Aspect ratios incorrect on TV

**dehalley** · 03-24-2013, 03:16 AM

I'm just going to ramble on and describe my problem. I'll provide a little technical info at the bottom. Please let me know if you have the solution.

I stream videos from a wide variety of sources: I rip DVDs, I snatch from Youtube, I download from Usenet, I get sent videos from friends. The formats are most often mkv, avi, or mp4. When I verify the videos on my PC (with a variety of players) the picture looks perfect. However, when I stream them to the TV, the aspect ratio is often messed up. My TV only has a couple of settings for aspect ratio, and sometimes, none of them are very good, so I wind up trying to watch a screenfull of suddenly obese characters, or the ends of the picture are chopped off. Since the videos display perfectly on my computer, something must be screwed up during the transcoding or streaming. However, I don't see what changes I might make to the Mezzmo settings that would affect this (you should excuse the expression) aspect of the problem.

Does someone know the secret? Thanks,

Don

Computer: Dell Studio XPS 9100
Processor: Intel Core i7 960 @3.20GHz
Memory: 8 GB
OS: Win7 64-bit
Mezzmo: 3.0.2.0
TV: Sony Bravia KDL-40HX800
Connection is Wi-Fi

**Paul** · 03-25-2013, 10:20 AM

Hi Don,

When the video is playing on your Bravia, press the Options button on your remote control and go to the Picture settings. Check & try changing the Auto Wide settings and Size settings to see if your Bravia is stretching your videos.

If no better, then please post the FFmpeg information on the video you are streaming. To do this, right-click on the video in Mezzmo and click 'Get FFmpeg Information'. Also post the device profile you are using for your Bravia in Mezzmo. Go to the Media Devices dialog to check this.

**dehalley** · 03-26-2013, 09:38 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. The Bravia I have only really lets me choose from between 4 settings. Many times, I can find one that works OK, other times, not. In any case, since the original video plays perfectly on my computer, it seems to follow that the transcoded version ought to do so on my TV, and I really shouldn't have to search for a viewing setting with every video.

Here is the FFmpeg info for a video I downloaded from the Internet:

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (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/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'C:\Users\Spidey\Videos\Movies & TV\Drama\Vegas - s01e04 - (Il)Legitimate.mkv':
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-10-23 18:32:44
Duration: 00:44:04.22, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2834 kb/s
Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720, SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s16, 384 kb/s (default)
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: 16:9

This plays perfectly on my computer screen, but none of the TV's settings work - best I can do is lose the outer edges, and the characters are still horizontally stretched.

Here is the FFmpeg info for a video I ripped myself and compressed from a DVD:

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (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/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
[avi @ 003fb600] non-interleaved AVI
Input #0, avi, from 'C:\Users\Spidey\Videos\Movies & TV\Drama\La Femme Nikita - s02e12 - Soul Sacrifice.avi':
Duration: 00:44:46.08, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1673 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (Main) (H264 / 0x34363248), yuv420p, 716x480 [SAR 8:9 DAR 179:135], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 29.97 tbn, 59.94 tbc
Stream #0:1: Audio: mp3 (U[0][0][0] / 0x0055), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 160 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified

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

---> DB Level Info: 30, 77
---> Frame rate: 29.97
---> Aspect ratio: 179:135

In this case, if I change the TV's settings to "Normal", the picture is viewable (while the original video looks perfect as-is on my computer).

Either the transcoded version has the wrong aspect ratio, or it has the correct one and is communicating the wrong one to the TV (if that makes any sense at all).

I checked and I am using the latest FFmpeg build (Oct 25 2012 12:37:27)

What do you think?

Don

**Paul** · 03-26-2013, 10:01 AM

Thanks for the further information, Don.

Right-click on the video in Mezzmo and click Properties. In the Properties dialog, go to the Transcoding tab. Select the transcoded video in the list and click 'Get FFmpeg Information'. Please post that information here and we will know how Mezzmo is transcoding your video.

