diff --git a/DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1 b/DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1
index cdeb5e692b..4192d385f2 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1
+++ b/DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1
@@ -364,27 +364,6 @@ will not be displayed.
 Particularly useful on slow terminals or broken ones that do not properly
 handle carriage return (i.e. \\r).
 .TP
-.B \-useaviaspect
-With this option MPlayer and MEncoder will read and write the aspect
-setting from the OpenDML AVI Video Property Header.
-
-This is a different method than the "aspect=..." option of
-libavcodec or XviD, and is prioritized over it during playback,
-because this header is processed first.
-
-Generally, encoding AVIs with square pixels is still the best
-choice, so aspect headers should be avoided.
-Some players can understand it, while they may not understand the
-aspect headers produced by the codec.
-
-.I EXAMPLE:
-.PD 0
-.RSs
-.IPs "\-aspect 16:9 \-useaviaspect"
-will add a header specifying 16:9 aspect ratio.
-.RE
-.PD 1
-.TP
 .B \-v, \-verbose
 Increment verbose level (more \-v means more verbosity).
 .
@@ -3795,6 +3774,10 @@ will have the output file contain 'div3' as video fourcc.
 .PD 1
 .
 .TP
+.B \-force-avi-aspect <0.2\-3.0>
+Override the aspect stored in the AVI OpenDML vprp header.
+This can be used to change the aspect ratio with \-ovc copy.
+.TP
 .B \-info <option1:option2:...> (AVI only)
 Specify the info header of the resulting AVI file.
 .br
diff --git a/cfg-common.h b/cfg-common.h
index 2cf84fb941..7bfe6c9bd8 100644
--- a/cfg-common.h
+++ b/cfg-common.h
@@ -119,9 +119,6 @@
 	{"dvbin", dvbin_opts_conf, CONF_TYPE_SUBCONFIG, 0, 0, 0, NULL},
 #endif
 
-	{"useaviaspect", &avi_use_vprp_aspect, CONF_TYPE_FLAG, 0, 0, 1, NULL},
-	{"nouseaviaspect", &avi_use_vprp_aspect, CONF_TYPE_FLAG, 0, 1, 0, NULL},
-
 // ------------------------- a-v sync options --------------------
 
 	// AVI specific: A-V sync mode (bps vs. interleaving)
@@ -319,8 +316,6 @@ extern int ts_prog;
 extern int ts_keep_broken;
 extern off_t ts_probe;
 
-extern int avi_use_vprp_aspect; /* defined in aviheader.c */
-
 #include "libmpdemux/tv.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_EDL
diff --git a/cfg-mencoder.h b/cfg-mencoder.h
index ebc58435a1..a2f6ce2f0f 100644
--- a/cfg-mencoder.h
+++ b/cfg-mencoder.h
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ m_option_t of_conf[]={
 	{NULL, NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0, NULL}
 };
 
+extern float avi_aspect_override; /* defined in libmpdemux/muxer_avi.c */
+
 m_option_t mencoder_opts[]={
 	/* name, pointer, type, flags, min, max */
 
@@ -192,6 +194,9 @@ m_option_t mencoder_opts[]={
 	// override FOURCC in output file
 	{"ffourcc", &force_fourcc, CONF_TYPE_STRING, 0, 4, 4, NULL},
 
+	// override avi aspect autodetection
+	{"force-avi-aspect", &avi_aspect_override, CONF_TYPE_FLOAT, CONF_RANGE, 0.2, 3.0, NULL},
+
 	{"pass", "The -pass option is obsolete. Use -lavcopts vpass=n or -divx4opts pass=n!\nRTFM!\n", CONF_TYPE_PRINT, CONF_NOCFG, 0, 0, NULL},
 	{"passlogfile", &passtmpfile, CONF_TYPE_STRING, 0, 0, 0, NULL},
 	
