Best way to handle "strange" res MPEG-2 files (544

jimwillsher2 · Post by **jimwillsher2** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:59 am

Hi,

I've been playing around with MovieFactory and DVD Workshop (we have both at work), with a view to buying one or other for use at home.

My main requirement is to record from the Nebula Electronics DigiTV application, e.g. to record films and then burn them to DVD.

My problem: Digital TV in the UK is very frequently broadcast using a "strange" resolution of 544 x 576. Over Christmas I recorded "Super Size Me", and when I burn it to DVD the software (DVD Workshop or DVD MovieFactory) both insist on recoding it. I can live with the time it takes to process - 4 hours - but what frustrates me is the quality of the recorded DVD - very pixellated and blocky. Thi happens if I choose 16:9 or 4:3, and whichever "Disk Template" I use.

Is there *any* way to burn a DVD, and keep the resolution in the broadcast format? Even if this means that it's only playable on my PC rather than my "conventional" DVD player. Or is there some nice, easy to use software which will recode the film in a "friendly" format - even if that means padding the film with black lines to make it up to a "standard" format!

Other background: I quite like adding chapter menus to the disc, so MovieFactory is ideal for this, and I'm burning to DVD5 (DVD-R).

Many thanks in advance,

Jim

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:02 pm

I don't think there's any way around recoding.

From DVDdemystified.com

Allowable picture resolutions are:
MPEG-2, 525/60 (NTSC): 720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240
MPEG-2, 625/50 (PAL): 720x576, 704x576, 352x576, 352x288
MPEG-1, 525/60 (NTSC): 352x240
MPEG-1, 625/50 (PAL): 352x288

So, even if you found a way to make a non-standard DVD, it probably wouldn't play properly on a DVD player.

Did you use Two-Pass encoding? Two-pass along with a bigh bitrate is probably the best you can get. You might try some other MPEG encoders, but Ulead's encoder seems quite good to me... on my low-def TV.

jimwillsher2 · Post by **jimwillsher2** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:58 am

Yes, I tried two-*** encoding. There was no perceptible difference unfortunately.

Seems a shame to have such blocky pictures on a film which only occupies half a DVD.

Jim