704 versus 720 frame size?

[JonH]

I know the standard mpeg frame size is 720 X 480. Is there ever a reason to use the 704 X 480 frame size? I'm converting old MJPEG files into MPEG for DVD and their original size is 352 X 480. Seems intuitive to use the 704 instead of the 720 given it is exactly twice that of the original.
Thanks.
Jon

[Fred H]

I just captured a long movie (2h 15’) to MPEG2 file in 704x576 PAL format, because my Marvel G400 can’t capture 720x576.
I captured with Ulead MSP7 Video Capture. The file size is something about 3.7 GB.
Then I tried to author this long file with the Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2, but the DVD size indicated by U-MF was 6.1 GB (bitrate 4000) too large to fit on a normal DVD-R/RW. Maybe the DVD MF tryed to convert it to 720x576.
Than I split the file inside the MSP7 Video Editor to 2 smaller MPEG2 files.
Trying to author these 2 files in Uled DVD MF the indicated file size was the same, 6.1 GB for the joined/authored files.
TMPGEnc Author didn’t recognize the video file header in 702x576 formats.
Finally, I went to IfoEdit and the authored size of the VIDEO_TS was slightly larger than the original 3.7 GB and IfoEdit accepted the 704x576 format.
Burned the DVD-RW and played it on my stand alone DVD player. BUT, when I tried to play faster FW in the player, e.g. 4x or 8x the player was locked and I was forced to stop the video and reload it.
I don’t know why, maybe because the 704x format instead of the 720x576?
Maybe I should ad keyframes? I will try to change it later to 720x576.
So, here we are…

Fred H

[Brian Ellis]

To answer the original question, as FH implied without saying so, it depends on your hardware. Both 704 and 720 are acceptable for DVDs, as is 352, so you will gain nothing by blowing it up to 704: burn at 352.

for 2h15m, you may need a lower bitrate than 4000 (CBR or VBR?). Don't be offput by what MF2 says: the thermometer is not reliable.

Adding keyframes will only increase your file size.

[JonH]

Thanks, Brian. Makes sense to me. I didn't know if there was a frame size standard that was required to ensure that a DVD would play in most players.
I also have a lot of SVCDs and their mpeg2 files. If I burn a dvd with several of these, I assume I can set the frame size equal to the svcd standard and it will play fine on my dvd player? Should I also lower the bit rate to that of the svcd standard?
Thanks.
Jon

[Fred H]

Thanks, Brian.
Just finished to author that 2h15’ file with the MF2.
It was my fault when it tried to create a 6.1 GB DVD.
In the MF2 Project settings now I disabled the default “Do not convert compliant MPEG files", and voilá, the file size is under the 4.3 GB limit and the right maps and files were created (It was enabled before). I hope they are right. I will burn a DVD-RW later.
But I am unlucky, anyway.
The funny story is (not funny for me ) that I started MF2 with the right settings and I went out with my dog, letting the MF2 work.
After about ¾ hour MF2 converted ~56%. Nice. But after a while we’ve had a power black out here and everything was gone after this short power down period. It didn’t happen for years, but just now, with just that project… Don’t say it is the Fortune…

Fred H

[Fred H]

Success.
I burned it, and it works now. The DVD plays as it should and the file size matched the DVD-R.
And, more important, my wife will be happy now (it was a musical video for her )
Thanks again, Brian.