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_divx4.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_divx4.c
index 4640b1d672..d0549d02ba 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_divx4.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_divx4.c
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
     mux_v->bih->biWidth=width;
     mux_v->bih->biHeight=height;
     mux_v->bih->biSizeImage=width*height*3;
+    mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
 
     if(!divx4_param.bitrate) divx4_param.bitrate=800000;
     else if(divx4_param.bitrate<=16000) divx4_param.bitrate*=1000;
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_lavc.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_lavc.c
index c3ae0f2c49..538d730b91 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_lavc.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_lavc.c
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
 #else
 	    lavc_venc_context->aspect_ratio= ratio;
 #endif
+	    mux_v->aspect = ratio;
 	    mp_dbg(MSGT_MENCODER, MSGL_DBG2, "aspect_ratio: %f\n", ratio);
 	} else {
 	    mp_dbg(MSGT_MENCODER, MSGL_ERR, "aspect ratio: cannot parse \"%s\"\n", lavc_param_aspect);
@@ -529,8 +530,9 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
 #if LIBAVCODEC_BUILD >= 4687
 	lavc_venc_context->sample_aspect_ratio = av_d2q((float)d_width/d_height*height / width, 255);
 #else
-	lavc_venc_context->aspect_ratio = (float)d_width/d_height;
+	lavc_venc_context->aspect_ratio =
 #endif
+	mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
 
     /* keyframe interval */
     if (lavc_param_keyint >= 0) /* != -1 */
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_libdv.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_libdv.c
index 2e0478021e..8b18c2be74 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_libdv.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_libdv.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
     mux_v->bih->biWidth=width;
     mux_v->bih->biHeight=height;
     mux_v->bih->biSizeImage=mux_v->bih->biWidth*mux_v->bih->biHeight*(mux_v->bih->biBitCount/8);
+    mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
 
     return 1;
 }
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_nuv.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_nuv.c
index 1cff9e28a2..50a75666e5 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_nuv.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_nuv.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
   mux_v->bih->biWidth=width;
   mux_v->bih->biHeight=height;
   mux_v->bih->biSizeImage=mux_v->bih->biWidth*mux_v->bih->biHeight*(mux_v->bih->biBitCount/8);
+  mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
   vf->priv->buffer = realloc(vf->priv->buffer,vf->priv->buf_size);
   vf->priv->tbl_wrote = 0;
 
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_qtvideo.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_qtvideo.c
index 81d5c6812d..f47095a747 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_qtvideo.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_qtvideo.c
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
     mux_v->bih->biWidth=width;
     mux_v->bih->biHeight=height;
     mux_v->bih->biSizeImage=width*height*2;
+    mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
 
 
 
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_raw.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_raw.c
index ddc93a606f..b9461497d2 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_raw.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_raw.c
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s *vf,
     int ret;
     mux_v->bih->biWidth = width;
     mux_v->bih->biHeight = height;
+    mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
     ret = set_format(vf, outfmt);
     if (!ret) return 0;
 
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_vfw.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_vfw.c
index 61aad0cd8f..7241dd1dca 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_vfw.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_vfw.c
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ static int config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
     vfw_bih->biWidth=width;
     vfw_bih->biHeight=height;
     vfw_bih->biSizeImage=width*height*((vfw_bih->biBitCount+7)/8);
+    mux_v->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
 
     if(!vfw_start_encoder(vfw_bih, mux_v->bih)) return 0;
 
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid.c
index 2beab7e43f..ceedf07dc6 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid.c
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
     fp->mux->bih->biWidth = width;
     fp->mux->bih->biHeight = height;
     fp->mux->bih->biSizeImage = fp->mux->bih->biWidth * fp->mux->bih->biHeight * 3;
+    fp->mux->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
     mp_msg(MSGT_MENCODER,MSGL_INFO,"videocodec: XViD (%dx%d fourcc=%x [%.4s])\n",
 	width, height, fp->mux->bih->biCompression, (char *)&fp->mux->bih->biCompression);
 
diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid4.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid4.c
index 137fa207af..850373c9b6 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid4.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_xvid4.c
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@ config(struct vf_instance_s* vf,
 	mod->mux->bih->biHeight = height;
 	mod->mux->bih->biSizeImage = 
 		mod->mux->bih->biWidth * mod->mux->bih->biHeight * 3;
+	mod->mux->aspect = (float)d_width/d_height;
 
