Resolution e Aspect Ratio - How should be?

[Fernando Shayani]

Well my friends, I have this problem since I bought my LG 4102B. Until now I could not write my home-made movies to DVD because it could never fit on the TV (4:3) scrren.

I want to ask you, some help. I want to know WITCH resolution should I use at all steps to capture, edit and burn the DVD.

That's what I'm doing right now.

1) I capture the .AVI file with Pinnacle Studio 9 that my Sony TRV-140 filmed at 16:9 NTSC. This camera send the movie at 720x480 16:9 NTSC.

2) The Pinnacle Studio recognizes que 16:9 screen. Great! (I already applyed the patch 9.1.2)

3) I edit the movie, put some effects, etc.

4) I export the movie to MPG format, at Pinnacle Studio, at 720x480 NTSC 16:9.

5) I convert the movie with TMPGenc using NTSC (16:9) and it creates .M2V and .MP2 files. (I use FULL SCREEN KEEP ASPECT RATIO)

6) I author them with DVD-LAB using the movie 16:9 and the menus 4:3

7) BURN!

8) When I play on my 4:3 TV (480i), it CROPS some part of the LEFT and RIGHT side of the picture! I mean, it does not show the full picture.

I tried some different configurations at TMPGend and DVD-LAB. Didn't work. I tried with 4:3 movies and happens the same thing, but also rops some part of the top and botton of the movie.

How should I do this???? Please, help me. I can send more info if necessary.

[underwurlde]

Hi,

A DVD stores frames as 720x480 (NTSC) and 720x576 (PAL) IF it is using an aspect ratio of 16:9. (Can also utilise 4:3 DVD storage format of course)

Your TV is 4:3 - so what is it like when you play normal DVD films on this TV? I'm guessing they are cropped as well - if this is so then your encoding is absolutely fine - as I guess it is. Looks like you are doing a fine job of conversion, you are simply being confounded by your TV ! - Is there an aspect ratio control on your TV? - There is on my Panasonic...

If not, lend some thought to either:

1) Resizing to 4:3 aspect ratio - this would DISTORT your final TV image though!

2) LETTERBOXING the 16:9 original to 4:3 i.e. adding top & bottom black bars - I think this is the best & only way to do what you want if all else fails.


Cheers,

Andy

[Fernando Shayani]

A DVD stores frames as 720x480 (NTSC) and 720x576 (PAL) IF it is using an aspect ratio of 16:9. (Can also utilise 4:3 DVD storage format of course)

Well, so, if I'm using aspect ration 4:3 (when I use the camera on 4:3 format), what's the resoltuion? The same? Just change the aspect ratio???

Your TV is 4:3 - so what is it like when you play normal DVD films on this TV? I'm guessing they are cropped as well - if this is so then your encoding is absolutely fine - as I guess it is. Looks like you are doing a fine job of conversion, you are simply being confounded by your TV ! - Is there an aspect ratio control on your TV? - There is on my Panasonic...

When I playback NTSC movies 16:9 on my TV (Blockbuster movies, for example, not home-made), it works fine. My DVD player is set to use LETTERBOX (I can choose LetterBox, PanScan and 16:9 - this last only for 16:9 TV). But I'm not sure if it is cropping some part of the movie, because I don't how is the movie FULL size... I can only notice on my home-made because I added some titles on the bottom of the screen and then I can (or better, I CANT see) them.

So, I'm doing it fine? I want to know, to understand this:

OBS: Using 16:9 Aspect Ratio:
1) I captured the DV movie in 720x480
2) Edited the movie with Pinnacle. WITCH resolution should I save the edited movie? 720x480 also?
3) I convert with TMPGENC. Again. witch resolution? Again 720x480???

And if I'm using 4:3 NTSC?

Thanks!!! You are hellping me a lot.

[sacajaweeda]

When I play on my 4:3 TV (480i), it CROPS some part of the LEFT and RIGHT side of the picture! I mean, it does not show the full picture.

Might just be overscan. Resize the image and pad the frame by adding lines to the left and right. It won't display the same on all TVs though, and your aspect ratio will be off, but it's a subjective quality issue and you'll have to make that call.

[Fernando Shayani]

And how can I discover the correct resolution to play on my TV? Is there an standard? Or should I try each one until find something?

And if I put some extras lines on the sides, If I play this on a 16:9 WIDE TV, it will show the black lines, correct?

[sacajaweeda]

And how can I discover the correct resolution to play on my TV? Is there an standard? Or should I try each one until find something?

And if I put some extras lines on the sides, If I play this on a 16:9 WIDE TV, it will show the black lines, correct?

There are standards for DVD-Video, yes. You have a handful of frame sizes ("resolutions") you can pick from. 720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240, etc.

As for the lines showing on the sides if you add them, that all depends on your set. The amount of overscan varies from set to set. You CAN get it to display right on your TV set but that doesn't mean it's going to look the same on all TV sets.