confused....should I resize to 704x480 or 720x480 for NTSC?

[charvelzeppelin]

I have a bunch of analog captures at 352x240. I am burning some to DVD and using some to just watch on my computer. I have seen a lot of talk about different resolutions and I'm not sure what to resize these files too.

If I'm burning to DVD, shouldn't I resize to 720x480. (isn't that the resolution of the tv?). So when should I resize to 704x480 (which would seem like what I should use since that is double my resolution I recorded at).

When watching on the computer, does it really matter if I resize the video or not? Since you can just expand the video to full screen in the media player.

[duhmez]

Do not resize at all. 352x240 is a supported res as is. Upping the size will only make the file bigger and no better. Probably will be worse even.

[charvelzeppelin]

So when would you use filters to resize to a larger size like 704x480 or 720x480?

[duhmez]

Youc ant get better quality than your source, and since 352x240 is a 1/4 DVD supported res, you wont need to increase the res at all. Increasing it will only make the file bigger, and worse, depending how much bitrate you give the D1 vid, it can be much worse.

[GMaq]

You should definitely just leave your current captures as they are, Normally of course you want to capture at the highest possible resolution and end up at 352x240 (unless you are going to burn directly to VCD or DVD) Sometimes if your capture device doesn't let you set certain resolutions you need to use a filter to resize the video on the fly as you are capturing it in real time. Think of your current captures as wallet sized photos, if you hold a magnifying glass over them until they are 5x7's they will lose detail and many flaws that you couldn't see before will be apparent, I realize that this photo to video comparison isn't exactly the same since the finished product will be viewed on the same size screen however the principle still applies.

[charvelzeppelin]

I realize that most people here capture at 352x480, but I hate how it doesn't show up full screen on the tv. The image seems very disproportionate and the huge borders on the side bug me. Do you guys resize the image to 704x480 or 720x480 using filters like in virtualdub or another encoding program before you burn to dvd?

[FulciLives]

I realize that most people here capture at 352x480, but I hate how it doesn't show up full screen on the tv. The image seems very disproportionate and the huge borders on the side bug me. Do you guys resize the image to 704x480 or 720x480 using filters like in virtualdub or another encoding program before you burn to dvd?

Dude you are not getting it. The resolution of 352x480 is a valid DVD resolution. When you burn this onto a DVD using a DVD Authoring program it will show up FULL SCREEN ... in other words the DVD player will stretch it to fit.

352x480 is a good resolution for low quality source material such as VHS videos. It also works very well with most cable and satelitte TV transmissions.

If you want 720/704x480 then capture it at that resolution. You should not capture 352x480 and resize to a larger size such as 720/704x480

I don't know what you mean by the image looking distorted on your TV screen.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[charvelzeppelin]

I realize that most people here capture at 352x480, but I hate how it doesn't show up full screen on the tv. The image seems very disproportionate and the huge borders on the side bug me. Do you guys resize the image to 704x480 or 720x480 using filters like in virtualdub or another encoding program before you burn to dvd?

Dude you are not getting it. The resolution of 352x480 is a valid DVD resolution. When you burn this onto a DVD using a DVD Authoring program it will show up FULL SCREEN ... in other words the DVD player will stretch it to fit.

Heh...I was streaming the captures to my television from my computer through my xbox. Nobody ever mentioned that you had to author them and they would change size. I just figured you guys were watching half screens...don't kill me!!

[charvelzeppelin]

How come the default for NTSC DVD like for procoder is 720x480 when that doesn't even show up full screen. There are still small borders on the top and bottom of the movie. I would think it would be 704x480 where there are no borders. Does anyone here always burn 704x480 for NTSC DVD? I'm wondering if I should start.

[DaveS]

How come the default for NTSC DVD like for procoder is 720x480 when that doesn't even show up full screen. There are still small borders on the top and bottom of the movie. I would think it would be 704x480 where there are no borders. Does anyone here always burn 704x480 for NTSC DVD? I'm wondering if I should start.

NTSC:
(full) D1 = 720x480
half D1 = 352 x 480

What do you mean doesn't show up full screen? using the above D1 or half D1, should 'fill' your screen, especially b/c of overscan where you won't even see everything on your TV that you can see when looking at your video on a PC, for example.

Something else sounds 'wrong', either in the setup of your equipment (what are you watching these on?), or in some of your assumptions.

[disturbed1]

Could be letter boxed wide screen?

Is that what you mean by not full screen with black bars.

[duhmez]

If your xbox software is not stretching it to fit the screen during playback, then your playback software is bunk. the 4:3 flag int he bitstream is there to tell software/hardware players to resize the videoo during playback.

if it's not bunk, look for an ption to force it to obey the aspect ratio.

[ZippyP.]

If I'm burning to DVD, shouldn't I resize to 720x480. (isn't that the resolution of the tv?).

TV's don't have pixels, but for regular 4:3 NTSC TV the DVD resolution closest is probably 352X480.

DVD has several different resolutions (look over there in "What is DVDR" <-<-<-). All of them will properly display full screen (4:3) or letter box (16:9) format depending on the source material. Don't confuse resolution and Display Aspect Ratio (DAR).