TMPEG.

Set Video arrange method to Center(Custom size) 352x352.

Now check your output.

kwag

Still the same outcome, I'm gonna try to do it again but with a different dvd ripper!

I think you need to resize to 352x360 to get _exactly_ the same heigth, but 352x352 will give you less block noise, and you won't notice the difference unless you measure it like you did.

Oh yeah, if I open the .avs directly with Tmpeg and not thru Virtualdub frameserve first, then the color of the encoded mpg will be all messed up, like it's in 8-bit color mode. So something must be wrong with my setup then.

Thanks for the info GFR! I'll try it later tonight. But how do you come up with the number 360?

I think you ripped as RGB.
Rip again as YUV, or add ConvertToYUY2() in the AviSynth script.

kwag

Mmm... This is kind of interesting. I just borrowed the matrix dvd from a friend so that I can compare it with the sample matrix clip, and Kwag, your clip is indeed a bit smaller/shorter than the actual dvd between the letterbox when using Windvd. So what is wrong here, am I seeing things?

GFR, changing 352x352 to 352x360 does make it, to the best of my measuring ability, about the same height as the dvd. But just how did you come up with this particular number?

I am using the parameters calculated automatically from the new version of FitCD.

If I open the .d2v project from "Matrix", and select an output of 1/2 DVD ( 352x480 ) the BillinearResize from FitCD is: BilinearResize(352,352,0,0,720,480) and AddBorders(0,64,0,64).

As far as I can tell, the VCD's aspect I burn looks exactly like the original DVD in my HDTV. I'll have to double check again with a tape measure :D

kwag

in a 3:4 screen if you have 480 lines you have (480/3)*4=640 dots per line.

If you have 640 dots per line and want a 16:9 display, (640/16)*9=360.

This number of lines (360) would give perfect 16:9

But 360 is not a multiple of 16, while 352 is - so I think FitCD uses 352 because it resizes better with less noise, with a close enough ratio.

I use 352x352 as FitCD suggests - the aspect is almost perfect and the quality is better.

Of course, if you resize to 352x360, now you have to add top and bottom borders of 60 instead of 64.

Ok, thank you for the explaination. Just thought I did something wrong to make it not the same height. Now I'll go away and do some more encoding (352x352 of course) with this great template (Thank you Kwag).