Simulate underscan?

[rumplestiltskin]

I may be the only one looking for this feature.

When I play files I've encoded using ffmpegX (or any other utility, for that matter) on my Mac, I see everything in the frame (left-to-right). However, when I then play it on my TV, I lose a bit of the sides due to the overscanning of my TV. There is no function in my TV to uunderscan so I was wondering how one might go about forcing this during the encoding process.

In the past I've used a larger black mask (of the correct proportions) that I place behind the video in a QT movie. I center the video and this does the job but I'd like to find some method that involves ffmpegX because of the excellent quality and speed.

I guess what I'm looking for is the opposite of "crop", so to speak.

Suggestions welcome. Thanks!

[DeusExMachina]

You can set letterbox and pillar box sizes in the filters tab of the ffmpeg encoder. Since NTSC specs dictate that the action safe area is 25 pixels on a side, and the title safe area is an additional 25 pixels, adding 50 pixels to each side should guarantee that all video will be visible. Keep in mind, however, that many videos intend for this footage not to be seen. Often times you can see boom mikes, set props, and other things the director intended to be outside the action safe boundaries.

[rumplestiltskin]

Thanks for your assistance!

[DeusExMachina]

no problemo.