[TX-L42ET5E] Problem of screen ratio

Hello,

TV Model : Panasonic Viera TX-L42ET5E

My Problem is that videos are displayed in fullscreen mode and there ratio are not respected because of the transcoding. For example, a 16/9 video take the all height of my TV screen.

Example with this video file (MediaInfo Output) :

  Code:

General
Unique ID                        : 242127066861140407562078896061422789045 (0xB627FA12480A029980F1E3CE013061B5)
Complete name                    : D:\Torrents\Terminés\Star Wars 1977-2005 HEXALOGIE MULTi 1080p BluRay DTS-HDMA x264-HDZ\Star Wars Episode I - La Menace Fantome 1080p x264 VO MA VF DTS dxva-HDZ.mkv
Format                           : Matroska
Format version                   : Version 2
File size                        : 15.1 GiB
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Overall bit rate mode            : Variable
Overall bit rate                 : 15.8 Mbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2011-09-20 17:10:21
Writing application              : mkvmerge v4.9.1 ('Ich will') built on Jul 11 2011 23:53:15
Writing library                  : libebml v1.2.1 + libmatroska v1.1.1
Attachment                       : Yes

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Bit rate                         : 13.3 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 816 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.35:1
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.353
Stream size                      : 12.6 GiB (84%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 116 r2074kMod 2641b9e
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:-3:-3 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / fade_compensate=0.00 / psy_rd=1.00:0.40 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=64 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=6,6 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-4 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=5 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=1 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=250 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=18.0000 / qcomp=0.80 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=50000 / vbv_bufsize=50000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=3:0.70
Language                         : English
Default                          : Yes
Forced                           : No

Audio #1
ID                               : 2
Format                           : DTS
Format/Info                      : Digital Theater Systems
Codec ID                         : A_DTS
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 755 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 6 channels
Channel positions                : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                        : 24 bits
Compression mode                 : Lossy
Stream size                      : 735 MiB (5%)
Title                            : DTS VF
Language                         : French
Default                          : Yes
Forced                           : No

Audio #2
ID                               : 3
Format                           : DTS
Format/Info                      : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile                   : MA / Core
Codec ID                         : A_DTS
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 7 channels / 6 channels
Channel positions                : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: C, LFE / Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                        : 24 bits
Compression mode                 : Lossless / Lossy
Stream size                      : 1.44 GiB (10%)
Title                            : DTS HD MA VO
Language                         : English
Default                          : No
Forced                           : No

Text #1
ID                               : 4
Format                           : UTF-8
Codec ID                         : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info                    : UTF-8 Plain Text
Title                            : ST FR Forcés
Language                         : French
Default                          : Yes
Forced                           : Yes

Text #2
ID                               : 5
Format                           : UTF-8
Codec ID                         : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info                    : UTF-8 Plain Text
Title                            : ST FR Complets
Language                         : French
Default                          : No
Forced                           : No

Text #3
ID                               : 6
Format                           : UTF-8
Codec ID                         : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info                    : UTF-8 Plain Text
Title                            : ST VO Forcés
Language                         : English
Default                          : No
Forced                           : No

Text #4
ID                               : 7
Format                           : UTF-8
Codec ID                         : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info                    : UTF-8 Plain Text
Title                            : ST VO Complets
Language                         : English
Default                          : No
Forced                           : No

