Need to Re-Format 4:3 "Letterbox" to Widescreen DVD

[Plarocks]

Hello,

I have recorded several programs from HD-Net onto DVD-R.

The problem is, I recorded these in the wrong format.

Rather than "Stretching" the screen and setting my DVD Recorder to record in 16:9 format..
(The Correct Way)

I had the screen in "Letterbox" with grey bars at the top and bottom and recorded it in the 4:3 Ratio.

What I want to do is crop the bars at the top and bottom and re-author the DVD in the actual 16:9 format that will play in "Letterbox" with black bars on the top and bottom on a regular TV.. and then fill the screen in the proper ratio on a Widescreen TV..

Is there a program where I can "Edit" the video (Crop and then Stretch) and then author a DVD in the 16:9 format?

I would also need to "Flag" it so a DVD player will "Letterbox" the image on a 4:3 TV as well.

Is there a program that can do this without breaking the bank?

Any advice is appreciated.. Thanks

Plarocks

[Baldrick]

It would require both reencoding and also upconverting the video after cropping it which means you will lose video quality....so I wouldn't do it...

You can use most standalone encoders like tmpgenc xpress, use first vob2mpg to get a single mpg and then add it in tmpgenc xpress, select dvd profile, use the crop function and set the output to 16:9. Then author the new converted mpg with an authoring tool like tmpgenc dvd author.

[Scorpion King]

I assume your files are 720x480 framesize.

As far as I can tell GSpot says to simply resize to 720x640 then trim 80 pixels off the top and bottom.

By my calculator: At a resolution increment of 2, 16:9 should be 720x404. The AR would be 1.782:1 w/aspect error of 0.22%. At 720x400, with a resolution increment of 16, the AR would be 1.8:1 w/aspect error of 1.24%. Trying to get a true 16:9 (1.778:1) looks to require trimming 8 pixels off each side of the video making it 704 wide, then trimming the vertical down to 396 (which will be 42 pixels off the top and off the bottom) would give you an AR of 1.778:1 and true 16:9 w/error 0.0%. Then resize to 720x480 of course. Thats according to my figures anyway.

I tried a GSpot test resize to 720x640 then trim 80 top and bottom and the file does look correct.... so I guess that works.

Good luck.

[guns1inger]

If you have set up your DVD player correctly, 16:9 material should be letterboxed by the player. No extra flag needs to be set on the DVD.

[Plarocks]

Yeah.. I figured out the 16:9 Setting on my DVD Recorder way too late.. Otherwise I would not be in this situation.

Anyway... I will try both of these when I get home.

The good news is that HD-Net re-broadcast one of the Concerts I wanted today.. but the bad news is they cropped 15 from the show to make it fit into one hour.. (ARGH!!)

I will see what they cut out and try to "Frankenstien" the two versions into one 16:9 DVD then...

Or just keep both versions if I can't pull it off

Plarocks

[FulciLives]

To convert 4:3 Letterboxed to 16x9 WS you need to cut 60 from the top and 60 from the bottom then resize what is left to 720x480 ... this assumes you have NTSC at 720x480 to begin with. If you have PAL at 720x576 to begin with then you cut 72 from the top and 72 from the bottom then resize what is left to 720x576.

Please note you must resize in an INTERLACED friendly way since your captured video will be interlaced.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman