Sony 55EX505 - Transcoding Aspect Ratio

[Eugene]

I have a Sony Bravia 40EX505 and I was also scratching my head over this one. The 4:3 workaround also works for me. I have also chosen “Sony TV (DLNA, 16:9, 1920x1080)” as Media Device.

I did some tests with a few movie trailers and found the following behavior.

Under “Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size” I set:
16:9 and "Active pad color" checked → aspect ratio on the Sony TV always wrong
4:3 and "Active pad color" checked → aspect ratio on the Sony TV always correct (at least for all the videos I've tried)
16:9 and "Active pad color" unchecked → aspect ratio on the Sony TV always wrong
4:3 and "Active pad color" unchecked → aspect ratio on the Sony TV is correct for some videos, but wrong for some others

It doesn't make sense, but I am happy there is at least one setting that seems to work.

Useful information, what color was chosen for padding ?

[vol88]

Useful information, what color was chosen for padding ?

I used a green color for Active pad, so that I can differentiate the pad area from other black bars.

The following sketch pictures illustrate how it looks on my Sony TV when I set Format 16:9 and activate "Active pad color" [green] under “Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size”.

If I set “Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size” → “Format” to 4:3, then the black bars are gone.

[Eugene]

Useful information, what color was chosen for padding ?

I used a green color for Active pad, so that I can differentiate the pad area from other black bars.

The following sketch pictures illustrate how it looks on my Sony TV when I set Format 16:9 and activate "Active pad color" [green] under “Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size”.

If I set “Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size” → “Format” to 4:3, then the black bars are gone.

Screen format on Remote Control does not control ?

[vol88]

Screen format on Remote Control does not control ?

OK, I just recorded a minute of 16:9 video from a digital TV broadcast. The saved file is a MPEG2 program stream.
This file can be streamed directly from WMS to the Bravia 40EX505 without transcoding. I tried this first.
The video plays on the TV with no problems. The TV gives me five choices when I try to change the display format with the remote control. All of the choices give me the result that I would expect from them. "Wide" is the default and is also the best choice.

Now I force WMS to transcode that same video, before sending it to the TV.
When playing the transcoded video on the Bravia 40EX505, the format selection gives me only three choices. Smart, Wide and Zoom. "Wide" is the default for widescreen content, but the aspect ratio is wrong, like we've been talking about in this thread. "Zoom" stretches the picture vertically and horizontally, so that is fills more of the TV screen, but the aspect ratio is still the same as with “Wide”. "Smart" stretches the picture a little bit vertically and quite a bit more horizontally, making the aspect ratio even worse.

I am starting to wonder, whether the Bravia 40EX505 is unable to read the aspect ratio value from the transcoded stream, therefore giving these strange results?

[Eugene]

Screen format on Remote Control does not control ?

OK, I just recorded a minute of 16:9 video from a digital TV broadcast. The saved file is a MPEG2 program stream.
This file can be streamed directly from WMS to the Bravia 40EX505 without transcoding. I tried this first.
The video plays on the TV with no problems. The TV gives me five choices when I try to change the display format with the remote control. All of the choices give me the result that I would expect from them. "Wide" is the default and is also the best choice.

Now I force WMS to transcode that same video, before sending it to the TV.
When playing the transcoded video on the Bravia 40EX505, the format selection gives me only three choices. Smart, Wide and Zoom. "Wide" is the default for widescreen content, but the aspect ratio is wrong, like we've been talking about in this thread. "Zoom" stretches the picture vertically and horizontally, so that is fills more of the TV screen, but the aspect ratio is still the same as with “Wide”. "Smart" stretches the picture a little bit vertically and quite a bit more horizontally, making the aspect ratio even worse.

I am starting to wonder, whether the Bravia 40EX505 is unable to read the aspect ratio value from the transcoded stream, therefore giving these strange results?

Test transcoding file can be copied into the directory of media resources and to compare the video settings in the information MediaInfo (on right click of the mouse).

[vol88]

Test transcoding file can be copied into the directory of media resources and to compare the video settings in the information MediaInfo (on right click of the mouse).

I just checked the video information with the newest version of MediaInfo. It does show “Display aspect ratio: 16:9” for the transcoded video.

While playing around with different frame sizes (“Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size”) I found the following interesting behavior.

If I set the “Frame size” to 720x406 and “Format” 16:9, then the Sony TV does view the transcoded output properly, with the correct aspect ratio!
Setting any other “Frame size” (e.g. 640x360, 1280x720, 1920x1080, etc.) and “Format” 16:9 will result in the picture having the wrong apect ratio on the Sony TV.
Btw, my Bravia 40EX505 is a European PAL version.

I attached the MediaInfo information for a 720x406 output file and a 640x360 output file.

So it seems there is a problem with how the Bravia 40EX505 handles MPEG2 video content of various resolutions. (actually I believe the whole KDL-xxEX50x / KDL-xxEX70x / KDL-xxHX70x series of Bravia TVs shares the same firmware)

At the end I am left with two choices. Transcode video to a resolution of 720x406 with the correct 16:9 setting or use another resolution with the 4:3 workaround.

