Altering a recorder's output aspect ratio

[TheMadHatter]

I was wonder if there was an app that can alter a VOBs aspect to 16x9 without re-encoding?

The reason is, my JVC M10 doesn't want to record my HD HBO channel, so I have to settle for the regular version. The program I record is letterboxed, so I want to remove the black bars, and make it 16x9 in post.

Anyone have a suggestion for an app to use?

I won't even get into the fact that it won't record the 5.1 audio.

[gshelley61]

To do what you are talking about will require cropping, resizing, re-encoding, re-authoring and burning to a new DVD on the computer. This will result in a noticeable quality loss. If you record in XP mode, the re-encoded video may still look OK, though.

Why don't you just use the zoom function on your display or DVD player to resize during playback? That would be a whole lot easier. Unless you don't have a zoom function on either... but I'm pretty sure all widescreen TV's have a zoom function exactly for that purpose.

Or, look into getting a D-VHS recorder... they can record HD signals (although I'm not certain about recording off of the cable HD box). Also, there's probably a way you can capture the cable HD signals directly to your computer...

[TheMadHatter]

I had feeling that would be the result of my question.

Yes, my TV does Zoom. I just wanted a nice 16x9 DVD.

Oh well, I guess if I can live with analog audio, I can live with having to manually change the aspect.

Thanks anyway

[gshelley61]

Have a look in the Star Wars laserdisc transfer thread:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=102812

There's lots of info about converting 4:3 letterbox to 16:9 anamorphic