How do I prevent Toast from changing the aspect ratio?

[aw_giantsfan]

I have a VIDEO_TS folder of a 16:9 movie, but when I use Toast to extract and compress it, the ratio is changed to 4:3. The movie is horizontally squeezed (not clipped off).

 

I've never had this happen before, where the aspect ratio changed like that. I've read elsewhere in the forum that there is a custom setting to force the aspect ratio, which is what must be happening without my knowledge, but I can't find the setting.

 

How do I check the setting? Has the mysterious aspect ratio change been known to happen?

[tsantee]

That is mysterious. I've found Toast 7 to be very good at recognizing the 16:9 video extracted from a VIDEO_TS folder.

 

At the bottom left of the Video window click More. Then click the Encoding tab. Then the Custom button. There you'll see the setting to force the desired aspect ratio. Sometimes Toast ignores this forced setting so be sure to Save as Disc Image instead of clicking the burn button. Mount the disc image when it is done and preview it with DVD Player. If all is okay use the Image File setting in the Toast Copy window to burn the disc.

 

There also is a way to fix the aspect ratio after a disc image or DVD is created. For example you likely have a setting in your DVD Player or your widescreen TV that will stretch the video back to 16:9. Otherwise you can edit the IFO file in the VIDEO_TS folder to change the automatic 16:9 setting using an application called MyDVDEdit. Let me know if that's something you need to pursue.

 

Your 16:9 video is correctly burned to the DVD in that squeezed format. An instruction in the IFO file tells the DVD player that it is supposed to be 16:9 so the player makes that adjustment for its output to the TV.

[aw_giantsfan]

Thanks, Tsantee.

 

Actually, I haven't burned the disc. I just made a disc image of it. In fact, I've made a habit of making disc images and then verifying them before burning, as you described. (Takes a bit longer, but I like to compare the compressed video to the original before burning).

 

So after I make a disc image, can I edit the IFO file in the VIDEO_TS folder of the disc image, and then burn it? Or are disc image files read-only after they're created?

[tsantee]

Thanks, Tsantee.

 

Actually, I haven't burned the disc. I just made a disc image of it. In fact, I've made a habit of making disc images and then verifying them before burning, as you described. (Takes a bit longer, but I like to compare the compressed video to the original before burning).

 

So after I make a disc image, can I edit the IFO file in the VIDEO_TS folder of the disc image, and then burn it? Or are disc image files read-only after they're created?

1. Download MyDVDEdit at mydvdedit.com and install it.

2. Mount the .toast disc image and drag the VIDEO_TS folder somewhere so it gets copied to your hard drive.

3. Select the copied VIDEO_TS folder and choose Get Info in the Finder. Change permissions to Read & Write and click the "Apply to Enclosed Items" button at the bottom of the Get Info window (you may need to click on the arrow next to Details to see this button)

4. Open the VIDEO_TS with MyDVDEdit. Select one of the VTS title sets in the left side list. Click the IFO button. Click on the button next to Aspect and select 16:9 auto Pan&Scan & Letterbox. Do the same for any other VTS title sets. Save the file.

5. Choose DVD Video from VIDEO_TS as the format in the Toast Video window and burn your edited VIDEO_TS folder to DVD.

[aw_giantsfan]

It works! You're a genius, Tsantee. Thanks!