576 has as many flavors as 480 does, but Plex will only report 480 as 480 if you pack it up correctly. How are yours packed up (resolution Plex sees is the ‘stored’ res)?
A “LOT” of 480 material is, in fact 720x400 (404) with no anamorphic settings so as to be aligned with a 16:9 display without having to use the anamorphic settings scheme. Plex knows it’s not 480 ( and it’s not, 'cause it’s only 404), so Plex calls it SD.
For instance, the New Handbrake (1.2.2) has been made idiot-proof (certified idiot speaking) when using ‘Custom’ Anamorphic settings:
Note: The Orange box is what Plex sees to make it’s judgement (720x480). The Red Box is how the video is actually displayed, but Plex doesn’t care about that (1152x480 <— yes, friends, that’s ‘really’ 480p).
If your 576 material is packed up in some weird way where the res Plex sees is not really 576, but rather something less than that - it’s possible Plex will now call it 480 ('cause the next lowest res for you PAL guys is 480, not SD-PAL - so to speak).
…the debate, apparently, will follow us all to our graves:
