Video Size

[Worm]

I'm working on a project that uses the Media Player object. On my dev machine I have MP9.x, when I play the video, the properties show me that it is at 312 x 240.

On the same machine, QuickTime says it is 320 x 240. Which is what it was actually encoded as. On another machine that has MP6.x the video properties state that it is at 352 x 240.

The issue comes that I end up with a black line at the top and bottom of my video when using the media player object. Any one have a suggestion on what to do?

[Michael]

Re: Video Size

Worm,

I don't know if I can help here, but I do know it certainly starts with the encoding size of the original video. If it was 352x240 this is the mpeg1 standard. The 320x240 is a typical size used by mediaplayer and QT for web play. The 312x240 is not a standard size video, so I can't say anything about that one.

In most cases, the video is "cut" or encoded to an output size
720x480 MPEG2
720x486
640x480
320x240
160x120
352x240 MPEG1

to name a few and most players will adapt to that sizes. So, it's hard to answer what is happening here. An important place to start is the original video and its codec and size. Then, you might look at the codecs installed on the machines you mentioned.

Finally, mediaplayer 9 has (under the view dropdown) a video size option that may be checked that "fits" the video to the player. You might check on that and play with the other options.

In any case, good luck. I suspect if it's the same video across machines, the player and the respective settings are the culprit.

[eric_darling]

Re: Video Size

You've run into the MPEG Display Aspect Ratio issue.

Basically, lots of software confuses Display Aspect Ratio (DAR) for Pixel Aspect Ratio (true resolution), treating them in many ways as one and the same, which is a mistake.

Your movie's DAR is 4:3 being an NTSC original source, which, of course doesn't directly compute with what computers what to resolve - 1:1. So software needs to step in and handle the resolving job, making your 4:3 DAR stuff play nicely on a 1:1 display environment.

One of these aforementioned software titles that doesn't really "get" DAR is Windows Media Player version 7.0 through 9.x. The DAR flag of your MPEG file is simply mishandled by WMP. This results in a stretched video that doesn't really need to be stretched, and therefore, the black top and bottom letterboxing, and also the misreporting of actual resolution in the file's properties.

[Corey]

Re: Video Size

You've run into the MPEG Display Aspect Ratio issue.

Say goodbye to the MPEG Display Aspect Ratio issue blues forever with K-Tel's new MPEG Display Aspect Ratio issue blues buster and blues buster caddy companion set. Just a thought...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[yosik]

Re: Video Size

I would recommend using TMPGEnc. in addition to converting AVI to Mpeg (1 and 2), you can batch mux/demux/split/join Mpegs and correct the above mentionned parameters.
Yossi

[TJ_Tigger]

Re: Video Size

It's not the size that matters . . . At least that's what I keep saying . . .

[Corey]

Re: Video Size

All this talk about mux and demux is making me hungry... mmmmmmm... mux....

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software