How do I Encode & Author DVD's to display at 16x9 on a Plazma TV?

For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.

Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
look great.

However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
In order to get the screen filled (to prevent the dreaded image
retention), I have to use the Zoom, Full or Justify screen formats.
With Zoom, the edges of the image are off the screen and the
resolution is degraded. With Full or Justify, the image is stretched
and everything is wider than it should be.

Any suggestions on how to get all my future home made DVDs to display
at 16x9 by default, on the 16x9 screen? I really want to continue
using the same software if at all possible.

thanks,

DC

<DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com...
> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>
> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
> look great.
>
> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
> In order to get the screen filled (to prevent the dreaded image
> retention), I have to use the Zoom, Full or Justify screen formats.
> With Zoom, the edges of the image are off the screen and the
> resolution is degraded. With Full or Justify, the image is stretched
> and everything is wider than it should be.
>
> Any suggestions on how to get all my future home made DVDs to display
> at 16x9 by default, on the 16x9 screen? I really want to continue
> using the same software if at all possible.
>
> thanks,
>
> DC
>

I use TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress to create video that displays at
16:9 AR, all the time. DVDLab Pro can author 16:9 video (and
even menues, if I recall correctly). You have two additional
factors that impact on what you actually end up seeing. They
are how the DVD Player handles the DVD video and how the
HDTV handles what it sees from the DVD Player.

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Helppro/aspect.htm

I assume you want #2.

When encoding your video, under the "Source" tab for the
"Clip settings", "Aspect ratio:" use "Display 16:9". (I know
it seems just the wrong thing to do, but try it.) Then use the
"Picture crop" filter to remove any bars or pillars. Then set
the "Picture resize" filter to "Full screen" (try the "Keep
aspect ratio" unchecked).

In the "Format" tab; you could select the DVD Template
and 16:9 specifications - or - the MPEG file template and
select Display 16:9 for its AR.

Then in the "Encode" tab use the preview to see if you
have what you want, for the video that you will be providing
to DVDLab Pro. The preview window should be at 16:9
and the video should fill the window properly.


Now I am assuming that we are still talking about ordinary SD
DVDs not HD or BluRay.

How does the signal get from the DVD Player to the HDTV?
HDMI, Component ?

Luck;
Ken

On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:12:25 -0600, Ken Maltby wrote:

> <DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
> news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com...
>> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
>> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
>> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
>> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>>
>> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
>> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
>> look great.
>>
>> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
>> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
>> In order to get the screen filled (to prevent the dreaded image
>> retention), I have to use the Zoom, Full or Justify screen formats.
>> With Zoom, the edges of the image are off the screen and the resolution
>> is degraded. With Full or Justify, the image is stretched and
>> everything is wider than it should be.
>>
>> Any suggestions on how to get all my future home made DVDs to display
>> at 16x9 by default, on the 16x9 screen? I really want to continue
>> using the same software if at all possible.
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> DC
>>
>>
> I use TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress to create video that displays at
> 16:9 AR, all the time. DVDLab Pro can author 16:9 video (and even
> menues, if I recall correctly). You have two additional factors that
> impact on what you actually end up seeing. They are how the DVD Player
> handles the DVD video and how the HDTV handles what it sees from the DVD
> Player.
>
> http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Helppro/aspect.htm
>
> I assume you want #2.
>
> When encoding your video, under the "Source" tab for the
> "Clip settings", "Aspect ratio:" use "Display 16:9". (I know it seems
> just the wrong thing to do, but try it.) Then use the "Picture crop"
> filter to remove any bars or pillars. Then set the "Picture resize"
> filter to "Full screen" (try the "Keep aspect ratio" unchecked).
>
> In the "Format" tab; you could select the DVD Template
> and 16:9 specifications - or - the MPEG file template and select Display
> 16:9 for its AR.
>
> Then in the "Encode" tab use the preview to see if you
> have what you want, for the video that you will be providing to DVDLab
> Pro. The preview window should be at 16:9 and the video should fill the
> window properly.
>
>
> Now I am assuming that we are still talking about ordinary SD
> DVDs not HD or BluRay.
>
> How does the signal get from the DVD Player to the HDTV?
> HDMI, Component ?
>
> Luck;
> Ken

I haven't used Tmpgenc as an editor in years, so I can't comment.

When you import video into DVDlab it shows the aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9
as one of the properties. The question is if the property indicates 4:3,
does the video play with everything looking as if it was stretched,
circular objects looking oval, people looking unnaturally tall, etc. Does
changing the aspect ratio to 16:9 on the TV fix this?