 	/* Message the FourCC type */
 	mp_msg(MSGT_MENCODER, MSGL_INFO,
diff --git a/libmpdemux/aviheader.c b/libmpdemux/aviheader.c
index a52d883c2f..7727d5285c 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/aviheader.c
+++ b/libmpdemux/aviheader.c
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ extern void print_index(AVIINDEXENTRY *idx,int idx_size);
 extern void print_avistdindex_chunk(avistdindex_chunk *h);
 extern void print_avisuperindex_chunk(avisuperindex_chunk *h);
 
-int avi_use_vprp_aspect = 0;
-
 static int odml_get_vstream_id(int id, unsigned char res[])
 {
     unsigned char *p = (unsigned char *)&id;
@@ -345,7 +343,7 @@ while(1){
 	for (i=0; i<vprp->nbFieldPerFrame; i++) {
 		le2me_VIDEO_FIELD_DESC(&vprp->FieldInfo[i]);
 	}
-	if (avi_use_vprp_aspect && sh_video) {
+	if (sh_video) {
 		sh_video->aspect = GET_AVI_ASPECT(vprp->dwFrameAspectRatio);
 	}
 	if(verbose>=1) print_vprp(vprp);
diff --git a/libmpdemux/muxer.h b/libmpdemux/muxer.h
index bf546fca1f..2056ee9c5c 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/muxer.h
+++ b/libmpdemux/muxer.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ typedef struct {
   uint32_t ckid; // chunk id (00dc 01wb etc)
   double timer;
   off_t size;
+  float aspect; // aspect ratio of this stream (set by ve_*.c)
   // buffering:
   unsigned char *buffer;
   unsigned int buffer_size;
diff --git a/libmpdemux/muxer_avi.c b/libmpdemux/muxer_avi.c
index abe4d5d9f7..de93e7a6fa 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/muxer_avi.c
+++ b/libmpdemux/muxer_avi.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ extern char *info_comment;
 #define ODML_NOTKEYFRAME 0x80000000U
 #define MOVIALIGN        0x00001000
 
-extern int avi_use_vprp_aspect;
+float avi_aspect_override = -1.0;
 
 struct avi_odmlidx_entry {
 	uint64_t ofs;
@@ -57,6 +57,35 @@ struct avi_stream_info {
 	struct avi_odmlsuperidx_entry *superidx;
 };
 
+static unsigned int avi_aspect(muxer_stream_t *vstream)
+{
+    int x,y;
+    float aspect = vstream->aspect;
+
+    if (avi_aspect_override > 0.0) {
+        aspect = avi_aspect_override;
+    }
+
+    if (aspect <= 0.0) return 0;
+
+    if (aspect > 15.99/9.0 && aspect < 16.01/9.0) {
+        return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(16, 9);
+    }
+    if (aspect > 3.99/3.0 && aspect < 4.01/3.0) {
+        return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(4, 3);
+    }
+
+    if (aspect >= 1.0) {
+        x = 16384;
+        y = (float)x / aspect;
+    } else {
+        y = 16384;
+        x = (float)y * aspect;
+    }
+
+    return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(x, y);
+}
+
 static muxer_stream_t* avifile_new_stream(muxer_t *muxer,int type){
     struct avi_stream_info *si;
     muxer_stream_t* s;
@@ -225,21 +254,6 @@ static void write_avi_list(FILE *f,unsigned int id,int len){
 
 #define WFSIZE(wf) (sizeof(WAVEFORMATEX)+(wf)->cbSize)
 
-static unsigned int avi_aspect(float aspect)
-{
-    if (aspect <= 0.0) {
-    	aspect = 4.0/3.0;
-    }
-    if (aspect >= 3.99/3.0 &&
-        aspect <= 4.01/3.0) return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(4,3);
-    if (aspect >= 15.99/9.0 &&
-        aspect <= 16.01/9.0) return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(16,9);
-    if (aspect >= 0.99 &&
-        aspect <= 1.01) return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(1,1);
-    if (aspect<1.0) return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT((int)(aspect*8192),8192);
-    return MAKE_AVI_ASPECT(8192,(int)(8192/aspect));
-}
-
 static void avifile_write_header(muxer_t *muxer){
   uint32_t riff[3];
   unsigned int dmlh[1];
@@ -248,10 +262,16 @@ static void avifile_write_header(muxer_t *muxer){
   muxer_info_t info[16];
   FILE *f = muxer->file;
   VideoPropHeader vprp;
-
+  uint32_t aspect = avi_aspect(muxer->def_v);
   off_t pos;
   int isodml = muxer->file_end > ODML_CHUNKLEN ? 1 : 0;
 
