Widescreen output from standard input...

[Savant]

Hi folks,

I'm working on a project (original video) that I want to output in a format so that it would be seen as 'widescreen' on an HDTV set. Now the input signal will be cropped to meet this, but that's not a problem. If I had the choice to loose a little of the top and bottom in order that I could have the output show as widescreen on HDTV instead of fullscreen letterbox I would be happy.

However, I'm not exactly sure what needs to be done to encode the signal so that the end result will be accepted as a 16:9 signal on the HDTV set. I also know that resolution will suffer since it will be 'zoomed' on the HDTV set and not animorphic, but I want to see how it will look first. I'm using TMPGenc for my standard encodes and I have no problem manipulating the settings, I'm just not sure what I should be aiming for.

If anyone has manipulated a signal in this matter I would be interested in hearing your experiences.

Regards,

Savant

[bugster]

This really depends on the playback device as well as the TV. Assuming DVD for playback, in TmpGenc, just set the Aspect ratio to 16:9 and it will display widescreen.

[vhelp]

Hi Savant,

So, I'll assume that your source is 4:3 and fullscreen, BUT that you would
like it to be viewed on a widescreen (WS) tv and in 16:9 AspectRatio (AR)
and still maintain an correct AR ??
Note, there are numerous ways to perform this feet. Below, I give you a
tipicle method for vdub. You could do it several ways there, and also in
AVIsynth too.

Ok, here's what you do, as I do this (in similar ways) w/ my DV cam when I
take footage. These steps will produce your standard 1.777:1 format of
16:9 AR. Lets assume your source .avi file is in 720 x 480 resolution.

Filters required:
* null transform
* resize

1st (for post-processing and other duties) Method:
Turning a:
720 x 480, (1.333) 4:3 AR fullscreen source (no Black bars) .avi file into a
720 x 480, (1.777) 16:9 AR fullscreen, widescreen source .avi file via
a frameserve into TMPG:

Using VirtualDub...
* Take your source, and open in vdub
* Select the null transform filter and click on the Cropping
...button. Then, crop the top 60 and bottom 60 pixels, will finally have
...a video size of 720 x 360 resolution.
* Next, select the resize filter and resize to 720 x 480 and set
...Filter mode: [Precise bicubic (A=-0.75)] and follow that w/ a user
...descression of [x] Interlaced (not recommended for enlarging) setting.
...user descression here. I've ticked this on some of my source,
...depending on how many resizes I had going on. But, in most cases, inlc
...your's you may not need this setting at all, and just leave [ ] unchecked.
...to continue.. This resizing will sort of stretch your video top/bottom somewhat,
...but don't worry, as TMPG will restretch it properly when you encode it.
TMPG Step
* Now, frameserve it into TMPG.
...Video Tab: Size: [720 x 480] and, Aspect ratio: [16:9 Display]
...Advance Tab: Source aspect ratio: [4:3 525 line (NTSC)], and
...Video arrange Method: [Full screen]

In AVIsynth, you write an .avs script:
* open your source ie,
* ..AVIsource("d:\captures\1.333_movie.avi")
* ..crop(60,60)
* ..bicubicResize(720,480)
* and save script ie, "1.333_to_1.777_ws_mycapture.avs"
* frameserve this file into TMPG, and follow the TMPG Step


If you don't need to do any other post processing, then the 2nd quickest
and easyiest way is simple..

2nd (quickest) Method:
720 x 480, (1.333) 4:3 AR fullscreen source (no Black bars) .avi file into a
720 x 480, (1.777) 16:9 AR fullscreen, widescreen source .avi file via
a frameserve into TMPG:

TMPG Step
* Open source .avi file directly in TMPG, then..
* Video Tab: Size: [720 x 480]
* Video Tab: Aspect ratio: [16:9 Display] ...this is your WS encode mode (or flag)
-- -- -- --
* Advanced Tab: Clip frame: [60], [60] - - [ ], [ ]
* Advanced Tab: Field order: [Bottom field first (field B)]
* Advanced Tab: Source aspect ratio: [4:3 525 line (NTSC)]
* Advanced Tab: Video arrange Method: [Full screen]


When you play your 1.333 to 1.777 AR conversion on your WS tv, (hence, your
new 16:9 WS encode) you should see a fullscreen (no black bars) on your WS tv.
If you play this same encode on a regular 1.333 tv, you'll see some black bars
(this is normal)
Note, the .avs script above, is just a rough example. It will prob need to
be edited w/ a better resize filter etc. This was just for demo'ing purposes.

Never the less, it's my belief that WS tv's have a setting to go from a
4:3 (square) tv source to a WS 16:9 output on a WS tv set. I've seen this
on a widescreen while shopping around CC, see two tv set, a normal 4:3 and
a 16:9 both playing the same 4:3 source, but the WS tv was set to crop the
top/bottom 60 pixles. And, they both looked identicle in view, just that
the WS was missing 120 pixels in all

-vhelp 2135

[Savant]

Some great info here, thanks. My only problem is that I am captuing via DV and VirtualDub won't read the files. I'm curious though, would I not be able to do the same in TMPGenc plus and bypass VirtualDub altogether?

What if I used just cropped the input source file (in TMPGenc) to a 16:9 dimension and then used that as the input source? Would it not accomplish the same thing?

How would it be difference than if I had a 16:9 source file to begin with? Yuno what I mean? Still trying to figure out how to do this with the least amount of reprocessing as possible.

Regards,

Savant

[FulciLives]

Import your DV AVI into TMPGEnc. Use the NTSC 16x9 DVD template. On screen 4 of 5 of the WIZARD MODE click on EXPERT SETTINGS and then click on the ADVANCED TAB and then select CLIP FRAME.

Under CLIP FRAME you want to clip (cut) 60 from the top and 60 from the bottom. You want your VIDEO ARRANGE METHOD to be FULL SCREEN.

The image will now be "stretched" and encoded as anamorphic 16x9 MPEG-2

Rather simple as you see except of course you loose 60 pixels from the top and bottom which might throw off your framing unless you accounted for this when you shot the footage.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
For PAL footage you would want to clip (cut) 72 from the top and bottom otherwise same perceedure. However it does get more "tricky" if you are doing PAL to NTSC or NTSC to PAL.

Once again NTSC to NTSC you clip (cut) 60 from top and bottom
For PAL to PAL you clip (cut) 72 from top and bottom

End of story

[vhelp]

Well, one of the main reason why I gave a tipicle method (above) is because
most everyone needs to perform some other jobs to the source. It can be
anything. ie, from resizing to filtering color to removing noise to inserting
other .avi's to encoding in another encoder all-together like CCE, where you
have no other choice.. .. the list goes on.
.
.
But, if don't need to do any other post processing, then the quickest
and easyiest way is simple

See my post above. I revised it
-vhelp