Playing "letterbox" media files.

peterpi

peterpi

Member
I have transfered some media files to my media server which are "letterbox" format, but when I play them they are stretched to fill the screen. Other "letterbox" files are displayed properly.

I use Freemake Video Converter to change the files to MP4. The first file info below is from a DVD, the second from an MKV file, both were originally in "letterbox" format.

Is there a setting on the T2 to correct the video, as there is nothing I can select on my TV do do the job.

I will carry on playing with the settings on Freemake to see if I can re-encode in a format which works.

If anyone has an idea why this is happening, I would be obliged for your input.

thanks
Pete

Correct View File Info

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 1.52 GiB
Duration : 2h 2mn
Overall bit rate : 1 784 Kbps
Writing application : Lavf52.94.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 2h 2mn
Duration_FirstFrame : -40ms
Bit rate : 1 685 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 404 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 12.500 fps
Maximum frame rate : 25.000 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.232
Stream size : 1.45 GiB (95%)
Writing library : x264 core 112 r1834 a51816a
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0 / me=dia / subme=2 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=0 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=abr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1685 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.41 / aq=1:1.00

Distorted File Info

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 26.8 MiB
Duration : 1mn 55s
Overall bit rate : 1 951 Kbps
Writing application : Lavf52.94.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1mn 55s
Bit rate : 1 565 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 308 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.35:1
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.294
Stream size : 21.5 MiB (80%)
Writing library : x264 core 112 r1834 a51816a
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0 / me=dia / subme=2 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=0 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=abr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1565 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.41 / aq=1:1.00
 
If you look at the aspect ratios detected in the above, the "good" one says 16:9 and the "bad" one says 2.35:1. Presuming you are outputting to a 16:9 screen, I would suggest the "good" one is encoded with the letterbox already in the frame, and the "bad" one not.

Have you tried setting the video output mode to "original"? Another thing to remember is the TV might also be stretching/squashing the input data to fill the screen.
 
I have come across this on the HDR playing back dvd rips that I have cropped the black bars off, giving a resolution of 704x432 with an ar of 2.35:1 the HDR stretches and distorts the video to fill the screen. The way I get them to display correctly is to go into
settings > preferences > video > change screen ratio to 4:3 and display format to letterbox 16:9. Then you have to change it back for normal tv which is a hassle, so I now I don't bother croping off the black bars maintaining the 720x576 16:9 resolution on any new rips.
 
Steve Harper said:
I have come across this on the HDR playing back dvd rips that I have cropped the black bars off, giving a resolution of 704x432 with an ar of 2.35:1 the HDR stretches and distorts the video to fill the screen. The way I get them to display correctly is to go into
settings > preferences > video > change screen ratio to 4:3 and display format to letterbox 16:9. Then you have to change it back for normal tv which is a hassle, so I now I don't bother croping off the black bars maintaining the 720x576 16:9 resolution on any new rips.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay in replying, work has been getting in my way!

Tried the above and it worked, belated thanks.
 
Recently I have been viewing some 4:3 material from BBC FOUR, and it was being stretched to fill the 16:9 output (the opposite way to you, but similar problem). I found that by changing the Humax's wide button setting to "pillar box" rather than "auto" sorted it (and I don't have to switch back for 16:9 originals). In other words, for "auto" read "stretch".

It seems the Humax is configured for coping with 4:3/16:9 material presented on a 16:9 screen, or 4:3/16:9 material presented on a 4:3 screen, but doesn't know to expect 2.35:1 material or what to do with it (broadcast sources will always reframe it to 16:9 with black bars). Setting up the Humax for a 4:3 screen (even though it is actually a 16:9 screen) and then setting the wide button to "letterbox 16:9" is a nifty work-around that achieves 2.37:1 (close enough 2.35:1 to make no difference).
 
Hi all,

Sorry to reopen an old topic, but I could do with a small clarification. I have an MP4 file with a resolution of 1920x800. Am I correct that the only way that I can get this to play without being stretched/squished is to follow the procedure in post 5 above?

Thanks,
JT
 
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