I have a few AVI files im trying to convert to MPEG (to convert to DVD) with TMPGEnc Xpress. Ive successfully done this before, but unsure of what settings to use to get the correct picture size for these files.
Xpress identifies the AVI files as 640x480 30fps. Ive tried using the PAL DVD and NTSC DVD templates with different pixel sizes, but the output preview is either stretched, too small, too high etc.
Just wondering if there is anyway to choose a 640x480 option or equivalent so the picture size isnt distorted.
I never used Xpress since I was already fully satisfied by TMPGEnc 2.5 Plus and I never upgraded it, but if you create a DVD you cannot choose:
720x480 29.97 for a NTSC DVD
720x576 25 fps for a PAL DVD
What is important is that YOU MUST KEEP ASPECT RATIO. On TMPGEnc you had some option, in the 'advanced settings': Full screen or Full screen (keep aspect ratio). Please note: also 'very good quality (very slow) must be set.
You might aven try this trick, which is the one I use:
- use VirtualDub - install, click on AuxSetup.exe (in its directory) the 'handler'.
Then:
1) load the AVI (suppose you have a XxY AVI)
2) Video___Filters__Add --> Resize. Frame width: 720. Frame height: Y*(X/720). Filter mode: lanczos3.
Check 'expand frame and littrbox image' and set the final image to 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL). Click [OK].
3) make, in VitualDub, File___Start frame server, which won'r be grayed, if you click on the 'install handler' button of Aux Setup.exe. You will be asked the file name; let's suppose it is named 'movie.vdr'.
4) Load 'movie.vdr' instead of the old AVI, with your encoder. Maybe you'll have to give the full name, if .VDR does not belong to the list of the default extansions.
2) The 'expand frame' options makes the Y of the screen of the AVI to be DVD compliant (AVIs don't have black bars. DVD often do) .
3) The choice of the filter mode "lanczos3" assures, for me, a very good result of the resizing ; but, maybe, also the use of the "bilinear" or "bicubic" modes give good results.
iv been using xpress for years, heres how to fix your prob:
first of all the preview window isnt going to show what the thing is actualy producing. to truly know what the video is going to look like after encoding just stop it like 3% into the encode then check the outputted video.
to keep the aspect ratio (especialy when converting PAL to NTSC or anything not 720x480 to NTSC its best to choose 1:1 square pixle. if you choose this your video will come out the exact same aspect ratio it went it at, no matter what the outputted res is. xpress has very good resizing filters
