VOB to XVID in AVI: trouble getting 16:9

[validator]

The video I have is 16:9. Mediacoder encodes it squashed horizontally with a black band on either side in the preview. The resulting AVI is according to MediaTab an XVID with 16:9 ratio.but GOM player and WIndows Media Player both play it squashed (no black bars on side as in the preview). I've played around with a pile of options already now that I've discovered (and expect) the preview ot show the ration being produced and can do so in a quick turnaround but so far found nothing and have run out of ideas.

I'm simply not sure if it's the decoder or encoder that's playing up, or if the settings behind this are on Video, Container or Picture tab or elsewhere.

Here are some MediaTab dumps oft he VOB and AVI in case helpful:

===================== General =====================
Complete name : ...VOB
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 1.07 GB
Duration (ms) : 41mn 30s
Total bitrate : 3 676 Kbps

===================== Video =====================
Id : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings - BVOP : Yes
Format settings - Matrix : Default
Format settings - GOP : M=2, N=12
Duration (ms) : 41mn 30s
Bitrate mode : Variable
Bitrate : 3 379 Kbps
BitRate_Nominal/String : 9 800 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Aspect ratio : 16:9
Framerate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Colorimetry : YUV
Colos space : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
ScanOrder/String : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.326
Stream size : 1 003 MB (92%)

===================== Audio =====================
Id : 128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format info : Audio Coding 3
Format settings mode extens: CM (complete main)
Duration (ms) : 41mn 29s
Bitrate mode : Constant
Bitrate : 224 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
ChannelPositions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 66.5 MB (6%)

===================== Text =====================
Id : 32 (0x20)
Format : RLE
Format info : Run-length encoding
Video_Delay/String : 560ms

===================== Menu =====================

Made with MediaTab 1.1.9

===================== General =====================
Complete name : ...avi
Format : AVI
Format info : Audio Video Interleave
File size : 339 MB
Duration (ms) : 41mn 30s
Total bitrate : 1 141 Kbps
Encoded application : Lavf52.105.0

===================== Video =====================
Id : 0
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Simple@L3
Format settings - BVOP : No
Format settings - QPel : No
Format settings - GMC : No warppoints
Format settings - Matrix : Default (H.263)
Codec Id : XVID
Codec : XviD
Duration (ms) : 41mn 30s
Bitrate : 1 000 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Aspect ratio : 16:9
Framerate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Colorimetry : YUV
Colos space : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.096
Stream size : 297 MB (88%)
Encoded library : XviD 63

===================== Audio =====================
Id : 1
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Format settings mode : Joint stereo
Format settings mode extens: MS Stereo
Codec Id : 55
Codec : MP3
Duration (ms) : 41mn 29s
Bitrate mode : Constant
Bitrate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 38.0 MB (11%)
Alignement : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave duration : 24 ms (0.60 video frame)
Encoded library : LAME3.98

Made with MediaTab 1.1.9

[validator]

Awe, c'mon, surely someone has an idea here? Please.

[meRobs]

It's difficult to offer any suggestions without knowing what the original source file looked like.
You say it was PAL (720x576) in 16:9, but when displayed on a player able to play 16:9 did it fill the screen?
Or, was the original 'film' standard definition requiring black bands on both sides for proper viewing?

Have you read the Guides on Aspect Ratio and on Cropping (Tips & Guides, link below)?

Some software players do not respond to a Pixel Aspect Ratio, unless they are manually set to have a set PAR. Hence will play a Widescreen film squashed, because a Widescreen film in PAL will have frames of 720x576 (AR of 1.25) and a Pixel AR set at 1.422, needed to achieve the overall AR of 1.777 (16:9).

Also, what you get from MediaCoder depends on the AR and Cropping settings, as per the Guides.

[ladycoder]

You have to look at the VOB in something like DGIndex. That will show the original 720x576.

If there are black bars, crop.

If no black bars then just resize the video to WxH that correspond to 16:9 and set par=vga11 for xvid, or resize and set the DAR to 16:9.

If you do not resize, some players will ignore the DAR and just play the 720x576 as is. AVIs are not usually anamorphic containers.