------------------------------------------------------------
General
Complete name : D:\Temp\WmsTemp\Test_dfd869625df1f8dab10d2b29910b96f3.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 105 MiB
Duration : 2mn 33s
Overall bit rate : 5 733 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format_Settings_GOP : M=1, N=12
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 5 313 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 406 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.758
Stream size : 97.2 MiB (93%)

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 3.51 MiB (3%)
------------------------------------------------------------
General
Complete name : D:\Temp\WmsTemp\Test_dfd869625df1f8dab10d2b29910b96f3.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 90.1 MiB
Duration : 2mn 33s
Overall bit rate : 4 927 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format_Settings_GOP : M=1, N=12
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 4 540 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 360 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.822
Stream size : 83.0 MiB (92%)

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 3.51 MiB (4%)

[Eugene]

Test transcoding file can be copied into the directory of media resources and to compare the video settings in the information MediaInfo (on right click of the mouse).

I just checked the video information with the newest version of MediaInfo. It does show “Display aspect ratio: 16:9” for the transcoded video.

While playing around with different frame sizes (“Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size”) I found the following interesting behavior.

If I set the “Frame size” to 720x406 and “Format” 16:9, then the Sony TV does view the transcoded output properly, with the correct aspect ratio!
Setting any other “Frame size” (e.g. 640x360, 1280x720, 1920x1080, etc.) and “Format” 16:9 will result in the picture having the wrong apect ratio on the Sony TV.
Btw, my Bravia 40EX505 is a European PAL version.

I attached the MediaInfo information for a 720x406 output file and a 640x360 output file.

So it seems there is a problem with how the Bravia 40EX505 handles MPEG2 video content of various resolutions. (actually I believe the whole KDL-xxEX50x / KDL-xxEX70x / KDL-xxHX70x series of Bravia TVs shares the same firmware)

At the end I am left with two choices. Transcode video to a resolution of 720x406 with the correct 16:9 setting or use another resolution with the 4:3 workaround.

------------------------------------------------------------
General
Complete name : D:\Temp\WmsTemp\Test_dfd869625df1f8dab10d2b29910b96f3.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 105 MiB
Duration : 2mn 33s
Overall bit rate : 5 733 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format_Settings_GOP : M=1, N=12
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 5 313 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 406 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.758
Stream size : 97.2 MiB (93%)

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 3.51 MiB (3%)
------------------------------------------------------------
General
Complete name : D:\Temp\WmsTemp\Test_dfd869625df1f8dab10d2b29910b96f3.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 90.1 MiB
Duration : 2mn 33s
Overall bit rate : 4 927 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format_Settings_GOP : M=1, N=12
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 4 540 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 360 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.822
Stream size : 83.0 MiB (92%)

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 2mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 3.51 MiB (4%)

Yes, this is strange, display aspect ratio the same. If the choice 4:3 solves the problem for all movies, it makes sense to use it. If not for all, you can configure the use of different transcoding profiles according to the parameters of the input video (File Types - File Extension - Edit - Additional verification support files, examples in profile Sony PS3)

[nickir]

I had the same problem. But I solved it buy this threat.

Thank You.

Now I just have another problem. The video stream, is lagging. Is this a sign of the computer CPU, or other.?

It helps, if I just pause for a minute. It can go again for a time without lagging. But then it comes back.

[Vibes]

Test transcoding file can be copied into the directory of media resources and to compare the video settings in the information MediaInfo (on right click of the mouse).

I just checked the video information with the newest version of MediaInfo. It does show “Display aspect ratio: 16:9” for the transcoded video.

While playing around with different frame sizes (“Transcoder” → “Codecs, frame” → “Frame size”) I found the following interesting behavior.

If I set the “Frame size” to 720x406 and “Format” 16:9, then the Sony TV does view the transcoded output properly, with the correct aspect ratio!
Setting any other “Frame size” (e.g. 640x360, 1280x720, 1920x1080, etc.) and “Format” 16:9 will result in the picture having the wrong apect ratio on the Sony TV.
Btw, my Bravia 40EX505 is a European PAL version.

I attached the MediaInfo information for a 720x406 output file and a 640x360 output file.

So it seems there is a problem with how the Bravia 40EX505 handles MPEG2 video content of various resolutions. (actually I believe the whole KDL-xxEX50x / KDL-xxEX70x / KDL-xxHX70x series of Bravia TVs shares the same firmware)

At the end I am left with two choices. Transcode video to a resolution of 720x406 with the correct 16:9 setting or use another resolution with the 4:3 workaround.

Hello together,

i got the same problem with the aspect ratio and i hope someone can help me. I have a new Sony Bravia KDL-40NX705, the Server is running very nice but the ratio is always wrong ( avi, mkv Files tested ).
I have tried the 4:3 workaround but it seems that nothing happens on the TV, the problem is the same. Set the Frame Size to 720x406 plays the Movie right but the Quality is not very good. I have also tried the most transcoding profiles but nothing works, only the Transcoding profile "Movies (primary)_720x406".
These are the settings i made for the 4:3 Workaround.



Did anyone get this working on that TV ?
Thanks for your help !

[Vibes]

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