+  if (aspect == 0) {
+    mp_msg(MSGT_MUXER, MSGL_INFO, "ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.\n");
+  } else {
+    mp_msg(MSGT_MUXER, MSGL_INFO, "ODML: vprp aspect is %d:%d.\n", aspect >> 16, aspect & 0xffff);
+  }
+
   if (isodml) {
     for (pos = 0; pos < muxer->file_end; pos += ODML_CHUNKLEN) {
       unsigned int rifflen, movilen;
@@ -316,7 +336,7 @@ static void avifile_write_header(muxer_t *muxer){
       switch(muxer->streams[i]->type){
       case MUXER_TYPE_VIDEO:
           hdrsize+=muxer->streams[i]->bih->biSize+8; // strf
-	  if (avi_use_vprp_aspect) {
+	  if (aspect != 0) {
 	      hdrsize+=8+4*(9+8*1); // vprp
 	  }
 	  break;
@@ -351,14 +371,13 @@ static void avifile_write_header(muxer_t *muxer){
           s->h.fccHandler = s->bih->biCompression;
           s->h.rcFrame.right = s->bih->biWidth;
           s->h.rcFrame.bottom = s->bih->biHeight;
-	  if (avi_use_vprp_aspect) {
-	      sh_video_t *sh_video = s->source;
+	  if (aspect != 0) {
 	      // fill out vprp info
 	      memset(&vprp, 0, sizeof(vprp));
 	      vprp.dwVerticalRefreshRate = (s->h.dwRate+s->h.dwScale-1)/s->h.dwScale;
 	      vprp.dwHTotalInT = muxer->avih.dwWidth;
 	      vprp.dwVTotalInLines = muxer->avih.dwHeight;
-	      vprp.dwFrameAspectRatio = avi_aspect(sh_video->aspect);
+	      vprp.dwFrameAspectRatio = aspect;
 	      vprp.dwFrameWidthInPixels = muxer->avih.dwWidth;
 	      vprp.dwFrameHeightInLines = muxer->avih.dwHeight;
 	      vprp.nbFieldPerFrame = 1;
@@ -388,7 +407,7 @@ static void avifile_write_header(muxer_t *muxer){
           write_avi_chunk(f,ckidSTREAMFORMAT,biSize,s->bih); /* BITMAPINFOHEADER */
           le2me_BITMAPINFOHEADER(s->bih);
 
-	  if (avi_use_vprp_aspect) {
+	  if (aspect != 0) {
 	      int fields = vprp.nbFieldPerFrame;
 	      le2me_VideoPropHeader(&vprp);
 	      le2me_VIDEO_FIELD_DESC(&vprp.FieldInfo[0]);
diff --git a/mencoder.c b/mencoder.c
index 57ae80bd14..4adbd77d58 100644
--- a/mencoder.c
+++ b/mencoder.c
@@ -663,12 +663,6 @@ case VCODEC_COPY:
 	mux_v->bih->biBitCount=24; // FIXME!!!
 	mux_v->bih->biSizeImage=mux_v->bih->biWidth*mux_v->bih->biHeight*(mux_v->bih->biBitCount/8);
     }
-    /*
-     * FIXME: with -ovc copy we don't get aspect ratio information
-     *        from the source stream.
-     */
-    if(movie_aspect>-1.0) sh_video->aspect = movie_aspect;
-
     printf("videocodec: framecopy (%dx%d %dbpp fourcc=%x)\n",
 	mux_v->bih->biWidth, mux_v->bih->biHeight,
 	mux_v->bih->biBitCount, mux_v->bih->biCompression);