Convert an AVI back to 16:9 originally encoded as 4:3?

[quartermiler1320]

First post here and hope this is the right place, and hope I will be making sense. I apologize in advance for my apparent ignorance. I have a short film that was originally widescreen, but had been converted to fullscreen without cropping the sides when made into an AVI. Thus, the image is "squished" in from the sides. I downloaded the trial versions of Premiere Pro 1.5 and Encore 1.5, and think they have the capability, but I'm not sure how to do it. I also have a trial of TMPGEnc and Virtual Dub, if those would be better choices.

ALSO, if I did successfully convert this film, would there be black bars top and bottom if viewed on a widescreen TV/monitor? Thanks all,

Al

[guns1inger]

Virtualdub resize filter. Keep the horizontal as-is (ie. match the current resolution) and reduce the vertical until it is correct.

[quartermiler1320]

I just now found and used that filter. Thanks for the help! BTW, I'm guessing I should resize the image then have black bars so it can be watched on a 4:3 tv, correct? Now, if I were to take it to my dads and play it on his widescreen TV, would it then be "squished" horizontally, black bars and all?

[junkmalle]

Are you making a DVD? Just take your original AVI file and convert it to MPEG 2 as-is. But specify that it is anamorphic 16:9. Burn it to DVD with DVD mastering software that supports 16:9. When your DVD player plays it back it will handle 4:3 and 16:9 displays appropriately.

[guns1inger]

quartermiler1320 :- Not necessarily - it will probably be bordered all round, so you would have to zoom it in. If you are playing it back on a Divx enabled DVD player, or a PC, then it should not be an issue, as the player should deal with the resizing and aspect ratio itself.

[funkguy4]

Are you making a DVD? Just take your original AVI file and convert it to MPEG 2 as-is. But specify that it is anamorphic 16:9. Burn it to DVD with DVD mastering software that supports 16:9. When your DVD player plays it back it will handle 4:3 and 16:9 displays appropriately.

absolutely correct