Batch Converter 5 doesn't convert widescreen like Vegas 3

ctbarker32 wrote on 2/4/2003, 5:23 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to convert some pseudo widescreen WMV files (BMWFilms.com) to DVD mpeg for viewing on my TV. When I open these WMV in Vegas 3 and set the project properties to NTSC DV widesscreen and then render using the default MainConcept DVD template the files render perfectly with the correct widescreen aspect preserved. I note that the WMV aspect is listed as being 720x300.

When I try to use Batch Converter 5 using the same MainConcept plugin the resulting file has an incorrect (e.g. stretched) aspect ratio. I have tried playing with setting the video properties to 16:9 and changing the aspect to 720x300 but this does not work. It would be preferable to use batch converter since it is faster and I can do a bunch of files at once. I can do it one at a time in Vegas with increased labor.

What am I missing? Why does the simple act of setting the project properties work in Vegas but is unavailable in Batch Converter.

If anyone is curious they can download one of the films at BMWfilms.com and try it for yourself.

Thanks.

-CB

Comments

SonyDennis wrote on 2/5/2003, 10:28 AM

I love the BMW Films, and before the first series came out on DVD, I converted the hi-res QuickTimes to VideoCD using Vegas. I'm looking forward to when the second season triplet comes out on DVD; the Z4 rocks (although I'm holding out for the inevitable M version).

In much the same way a 330i's engine is not as powerful as an M3's engine, Batch Convertor 5's video engine is not as powerful as Vegas 3's, and in particular does not deal with frame aspect ratio differences, it just stretches to fill. You're better off using Vegas, Forge, or ACID for this conversion. If you have a lot of jobs to automate, look into the scripting features in Vegas 4.

///d@