Video resolution question.

[Bridge]

I've been trying to save some of my videos that broke in one way or another. I have a few DVD recorders. When I tried to make a new video with what I saved I found out something that I didn't know. Some of my recorders record with a 720x480 resolution but others are recording with a 704x480 resolution. In fact, after I ripped my Panasonic Ram disk, when I think the recorder itself says to record in 16:9, it turned out to be 704x480. What's the deal? Is 704x480 the 16:9 version for DVD recorders and 720x480 the 3:4 version? I didn't think so but maybe it is? Which one of these should I choose if I have a choice between the two recording numbers? 720x480 or 704x480? Why does one do one way and another another? Is one version worse for recording good quality than the other?

By the way, I ripped a minute of a real DVD recorded in 16:9 but it said "720x480 16/9" where my DVD recorders say either "704x480 3/4" or "720x480 3/4." So this movie segment I ripped to look at it's settings shows it to be 720x480 16:9. So, what's the deal with some of my DVD recorders only recording a 704x480 3:4?

[greymalkin]

the 720/704 is the horizontal resolution of the video...basically the ones that are recording @ 704 are taking advantage of the overscan area of the television...there will be a black bar 8 pixels wide occupying the left/right side of the screen but you won't see it on your tv. If you watch it on your computer monitor you will probably see a thin black line on each side.


As far as your 16:9 video being recorded as 4:3...the recorder is recording everything it "sees" on the tv screen..including the black bars above and below the video..whereas the original dvd video is actually only the video portion that the tv vertically centers on the screen..


this is my understanding of your situation..if i am terribly wrong someone will quickly correct me

[piano632]

I'm sure 704 x 480 has something to do with easier implemanation since it is exactly double height/width of 352 x 240.

JVC recorders use 704, BTW.

[Bridge]

So, I take it that it's just area that is used but not seen on TV and that one is not any better than the other. Right?

[edDV]

All SD/ED DTV broadcasting 4:3 or 16:9 is done at 704x480. Transmission before the transmitter is usually 704x480 with 8 extra pixels left/right for H-shift protection for a total of 720x480 (with black edges). H-shift should be corrected before transmission so 704x480 is what you would capture for DTV and 704x480 matches 4:3 for analog recording.

DVD is often encoded to 720x480. SD TV is always 704.

[greymalkin]

thats some good iformation.

Bridge..yep..no worries.