Menu
00:00:00.000                     : en:Opening Logos
00:00:19.520                     : en:The Phantom Menace
00:01:47.600                     : en:Short Negotiations
00:07:35.080                     : en:Queen Amidala
00:09:30.760                     : en:Landing on Naboo
00:10:50.160                     : en:Jar Jar Binks
00:12:50.440                     : en:Otoh Gunga
00:14:12.560                     : en:Boss Nass
00:16:30.680                     : en:The Planet Core
00:19:49.320                     : en:Invasion of Theed
00:21:29.400                     : en:Surprise Rescue
00:24:10.120                     : en:Running the Blockade
00:28:19.360                     : en:Tatooine
00:30:22.800                     : en:Watto's Shop
00:34:22.800                     : en:Fateful Meetings
00:39:07.520                     : en:Dinner Conversations
00:42:26.760                     : en:Preparing for the Race
00:49:55.800                     : en:A Wager with Watto
00:52:47.720                     : en:Meet the Podracers
00:56:03.440                     : en:"Begin the Race"
00:59:53.400                     : en:Lap Two
01:02:51.120                     : en:Home Stretch
01:07:13.720                     : en:Collecting the Prize
01:08:21.840                     : en:Choosing a New Path
01:13:12.480                     : en:Darth Maul Attacks
01:14:55.320                     : en:The Queen's Worries
01:17:07.840                     : en:Arrival on Coruscant
01:20:50.160                     : en:The Jedi Council
01:23:10.800                     : en:Senate Session
01:26:12.960                     : en:Testing Anakin
01:27:17.880                     : en:Palpatine's Nomination
01:29:18.880                     : en:Anakin's Future
01:33:21.320                     : en:The Queen's Gambit
01:35:01.960                     : en:A Plea to the Gungans
01:38:20.920                     : en:Battle Plans
01:40:23.440                     : en:"Wipe Them Out"
01:41:57.160                     : en:Retaking the Palace
01:43:41.200                     : en:The Conflict Continues
01:45:52.800                     : en:Duel of the Fates
01:51:59.840                     : en:Gungan Retreat
01:54:19.280                     : en:Qi-Gon vs Darth Maul
01:55:33.920                     : en:Capturing the Viceroy
01:56:22.280                     : en:Obi-Wan vs Darth Maul
01:57:21.800                     : en:Control Ship Destroyed
01:58:51.560                     : en:A Sith Vanquished
02:00:06.480                     : en:Chancellor Palpatine Arrives
02:01:14.520                     : en:New Knight, New Apprentice
02:02:09.400                     : en:Farewell to a Jedi
02:03:12.440                     : en:Naboo Celebration
02:04:33.440                     : en:End Credits


The command line extracted from the log in debug mode :

  Code:

2013-08-28 17:24:29,630 DEBUG [FFMPEGWrapper] Invoking FFmpeg to transcode video file: D:\Torrents\Terminés\Star Wars 1977-2005 HEXALOGIE MULTi 1080p BluRay DTS-HDMA x264-HDZ\Star Wars Episode I - La Menace Fantome 1080p x264 VO MA VF DTS dxva-HDZ.mkv
2013-08-28 17:24:29,631 DEBUG [ProcessExecutor] Starting C:\Program Files\Serviio\bin\\..\lib/ffmpeg.exe -fflags +genpts -threads auto -i D:\Torrents\Terminés\Star Wars 1977-2005 HEXALOGIE MULTi 1080p BluRay DTS-HDMA x264-HDZ\Star Wars Episode I - La Menace Fantome 1080p x264 VO MA VF DTS dxva-HDZ.mkv -y -c:v copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -c:a ac3 -b:a 192k -ac 2 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -sn -f mpegts C:\Windows\TEMP\Serviio\transcoding-temp-289-viera2011-ORIGINAL.stf


What is the solution for this TV model please ?
I found lot of people with the same issue, but not the solution for the panasonic model TX-L42ET5E.

Thank you.

[Illico]

What is the profile used on serviio console ?

  Code:

Profile=Panasonic Viera E/S/ST/VT (2011)

Thank you.

[Illico]

So your MKV/H264/DTS will be remuxed to MPEGTS/H264/AC3.

Then h264 video was not modify and Display Aspect Ratio not change.

Do you try to change Panasonic Display setting ?

So your MKV/H264/DTS will be remuxed to MPEGTS/H264/AC3.

Then h264 video was not modify and Display Aspect Ratio not change.

Do you try to change Panasonic Display setting ?

Yes, moreover i tried with the file on a usb key and the ratio is respected.