This would indicate that the aspect ratio flag of the video is unset.
Easy to fix this:
When importing the video into dvdlab choose the demux option to give 2
files <something>.mpv & <something>.ac3

Get restream which will change the aspect ratio flag
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Restream
Open the .mpv and change the aspect ratio. It is very quick as it does
not re-render anything, just changes one data-bit.
There will be a new file with 0 tacked on the name.
see:http://www.imageno.com/45jousq7iz27pic.html
Use this new file in place of the original.

Just a guess but did the 16:9 videos you made previously for your old 4:3
TV have hard encoded bars top and bottom ie. letter-boxed. Not much you
can do about these, as they are 4:3 video.

--
rich

On Sun, 1 Nov 2009 16:12:25 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
<kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
><DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
>news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com.. .
>> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
>> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
>> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
>> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>>
>> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
>> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
>> look great.
>>
>> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
>> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
>> In order to get the screen filled (to prevent the dreaded image
>> retention), I have to use the Zoom, Full or Justify screen formats.
>> With Zoom, the edges of the image are off the screen and the
>> resolution is degraded. With Full or Justify, the image is stretched
>> and everything is wider than it should be.
>>
>> Any suggestions on how to get all my future home made DVDs to display
>> at 16x9 by default, on the 16x9 screen? I really want to continue
>> using the same software if at all possible.
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> DC
>>
>
> I use TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress to create video that displays at
>16:9 AR, all the time. DVDLab Pro can author 16:9 video (and
>even menues, if I recall correctly). You have two additional
>factors that impact on what you actually end up seeing. They
>are how the DVD Player handles the DVD video and how the
>HDTV handles what it sees from the DVD Player.
>
>http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Helppro/aspect.htm
>
> I assume you want #2.
>
> When encoding your video, under the "Source" tab for the
>"Clip settings", "Aspect ratio:" use "Display 16:9". (I know
>it seems just the wrong thing to do, but try it.) Then use the
>"Picture crop" filter to remove any bars or pillars. Then set
>the "Picture resize" filter to "Full screen" (try the "Keep
>aspect ratio" unchecked).
>
> In the "Format" tab; you could select the DVD Template
>and 16:9 specifications - or - the MPEG file template and
>select Display 16:9 for its AR.
>
> Then in the "Encode" tab use the preview to see if you
>have what you want, for the video that you will be providing
>to DVDLab Pro. The preview window should be at 16:9
>and the video should fill the window properly.
>
>
> Now I am assuming that we are still talking about ordinary SD
>DVDs not HD or BluRay.
>
> How does the signal get from the DVD Player to the HDTV?
>HDMI, Component ?
>
> Luck;
> Ken
>
Hi Ken,

Your suggestions all make sense, based on my limited experience with
the program. It will be a couple of days until I have time to
experiment with your settings. Thanks for taking the time to be so
explicit in your instructions. That will help a lot!

FYI: Yes I create SD DVDs not HD/BluRay. I currently a use 3-wire
connection from DVD player to TV. Video Out, Left Audio & Right
Audio. I may get a new DVD player too. If so, I'll want at least a
S-Video or HDMI connection, for best possible SD image.

Thanks for your help. If I learn anything I'll post back.


DC

On Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:31:53 GMT, rich <rich@nohome.com> wrote:

