Overscan on TV cuts off subtitles, need to reduce image 82% somehow

[gmackenz]

Anime from the Lunar fansubbing group is causing me problems (show is Ouran Host Club, a great, very funny anime). It is in 640x480 and NTSC film speed.

I don't mind terribly that the latest FFMPEGX doesn't allow me to chose NTSC Film speed as an option and thinks the video should be converted as PAL speed/size when choosing the DVD ffmpeg or DVD mencoder options...I simply change the settings to 720x480 and NTSC speed and convert the files to MPEG2 for creating a DVD.

What has caused me to burn 2 useless-to-me-and-my-friends DVDs is that the overscan of the TV cuts off all the subtitles. I view the file in Final Cut Express and can see from the title safe option wirescreen overlay I would have to reduce the current image 82% to guarantee almost all TVs would display the entire image.

Of course playing the DVD in a computer/Xbox using XBMC software I can see all of the image as I can adjust the Overcan in the software player.

I've searched on the subject of overscan in this forum and did not find any useful advice for me. I don't have a PC and VirtualDub.

I suppose I could try converting the mpeg2 files I currently have with quicktime pro? Is that even possible...Time consuming process that

[tug_hill2]

Hello qm, You may want to call in a TV repair guy & have him (or her) reduce the
overscan..!

That's what I did..! 8)

Tug_hill2

[gmackenz]

Well, that may work for me, but I can't go visit all my friends and relatives across the states to adjust theirs

[derrickec]

Are the subtitles hardsubbed onto the image or are you importing a seperate subtitle file into ffmpegX? I'm assuming they're hardsubbed, but the questions worth asking.

[kelman4]

Try burning the DVD with Toast. It has the best overscan compensation of any program I've seen. Even better than ConvertXToDVD (a PC program).

If the subtitles still dont' fit when you burn the DVD with with Toast, you'll have to reeconde the video to fit inside the frame. I'm pretty sure that the subtitles weren't done with overscan in mind so you'll get some black bars by the side if the subtitles fit.

There are some crop options in ffmpegX. I've never used them successfully but they are there.

[gmackenz]

Hardsubbed and barely above the bottom of the image area.

I've tried with Toast (latest ver) as a straight conversion within Toast & burning with MPEG2 files from FFMPEGX...Still get the same problem with overscan cutting off all of the subtitled portion of the anime.

Unfortunately, correcting overscan on my TV (Magnavox) seems to be an internal correction and available to users via menu.

KELMAN4, yes, subtitling was done for viewers who watch on computers evidently.

I guess I am stuck learning how to reencode with Final Cut Pro unless any better (ie easier) solution can be offered by the gang on this forum. I tried seeing if Quicktime PRO had such an option, no luck yet.

[kvlourash]

I use a program called FitCD to create an AVS file, which I run thru QuEnc to create the MPG file. Use the Resize option, which shows you how much the pic will be compressed. I haven't figured out how to use QuEnc to convert from PAL, but Nero is pretty dependable at doing that. A lengthy procedure, but most programs just ignore the overscan problem.
Oh, yeah, you must set QuEnc for 16:9 or 3:4, depending on the video file's aspect.

[BeardFan]

When I have fansubs with hardsubs very close to the bottom, I usually "squeeze" the picture a little bit, like 640x480 --> 640x452 and watch reencoded divx/avi on my player. If you want to encode a DVD, I suggest you squeeze and add a little letterbox and then do another encode to DVD.

1. Select Divx/ffmpeg
2. Reduce the size to 640x452 in the video tab
3. Add 14 pixels at top and bottom in the letterbox area of the filters tab (so you get 480 height again)
4. Encode
5. Reencode the resulting avi to DVD

If you don't want to squeeze the picture you could add a proportional letterbox. If the original size is 640x480 you could add 10%, so you should select 24 pixels at top and bottom and 32 pixels at left and right, encode that, and then reencode to DVD

[gmackenz]

Thanks, this sounds the easiest method, just using FFMPEGX, so I'll give it a swing...Darn fansubbing group

Still grateful that they did it, I now see why all fansub groups would be gods (and goddesses) if they just provided soft subbed product. Oh well.