The ratio is also respected on serviio without transcoding.

[Illico]

Yes, moreover i tried with the file on a usb key and the ratio is respected.

I'm not sure that the TV use the same decoding device between USB or DLNA network interface.
From USB device, mkv will be supported in native format, but not from DLNA, so that probably confirm that both way does not used the same processing.
So I don't know if we can compare the behavior of file when it play from USB btw DLNA? That could be different firmware.
Then I would say that DLNA interface is more restrictif (due to the standard and certification process...)

Ok but how do you explain that the ratio is respected when i desactived transcoding on serviio settings ?

[DenyAll]

When you turn off transcoding, the file is delivered natively and the aspect ratio is respected, when transcoding is turned on the file is remuxed/transcoded to an mt2s container, and the aspect ratio is not respected. I believe this is either a limitation of the m2ts container or how the Panasonic deals with m2ts containers. For me it occurs if you transcode to mpeg2 video in an m2ts container.

To your original question, what is the solution - simple - don't transcode. Generally speaking it's best not to transcode unless you have to. Given these files play natively on your TV, then why transcode them (am I missing something)? Modify your profile (after backing up) to remove transcoding for this file type (in the Pana 2011/12 profile remove the line : <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="dca" />) and this file should be then served natively to the TV. Remember to restart your PC after changing your profile.

If this file doesn't play natively, then you have to transcode and/or remux it. Unfortunately, the only way I have found to retain the aspect ratio in these cases - given the limitations of the m2ts container (or Panasonic's handing off it) - is to add the command DAR="16:9" to the transcoding profile. This then tells ffmpeg to do some trickery to pad the 4:3 video with black space above and below the actual video - this gives the appearance of maintaining the source aspect ratio while living within the limitation of the m2ts container and it's 4:3 aspect ratio.

Unfortunately this DAR="16:9" command will force the video to be transcoded - ie. it cannot be used when remuxing only. Fortunately though in reality it is only needed for aspect ratio's > 16:9 (eg. for 2.35:1 aspect like your file). Even though 16:9 is still sent as a 4:3 aspect ratio in the m2ts file, the TV expands it to fill the screen (effectively turning it back to 16:9). Its a pity we couldn't have a match criteria to deal with this case ... or better yet, only have the DAR="16:9" command act if the source is > 16:9 .... zip ??

ps. does anyone know - is this a limitation of the m2ts container, or Panasonic's handling of it?

To your original question, what is the solution - simple - don't transcode. Generally speaking it's best not to transcode unless you have to. Given these files play natively on your TV, then why transcode them (am I missing something)? Modify your profile (after backing up) to remove transcoding for this file type (in the Pana 2011/12 profile remove the line : <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="dca" />) and this file should be then served natively to the TV. Remember to restart your PC after changing your profile.

The problem with this solution is that i use subtitles in the video stream. This is the solution to another problem i have with the subtitles.
If i choose to desactivate the transcoding, i loose subtitles.

If this file doesn't play natively, then you have to transcode and/or remux it. Unfortunately, the only way I have found to retain the aspect ratio in these cases - given the limitations of the m2ts container (or Panasonic's handing off it) - is to add the command DAR="16:9" to the transcoding profile. This then tells ffmpeg to do some trickery to pad the 4:3 video with black space above and below the actual video - this gives the appearance of maintaining the source aspect ratio while living within the limitation of the m2ts container and it's 4:3 aspect ratio.

It seems to be a good solution.
I tried with this modification in my profile :

<Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="ac3" forceInheritance="true" DAR="16:9">
<!-- Some models support DTS natively, so the folowing line can be removed for those -->
<Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="dca" /> <!-- ST50 supports DTS, remove this line -->
<Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="flac" />
<Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="vorbis" />
<Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="truehd" />
<Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" aCodec="lpcm" />
<Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" aCodec="aac" />
<Matches container="3gp" vCodec="h264" />
</Video>

But there are an error and my TV can't read the video.

