Letterboxing with ffmpeg (aspect ratio)
 

Anyone was succesful transcoding a 16:9 file to a 4:3 *VCD using ffmpeg? By defaults it creates a very stretched image (it doesn't keep the aspect ratio). I would like to add black borders on top and bottom, but looks like I can't (you can't use negative -crop values like in transcode to add black borders).

Maybe there is some option / way to do it with ffmpeg that I couldn't find?

I think ffmpegX for mac/osx does it, does anyone know how?

Cheers

Uhhhmm... this is funny too...
He actually DOES add black borders...
I think he writes sth in the mpeg header...
If you use mplayer in Fullscreen, these black bars disappear somehow... but in windowed mode, they are there...

(I used the "-aspect" parameter)

He?? Who is he?? :lol: Do you mean ffmpeg or ffmpegX?

So, could you paste here the complete ffmpeg command you used? I can't get the correct ratio on the output..

Thisi is what I used:

he= ffmpeg

I think you were using -aspect the wrong way...

I used e.g.
blablabla -aspect 1.85

(blablabla=kwags encoding tip)


so for 4:3 this would be:
-aspect 1,3333

but maybe this is all nonsense :D :wink: :lol:

But, the aspect ratio for VCD has to be 4:3, hasn't it?

Anyway, I can't test it until I get home, but, do you get black borders (I mean new black borders, which weren't on the original file) using that aspect ratio?

Cheers

uhhhmmm... maybe...
but as a kvcd-user I don't care much about standards
*g*

Black Borders ARE displayed... but NOT in fullscreen...

EDIT:
Damn... somehow the borders arent displayed on my standalone...
I have to switch manually to 16:9

anything new???
still won't work fine...

I gave up :cry:

I couldn't see any difference on the output files, using "-aspect 4:3", "-aspect 1.333", "-aspect 1,333", "-aspect 16:9", "-aspect 1.777" or "-aspect 1,777". Always the same stretched output.

What version of ffmpeg are you guys using? Do you get good (not stretched) output while encoding 16:9 vobs (from DVD) to VCD, or KVCD?

Maybe we'll have to wait for a new ffmpeg version...

I always get the full Anamorhpic output ( or the same aspect of my input ). No way to control it :!:
I'm with you mozo. I'll just keep checking every new version every now and then.

-kwag

ffmpeg doesn't add black borders, youll need another utilty to do that job. Maybe there's a way to insert something with the -vhook but I have no idea how. (maybe for subs too)
This is the main reason why I'am using a chain like:
encode audio seperatly and mux...

do these commands create new files???
or just a kind of frameserving?

It's frameserving (or piping).

could you please tell me what each command does? got a lil curious... *g*

Would the mplayer command include postprocessing? 8O

First we create the pipe:
mkfifo -m 660 stream.yuv
After that we start mplayer to "fill" the stream with raw yuv images; -vo yuv4mpeg, it will serve frame for frame as fast as it's read from the pipe.
-vop scale does the scaling, you can use any mplayer filter in this.
The ffmpeg line explains itself, it only differs from direct encoding that we have to tell it to use a yuvstream: -f yuv4mpegpipe -i streamname

Hmmmm... I somehow can't get any results... always an error :-(
I guess i'll give mencoder a try... should be the same results as ffmpeg...

Currently I'am testing a rework of my mkxvcd script using transcode to add direct dvd ripping (for backup purposes off-course)
I make an post if suxsesfull.

You should really take a look at this:
http://www.kvcd.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6822
sooooo many nice options!