>On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:12:25 -0600, Ken Maltby wrote:
>
>> <DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
>> news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com...
>>> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
>>> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
>>> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
>>> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>>>
>>> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
>>> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
>>> look great.
>>>
>>> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
>>> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
>>> In order to get the screen filled (to prevent the dreaded image
>>> retention), I have to use the Zoom, Full or Justify screen formats.
>>> With Zoom, the edges of the image are off the screen and the resolution
>>> is degraded. With Full or Justify, the image is stretched and
>>> everything is wider than it should be.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions on how to get all my future home made DVDs to display
>>> at 16x9 by default, on the 16x9 screen? I really want to continue
>>> using the same software if at all possible.
>>>
>>> thanks,
>>>
>>> DC
>>>
>>>
>> I use TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress to create video that displays at
>> 16:9 AR, all the time. DVDLab Pro can author 16:9 video (and even
>> menues, if I recall correctly). You have two additional factors that
>> impact on what you actually end up seeing. They are how the DVD Player
>> handles the DVD video and how the HDTV handles what it sees from the DVD
>> Player.
>>
>> http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Helppro/aspect.htm
>>
>> I assume you want #2.
>>
>> When encoding your video, under the "Source" tab for the
>> "Clip settings", "Aspect ratio:" use "Display 16:9". (I know it seems
>> just the wrong thing to do, but try it.) Then use the "Picture crop"
>> filter to remove any bars or pillars. Then set the "Picture resize"
>> filter to "Full screen" (try the "Keep aspect ratio" unchecked).
>>
>> In the "Format" tab; you could select the DVD Template
>> and 16:9 specifications - or - the MPEG file template and select Display
>> 16:9 for its AR.
>>
>> Then in the "Encode" tab use the preview to see if you
>> have what you want, for the video that you will be providing to DVDLab
>> Pro. The preview window should be at 16:9 and the video should fill the
>> window properly.
>>
>>
>> Now I am assuming that we are still talking about ordinary SD
>> DVDs not HD or BluRay.
>>
>> How does the signal get from the DVD Player to the HDTV?
>> HDMI, Component ?
>>
>> Luck;
>> Ken
>
>I haven't used Tmpgenc as an editor in years, so I can't comment.
>
>When you import video into DVDlab it shows the aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9
>as one of the properties. The question is if the property indicates 4:3,
>does the video play with everything looking as if it was stretched,
>circular objects looking oval, people looking unnaturally tall, etc. Does
>changing the aspect ratio to 16:9 on the TV fix this?
>
>This would indicate that the aspect ratio flag of the video is unset.
>Easy to fix this:
>When importing the video into dvdlab choose the demux option to give 2
>files <something>.mpv & <something>.ac3
>
>Get restream which will change the aspect ratio flag
>http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Restream
>Open the .mpv and change the aspect ratio. It is very quick as it does
>not re-render anything, just changes one data-bit.
>There will be a new file with 0 tacked on the name.
>see:http://www.imageno.com/45jousq7iz27pic.html
>Use this new file in place of the original.
>
>Just a guess but did the 16:9 videos you made previously for your old 4:3
>TV have hard encoded bars top and bottom ie. letter-boxed. Not much you
>can do about these, as they are 4:3 video.

I do use the demux option.

Yes the 16x9 videos previously made display on a 4:3 TV with bars on
the top and bottom.

Once I can get my future encoding right for 16:9 (gonna try Ken's
suggestions for this) then I may want to try redoing some of the
oldies but goodies by starting with the vob files and re-encoding for
full screen 16:9 on my new HD TV.

I'll have a look at Restream too.

Thanks for your input.

DC

<DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com...
> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>
> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
> look great.
>
> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.

There are many stand alone players which will play a vast number of codecs
used in AVI files, as well as WMV files. Using one would save you a lot of
time, trial, and error.

Alternatively, your PC can play all the files, no? Why not have it output
directly to your plasma? If not currently equipped to do so, a new graphics
card may be all that's required.

Generally speaking, converting video to another encoding scheme degrades
quality.

On Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:56:54 -0800, "CLicker" <CLicker@invalid.org>
wrote:

>
><DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
>news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com.. .
>> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
>> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
>> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
>> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>>
>> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
>> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
>> look great.
>>
>> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
>> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
>
>There are many stand alone players which will play a vast number of codecs
>used in AVI files, as well as WMV files. Using one would save you a lot of
>time, trial, and error.
>
>Alternatively, your PC can play all the files, no? Why not have it output
>directly to your plasma? If not currently equipped to do so, a new graphics
>card may be all that's required.
>
>Generally speaking, converting video to another encoding scheme degrades
>quality.
>
Some good thoughts, but I need to use DVDs.

