Aspect Ratio Issues

[PJRogers]

Help!
I've tried everything that is suggested in the online user guide to correct the problem I'm having, all to no avail.

Here's what happens:
I have a letter-boxed movie that needs to be transcoded. Before transcoding, it will play to my Sony Bravia KDL-55W800B with the correct aspect ratio, letter-box intact. Once transcoded, using the Sony Bravia KDL (2015 Models) Device Profile, the letter-box is gone and video is stretched vertically. None of the solutions suggested for aspect ratio problems seem to make a difference.

Hope somebody has a solution!
Thanks.

[Peter]

Hi,
you say it will play on the TV without transcoding and shows the correct aspect ratio, can you please tell us why it needs transcoding? Does it play without audio or does it need subtitles burned?

If it needs transcoding but the original format plays with the correct aspect ratio we can try to preserve the original codec and container when transcoding, please right-click on the file in Mezzmo then select 'Get FFmpeg Information' and then copy and paste this into a post on the forum.

[PJRogers]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for the reply.
Most movies (MP4) will stream to the tv fine without transcoding. MKV files play a bit, but start to buffer and stutter after a few minutes, so need to transcode. Some MP4 files will stop playing around 27-30 minutes without a transcode, play fine (except for aspect ratio issues) when transcoded.
Here is the data you requested:

ffmpeg version N-78742-gf477849 Copyright (c) 2000-2016 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 4.9.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-w64-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-postproc --prefix=/home/peter/ffmpeg/build/gpl32 --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lpthread -lx264 -lx265 -lstdc++' --enable-pthreads --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc32/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc32/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libx265 --enable-libmfx --enable-gnutls --extra-libs='-lz -lnettle -lhogweed -lgmp -lidn -lws2_32 -lcrypt32'
libavutil 55. 19.100 / 55. 19.100
libavcodec 57. 25.101 / 57. 25.101
libavformat 57. 26.100 / 57. 26.100
libavdevice 57. 0.101 / 57. 0.101
libavfilter 6. 36.100 / 6. 36.100
libswscale 4. 0.100 / 4. 0.100
libswresample 2. 0.101 / 2. 0.101
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '\\PENNYLANE\Volume_1\Movies\The Light Between Oceans.mp4':
Metadata:
major_brand : isom
minor_version : 512
compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
creation_time : 2017-01-06 06:03:14
encoder : Lavf56.40.101
title : The Light Between Oceans
comment : The Light Between Oceans
Duration: 02:12:51.51, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2730 kb/s
Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1920x800 [SAR 1:1 DAR 12:5], 2499 kb/s, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 11988 tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2017-01-06 06:03:14
handler_name : VideoHandler
Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, 5.1, fltp, 223 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2017-01-06 06:03:14
handler_name : SoundHandler
At least one output file must be specified

<MEZZMO>: Child process ended with code: 109, ExitCode=1


---> DB Level Info: 41, 100
---> Frame rate: 23.98
---> Aspect ratio: 12:5 PAR=1:1
---> Duration: 02:12:51

[Peter]

The device profile has several formats for transcoding, you can try using one of the other formats to pre-transcode the file to see if this resolves the aspect ratio issue. mpegts is the default transcoding format but you can try using matroska or avi.

[PJRogers]

The Matroska format did the trick and it's as quick as the default mpegts format.
Thanks!