Best tool to remove black bars?

[jedi34567]

I've recorded video from the high definition channels using a 4:3 Hauppauge card. Now I have video with black bars actually recorded into the video. What is the best tool to remove these bars so I can view the video properly on a native widescreen display?

[redwudz]

Assuming MPEG-2, you can use an MPEG encoder with a cropping function. TMPGEnc has that, probably others also. But you will have to re-encode the video.

And welcome to our forums.

[jedi34567]

Thanks. I've used TMPGEnc for years to create DVD compatible video, but I never noticed a feature that would allow me to crop.

[Noahtuck]

You need to close the wizard and import the m2v file then open the settings after demuxing.
But you need to know what each setting need's to be set at manually because it won't do it for you.
I use it a lot for video but never for the audio.

[jedi34567]

Thanks -- I'll give it a try. Does anyone know how to record using a Hauppauge WinTV card so that it only captures the 16:9 input?

[olyteddy]

If you're playing it on a computer you could use VLC player and crop and zoom in software. No re encoding necessary.

[ronnylov]

If you set your set-top-box to 16:9 anamorphic widescreen output then you could capture this signal with your 4:3 analogue capture card but you need to change the aspect ratio flag to 16:9 if your capture card is recording directly to MPEG-2. You can do that with ReStream after demuxing. Then you can author this fixed stream together with original audio stream to a widescreen 16:9 DVD.

[jedi34567]

Thanks, ronnylov. It sounds a bit complicated, but I think I get the idea. My card records directly to MPEG-2. I'm not sure my settop (SA 3250HD) can output anamorphic widescreen to the RCA video output jack which I am using as input to my card, however.