Output files look squished in VLC

[Drewster]

I'm using the generic.avi.divx.mp3 profile and a source file that's 16:9 (specs below). When I define a custom resolution and play the resultant file in VLC it's squished and I have to change the aspect ratio one level higher. For example, if I encode to 1.78 aspect ratio (e.g. 720x405) I have to set VLC aspect ratio to 2.21 to look right. Or, if I encode to 1.33 (4:3) I have to set VLC aspect ratio to 16:9 to look right.

I'm using DVDFab v6.2.1.8. I searched for this problem didn't see it asked. What am I doing wrong?

These are my settings. I use the generic.avi.divx.mp3 profile:
1: encoding= 1-pass encoding
2: bitrate= (various)
3: split= no
4: framerate= same as source
5: resolution= I have tried 720x405 (aspect ratio= 1.78 / 16:9), 720x480 (ar= 1.5), 720x326 (ar= 2.21), and 640x480
6: audio bitrate= 128 kbps
7: channel= prologic-ii
8: subpicture= no subpicture


SOURCE FILE
General
Complete name : filename.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 11.0 MiB
Duration : 26s 400ms
Overall bit rate : 3 509 Kbps
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Duration : 26s 342ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 2 922 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9 800 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.282
Stream size : 9.17 MiB (83%)
Audio
ID : 129 (0x81)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 26s 400ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 1.41 MiB (13%)
Text
ID : 224 (0xE0)-DVD-1
Format : EIA-608
Muxing mode : MPEG Video / DVD-Video
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Thank you for any help you can provide!

[billbell52]

I have done this for about 100 movies. My recommendation is to turn off cropping and pick the width you want. For NTSC I pick 704 x XXX. Let DVDFab figure out XXX. Works on VLC and all the other players I use. Don't mess with forcing aspect ratios.

[Drewster]

I can't seem to get an AVI file to mobile to not be squished. I followed your instructions--disabled crop, chose the 704 option and result is squished. Tried a few other resolutions with enabling and disabling crop. Source aspect ratio is 1.78 (16:9).

Clip is 9.5 min. I'm using AVI xvid, 1pass, 1250kbps, 704x396 - .150(bppel) - 1.78(aspect ratio), crop disabled. Resolution is provided by DVDFab, I've not created a custom one.

I tried with MP4 just to see... h264, 1pass, 1250kbps, 704x400-.148-1.76, nocrop. Squished.

What am I doing wrong?

[signals]

VLC behaves strangely sometimes if you change the playback aspect ratio. Make sure it is set to Default (top choice on list) at Video->Aspect Ratio. This is the default setting unless you have changed it. The ones I have made recently are playing back normally. May be your original has strange authoring. Unlike my friend billbell, I leave automatic cropping on and let DVDFab pick the output aspect ratio (I pick the size).