The exception (extracted from logs in debug mode) :

  Code:

2013-08-29 11:42:32,499 DEBUG [VideoDeliveryEngine] Delivering file 'Star Wars Episode V - L'empire Contre-Attaque 1080p x264 VO MA VF DTS dxva-HDZ.mkv' using transcoding
2013-08-29 11:42:32,499 DEBUG [MediaItemDAOImpl] Getting file of media item 293
2013-08-29 11:42:32,501 DEBUG [AbstractTranscodingDeliveryEngine] No suitable transcoding job exists yet, start one for client 'Identifier=192.168.1.15, Profile=Panasonic Viera E/S/ST/VT (2011)'
2013-08-29 11:42:32,501 DEBUG [MediaItemDAOImpl] Getting file of media item 293
2013-08-29 11:42:32,502 ERROR [ResourceTransportRequestHandler] Error while processing resource, sending back 500 error. Message: Canot transcode to H264
java.lang.RuntimeException: Canot transcode to H264
   at org.serviio.dlna.VideoCodec$1.getFFmpegEncoderName(VideoCodec.java:21)
   at org.serviio.external.FFMPEGWrapper.addVideoParameters(FFMPEGWrapper.java:458)
   at org.serviio.external.FFMPEGWrapper.transcodeVideoFile(FFMPEGWrapper.java:340)
   at org.serviio.external.FFMPEGWrapper.transcodeFile(FFMPEGWrapper.java:288)
   at org.serviio.delivery.resource.transcode.AbstractTranscodingDeliveryStrategy.invokeTranscoder(AbstractTranscodingDeliveryStrategy.java:22)
   at org.serviio.delivery.resource.transcode.FileBasedTranscodingDeliveryStrategy.invokeTranscoder(FileBasedTranscodingDeliveryStrategy.java:75)
   at org.serviio.delivery.resource.transcode.AbstractTranscodingDeliveryEngine.startTranscodeJob(AbstractTranscodingDeliveryEngine.java:280)
   at org.serviio.delivery.resource.transcode.AbstractTranscodingDeliveryEngine.retrieveTranscodedResource(AbstractTranscodingDeliveryEngine.java:129)
   at org.serviio.delivery.resource.AbstractDeliveryEngine.deliver(AbstractDeliveryEngine.java:108)
   at org.serviio.delivery.MediaResourceRetrievalStrategy.retrieveResource(MediaResourceRetrievalStrategy.java:120)
   at org.serviio.delivery.GETMethodProcessor.retrieveResource(GETMethodProcessor.java:120)
   at org.serviio.delivery.GETMethodProcessor.buildDeliveryContainer(GETMethodProcessor.java:48)
   at org.serviio.delivery.AbstractMethodProcessor.handleRequest(AbstractMethodProcessor.java:132)
   at org.serviio.delivery.ResourceDeliveryProcessor.deliverContent(ResourceDeliveryProcessor.java:80)
   at org.serviio.upnp.webserver.ResourceTransportRequestHandler.handleRequest(ResourceTransportRequestHandler.java:85)
   at org.serviio.upnp.webserver.AbstractRequestHandler.handle(AbstractRequestHandler.java:61)
   at org.apache.http.protocol.HttpService.doService(HttpService.java:293)
   at org.serviio.upnp.webserver.ServiioHttpService.doService(ServiioHttpService.java:77)
   at org.apache.http.protocol.HttpService.handleRequest(HttpService.java:212)
   at org.serviio.upnp.webserver.WebServer$WorkerThread.run(WebServer.java:192)

[DenyAll]

Sorry, in re-reading my post I didn't explain it clearly - the DAR=16:9 command unfortunately requires video transcoding. You need to add a targetVCodec to transcode to. Try:

<Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" targetACodec="ac3" DAR="16:9" forceInheritance="true">

note that it will now transcode all the video's that meet the Match criteria, which it previously only remuxed (not just the ones with > 16:9 aspect ratio).