**dehalley** · 03-27-2013, 03:28 AM

OK, here we go:

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (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/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
[mpeg @ 017cb980] max_analyze_duration 60000000 reached at 60000000
Input #0, mpeg, from 'C:\Users\Spidey\AppData\Local\Conceiva\Mezzmo\Tra nscodingFiles\0CBFB70C-D3EB-45da-AB86-480527250879\0CBFB70C-D3EB-45da-AB86-480527250879\Video\5517-mpeg-mpeg2video-ac3-sn.mzt':
Duration: 00:57:58.20, start: 0.994667, bitrate: 5753 kb/s
Stream #0:0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video (Main), yuv420p, 720x400 [SAR 1:1 DAR 9:5], 24000 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 90k tbn, 50 tbc
Stream #0:1[0x80]: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 448 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified

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

This is a TV show downloaded from Usenet already compressed - this time to mp4 (But I get the same results with the other container types). The picture starts out stretched horizontally, but I can choose the TV setting "Normal" and it looks OK.

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (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/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
Input #0, mpeg, from 'C:\Users\Spidey\AppData\Local\Conceiva\Mezzmo\Tra nscodingFiles\0CBFB70C-D3EB-45da-AB86-480527250879\0CBFB70C-D3EB-45da-AB86-480527250879\Video\5546-mpeg-mpeg2video-ac3-sn.mzt':
Duration: 00:44:46.04, start: 0.994667, bitrate: 2827 kb/s
Stream #0:0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video (Main), yuv420p, 716x480 [SAR 160:179 DAR 4:3], 24000 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Stream #0:1[0x80]: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 448 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified

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

This I ripped from a DVD and compressed to avi. It displays the same characteristics as the first one.

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (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/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
[mpeg @ 017db980] max_analyze_duration 60000000 reached at 60006300
Input #0, mpeg, from 'C:\Users\Spidey\AppData\Local\Conceiva\Mezzmo\Tra nscodingFiles\0CBFB70C-D3EB-45da-AB86-480527250879\0CBFB70C-D3EB-45da-AB86-480527250879\Video\5551-mpeg-mpeg2video-ac3-sn.mzt':
Duration: 00:44:04.19, start: 1.000000, bitrate: 5846 kb/s
Stream #0:0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video (Main), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 24000 kb/s, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 47.95 tbc
Stream #0:1[0x80]: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s16, 384 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified

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

This is another downloaded from Usenet already compressed. The transcoded version appears very stretched and none of the TV's settings completely corrects the problem. The closest I can come clips the image right and left, and there still is horizontal distortion.

I sure hope all this is making sense to you! I still consider it a minor miracle that I can send a video from my computer, over the air, to my TV at all!

Thanks,

Don

**Paul** · 03-27-2013, 08:52 AM

Thanks, Don. We'll reproduce this here with our Sony Bravia TVs and try to fix it. I'll report back once we're done.

**dehalley** · 03-28-2013, 12:34 AM

Great! Let me know if you need any other component (such as a video or transcoded file). I have Dropbox so larger files don't present a problem. Thanks - Don

**Paul** · 03-28-2013, 05:20 PM

Just an update - We've reproduced the problem here. Unfortunately, we did not get enough time to add the fix into the new Mezzmo v3.1, but we'll look into it next week.

**p4yn3** · 03-31-2013, 09:48 AM

I think another thread makes no sense so i post it here:

I got the same problem with a Panasonic TX-P50VT30E
If i stream Videos without Transcode the Aspect Ratio is untouched but the TV wont play 1080p Perfectly.
When i Transcode them, the 1080p mkv's plays perfectly on the TV, but the Aspect Ratio is messed up, but if i play the transcoded .mzt file on the pc the aspect ratio is untouched and good.

If some information from the files is needed i could post them

**Paul** · 03-31-2013, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the information. What you are experiencing is similar to what is happening on some Sony Bravia models. We know what's happening (i.e. the way certain TV models want to decode and play MPEG-2 video) and we'll fix it after we try different ffmpeg encoding settings to try to get these models to play them correctly. We'll report back here once we have a fix next week.