On Sun, 1 Nov 2009 16:12:25 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
<kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
><DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
>news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com.. .
>> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
>> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
>> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
>> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>>
>> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
>> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
>> look great.
>>
>> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
>> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
>> In order to get the screen filled (to prevent the dreaded image
>> retention), I have to use the Zoom, Full or Justify screen formats.
>> With Zoom, the edges of the image are off the screen and the
>> resolution is degraded. With Full or Justify, the image is stretched
>> and everything is wider than it should be.
>>
>> Any suggestions on how to get all my future home made DVDs to display
>> at 16x9 by default, on the 16x9 screen? I really want to continue
>> using the same software if at all possible.
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> DC
>>
>
> I use TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress to create video that displays at
>16:9 AR, all the time. DVDLab Pro can author 16:9 video (and
>even menues, if I recall correctly). You have two additional
>factors that impact on what you actually end up seeing. They
>are how the DVD Player handles the DVD video and how the
>HDTV handles what it sees from the DVD Player.
>
>http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Helppro/aspect.htm
>
> I assume you want #2.
>
> When encoding your video, under the "Source" tab for the
>"Clip settings", "Aspect ratio:" use "Display 16:9". (I know
>it seems just the wrong thing to do, but try it.) Then use the
>"Picture crop" filter to remove any bars or pillars. Then set
>the "Picture resize" filter to "Full screen" (try the "Keep
>aspect ratio" unchecked).
>
> In the "Format" tab; you could select the DVD Template
>and 16:9 specifications - or - the MPEG file template and
>select Display 16:9 for its AR.
>
> Then in the "Encode" tab use the preview to see if you
>have what you want, for the video that you will be providing
>to DVDLab Pro. The preview window should be at 16:9
>and the video should fill the window properly.
>
>
> Now I am assuming that we are still talking about ordinary SD
>DVDs not HD or BluRay.
>
> How does the signal get from the DVD Player to the HDTV?
>HDMI, Component ?
>
> Luck;
> Ken
>
Ken,

I made a test DVD using your instructions and the results were not
what I hoped for. With the TV format set to "Full" all the files and
the menu displayed in Letterbox (black bars top and bottom).

When I set the TV format to "Zoom" they looked pretty decent, except
that some of the image was off screen.

I think I need to have a closer look at the options with the player.
And, since I'm thinking about getting a new player with a better
remote and output connector options, maybe I should do that first.

Also, maybe DVD-lab PRO has some tweaks I could apply to get rid of
the letterbox. I'm not very familiar with it.

DC

<DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
news:nfu3f59upqidrus4hefk0t9fstqnhphr4j@4ax.com...
>
> I made a test DVD using your instructions and the results were not
> what I hoped for. With the TV format set to "Full" all the files and
> the menu displayed in Letterbox (black bars top and bottom).
>
> When I set the TV format to "Zoom" they looked pretty decent, except
> that some of the image was off screen.
>


How your TV handles things is an issue, but not one that the
suggestions I gave you addressed. How did it look in the
"Encode preview" of TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress?


> I think I need to have a closer look at the options with the player.
> And, since I'm thinking about getting a new player with a better
> remote and output connector options, maybe I should do that first.
>
> Also, maybe DVD-lab PRO has some tweaks I could apply to get rid of
> the letterbox. I'm not very familiar with it.
>
> DC

Once you have the video encoded properly, we can address
any problems you may be having with DVD-Lab Pro.

Luck;
Ken

On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:01:03 -0600, DennyCrane wrote:

> On Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:56:54 -0800, "CLicker" <CLicker@invalid.org>
> wrote:
>
>
>><DennyCrane@MadCow.net> wrote in message
>>news:f2rre5hjppoq0ks8k3c6hta9ddv2e6u899@4ax.com. ..
>>> For a few years, I've been successfully encoding wmv and avi files to
>>> DVD compliant mpg using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. I like it a lot and the
>>> results have been fine, as long as I had a CRT TV displaying at 4:3
>>> aspect ratio. I use DVD-lab PRO 2.3 to author and create menus.
>>>
>>> Now I've upgraded to HDTV and a Panasonic 42" plasma. The HDTV shows
>>> on cable display at 16x9 (provided they are broadcast that way) and
>>> look great.
>>>
>>> However, all the DVD's I've created, even the one's that displayed at
>>> 16x9 on the CRT 4:3 TV, don't seem to fit properly on the 16x9 screen.
>>
>>There are many stand alone players which will play a vast number of
>>codecs used in AVI files, as well as WMV files. Using one would save
>>you a lot of time, trial, and error.
>>
>>Alternatively, your PC can play all the files, no? Why not have it
>>output directly to your plasma? If not currently equipped to do so, a
>>new graphics card may be all that's required.
>>
>>Generally speaking, converting video to another encoding scheme degrades
>>quality.
>>
> Some good thoughts, but I need to use DVDs.

Part of the problem is starting off with .wmv's and .avi's

My suggestion, as a way of problem solving, is try one of your files with
DeVeDe

http://www.majorsilence.com/devede

Have a look at some screen shots I put together showing the process. If
you can get this working then you can go back to Tmpgenc and check the
equivalent settings there.
http://www.imageno.com/qgyy7x74s0rfpic.html

When it comes to DVDlab, there are no settings to convert. It expects a
DVD standard file, although it can be half or quarter standard. It will
demux and there is a tool to reduce the size of a video file. Thats about
it *but* it can make wonderful menu's.

--
rich