WinfastDTV2000H. Digital capture image 20% smaller than same from analog

[maxhalt]

Re the Winfast DTV2000H digital and analog TV tuner PCI card.

Above card was bought recently specially as it was advertised as allowing direct burn to DVD.

This it does. But when I capture/burn a 4:3 aspect transmission from the analog tuner the DVD plays full screen on my Sony 4:3 TV and Philips DVD player.

When I capture the simultaneous digital transmission with the DTV tuner the resulting DVD plays with an approximately 20% smaller picture. A 2 inch black border on all 4 sides.

As much as I have searched the manual and help files, there do not seem to be any settings as to format for digital capture.

Any DVD made with normal DTV capturing - editing - and final processing with VideoLab Pro produces the same 20% smaller picture from 4:3 transmissions.

IF there is anyone out there in videoland who can offer help or explanation then please do so.

These are my guesses:
The correct size and aspect ratio of a TV image on the TV screen or the PC monitor is only done during conversion from the DTV signal stream to analog video.

Most likely part of the signal stream contains info as to the correct display.
A PC monitor allows stretching in any direction or proportion, so that needs no data as to the original picture proportions or overall size.

DVD players have a few options as to picture looks: 4:3, 16:9 and Pan & Scan.
TV sets, at least most CRT types, have no flexibility while some of the later widescreen sets have controls to vary width and or hight to compromise a suitable ratio/size.

BUT this code may not be processed properly by the DTV2000H tuner card ?!?

Over to you.

[guns1inger]

I have a 4:3 television that is 16:9 switchable. If a program is broadcast in 4:3 with the receiver in 16:9 mode and the TV in 4:3 mode, the image is pillarboxed (vertical bars up the sides), but stretches to the top/bottom of the screen. If the receiver is set to letterbox output, the image has black bars all around (as it would if the receiver was in 16:9 mode and the TV in 16:9 mode). The only time the image fills the screen is when both the receiver and TV are set to 4:3 mode.

It sounds like the tuner on your card is doing something similar to the second scenario I described - putting the image in the centre of a letterboxed screen. The TV studio will be broadcasting the 4:3 image within a 16:9 frame, so the tuner needs to the cropping and resizing, in the same manner my settop receiver does it. You just need to find the right setting.

[maxhalt]

But there seem to be no setting in DTV capture apart from Program stream (.mpg) or transport stream (.ts)

I sent an email to supports@leadtek.com on 29/11/06 but no answer has been forthcoming from LEADTEK.
I sent another email to service@leadtek.com.tw yesterday, here's hoping.

[drewzor]

I hate this card! i have it too and its a real peace of junk.
But i think you will find that your problem is much more simple then a setting in the software. In the digital broadcast not all shows are 1080i. This is best illistrated with ads like the toyota ad. It is letterboxed in a 4:3 aspect and therefore displays like a picture inside a black boarder as 16:9.

You might be able to change it by right clicking the screen and selecting "force 4:3" and check "4:3 pan and scan".



Note this will however cut the edges of a real 1080i digital signal.

[guns1inger]

All digital broadcasts in Australia are 16:9, but a lot of commercials and shows are 4:3, and so are broadcast with pillarboxing (vertical black bars). What is even more infuriating is the number of commercials that are shot 1.78 letterboxed, and broadcast inside a 4:3 frame, inside a 16:9 frame.

[maxhalt]

I have clicked on screens -- my index finger is quite lame

All the adjustments one can do on the screen only affect the monitor display!

The adjustment needs to be made to the mpeg file before it is converted to video,
and there is no obvious, not even hidden means to adjust this.

[drewzor]

those settings actually effect the encoded video, like i said leadtek use this software to drive people to insanity...

[maxhalt]

those settings actually effect the encoded video, like i said leadtek use this software to drive people to insanity...

Sorry, the on screen settings do not have any influence on the captured file. I tried capturing 2 files, but with different settings, they behaved identically..........