When I have fansubs with hardsubs very close to the bottom, I usually "squeeze" the picture a little bit, like 640x480 --> 640x452 and watch reencoded divx/avi on my player. If you want to encode a DVD, I suggest you squeeze and add a little letterbox and then do another encode to DVD.

1. Select Divx/ffmpeg
2. Reduce the size to 640x452 in the video tab
3. Add 14 pixels at top and bottom in the letterbox area of the filters tab (so you get 480 height again)
4. Encode
5. Reencode the resulting avi to DVD

If you don't want to squeeze the picture you could add a proportional letterbox. If the original size is 640x480 you could add 10%, so you should select 24 pixels at top and bottom and 32 pixels at left and right, encode that, and then reencode to DVD

[popdem]

I got tired of looking everywhere and never seeing any tutorials fixing video cut off on televisions. This is especially a problem with videos that have hard coded subtitles. They are often cut off at the bottom of the picture and make the subtitles impossible to read. My remedy is to add a border to your video so that you move the viewable image into the frame of your television. This seems to work quite well for me and I hope it does the same for you!

So to start off you will need to download these two files. This is not complicated and will not require much PC skill.

Download Virualdub = http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=virtualdub&filename=VirtualDu...irror=internap

Download Xvid Codec = http://www.koepi.org/XviD-1.1.2-01112006.exe

You should now have two new files on your computer. First click on the Xvid Codec, go through the steps and it will install in a snap.

Extract Virtualdub into a folder of your choice. No installation is necessary for Virtualdub.

In your VirtualDub folder click to run VirtualDub.exe.

Open up a video file you want to modify. Then click:

File>File Information...

Find your video's resolution. Example: 640x480

Of your resolution the first(higher) number indicates width and the second(lower) number indicates the height. Now for a little math.

Take the lower number and multiply it by 0.1

This will give you ten percent of your video's height resolution. We need this number to correct the ten percent run off your TV is eating from your video.

For this tutorial our height is 480 from a 640x480 resolution.

480 X 0.1 = 48

For this example the magic number is 48.
Take this number and subtract it from both the width and the height of your resolution.

640 - 48 = 592

480 - 48 = 432

Here we have new resolution numbers of 592x432.

*I personally like a small run off of 4 (2 on each side) so I add 4 to both numbers. For this example you get 596x436. This is optional and depends on your preference and how it displays on your television.

Now, in Virtualdub click:

Video> Filters...> ADD>

[new window]

resize> OK

[New window]

Type in your new resolution numbers.

New width: 596
New height:436

Filder Mode: Precise bicubic (A=0.75)

CHECK -Expand frame and letterbox image

Type in your original resolution numbers.

Frame width: 640
Frame height:480

Click ok, you're done with this part.

Your video is now bordered and you can preview it if you desire.

From here we will set up your video's compression and resolution. This is all preference from this point but I will walk you through a simple way to get good quality video. Click:

Video> Compression...

[new window]

Select XviD MPEG-4 Codec

Click Configure

[new window]

Click Target quantizer

it flips to Target bitrate

In the field next to that button type 1100. This will give you fairly good quality. I found that a difference as much as 100 less is very noticeable color loss especially in brighter color detail. If you want better quality enter a higher number. If you want lower I wouldn't suggest less than 700 but do whatever you like here. After all, its your hard drive and discs that these files will be taking space on.

Click OK, you're almost done!

Now simply click:

File> Save as AVI

Now you have a couple options depending on your intentions. If you have a large number of files and want to do them all in one sitting (about 1 minute video = 1 minute processing) you can simply check the option in the "Save as AVI" window called:

"Don't run this job now; add it to job control so I can run it in batch mode."

If you do not want to do this simply make sure this option remains unchecked, type your file name, select your destination path, and save! A window will come up showing the status of your processing.

If you choose this option, after clicking save, you will go back to the main virtualdub window and nothing will appear to have happened. Go ahead and click:

File> Job Control...>

You will see the file is queued in this menu. You can continue to open and save files in this manner to queue them into this list and you will not have to reconfigure the filter or compression. After loading all the files you want to do, open the Job Control menu and click Start. Virtualdub will now process your videos in queue one by one. Note that before doing any large batch you should process and burn one to a disc for test viewing on your television! You have been warned!

Hope this helps people!

Email any thanks and/or rants to rustedflowers@hotmail.com