Best way to get rid of overscan problem?

[Mecha]

I have the common overscan problem with my conversion I've just made. I read some posts in the forum and saw many of you guys use AVIsynth and some black bordes or whatever around the image to make it fit. I tried to use the "overscan" option in DIKO but that one just made it worse. It practically cut it off the part not seen and replaced it with black .. The thing is that I have no clue how it works.. and I havent found any good guides either.

So first of all, what exactly does AVIsynth do? And how does it work?

Second: Does avisynth work together with DIKO ( thats what I use for conversion ). If yes, how do I make them work together.

Third: If anyone have another idea more than AVIsynth, im more than willing to listen.[/b]

[mh2360]

So first of all, what exactly does AVIsynth do? And how does it work?

AVISynth is a *VERY* useful tool that uses scripts to process Audio/Video.

For example, a simple text file, made with notepad, like this...

AVISource("YourMovie.avi", true)
BicubicResize(464,560,0,0.6,0,0,Width,Height)
AddBorders(8,8,8,8 )
ConvertToYUY2() #Use this for CCE
ConvertToRGB24() #Use this for Tmpgenc

... will resize a movie to PAL SVCD resolution, with a black border around,
that doesn't cut off the edges of the movie. To adapt the script for your needs, simply change the first two parameters of BicubicResize to the Width and Height of your output format minus 16. So if you are resizing to PAL DVD the values will be 704 x 560

Save it as test.avs, and open it with Windows media player.

Do some reading up on AVISynth, it's a very useful tool to use...

[lordsmurf]

Why do you think overscan is a "problem" ??

[BJ_M]

overscan is normal -- it's not a problem


edit: missed lordsmurf post saying same thing

[Suntan]

overscan is normal -- it's not a problem

Maybe some people would like to see all of the picture they paid for.

When I watch a movie that is supposed to be in 2.35:1 and I only get 2.10:1 I find it dissapointing, Especially when I can do something about it.

@Mecha

You really should go over to www.avisynth.org and look around to get an understanding of the basics. As for support in DIKO, I don't know as I haven't used it, but if it allows custom AVIsynth scripts like DVD-RB then one thing you can do is write up a script then open that script in Vdub. It will instantly show you whether or not the output is how you want it (or if your script is faulty)

If you are creating DVDs to playback in a regular STB then you will have to go the route of adding black borders. If you use a HTPC then you can get around it with either custom timings (ala powerstrip) or you can set custom playback reolution and postion via Zoomplayer (the way I do it.) Then all you have to do is crop the blacks off your encodes and you are set.

-Suntan

[lordsmurf]

overscan is normal -- it's not a problem

Maybe some people would like to see all of the picture they paid for.
When I watch a movie that is supposed to be in 2.35:1 and I only get 2.10:1 I find it dissapointing, Especially when I can do something about it.

That would often be incorrect. Most movies, at least well-encoded ones, already have the borders pushed in a bit. Overscan is something everybody knows about in broadcasting and movies, and they're prepped for it.

[Suntan]

Thanks for telling me what my DVDs are lordsmurf, but it is quite easy to see if you are expereincing overscan or not. Some have 4 pixels worth of black on one side, most have video 720 wide. Maybe I just buy the poorly encoded DVDs. Doesn't change the fact that information is being painted off the screen and it is quite easy to fix it.

Thanks again, but I'd rather not just put my head in the sand and pretend like it doesn't happen.

-Suntan

[Dr_Layne]

Blame the TV manufacturers not the producers of the DVD. All tv's have overscan (not sure about plasma screens) and the overscan will vary by each individual set. There's no way all brodcastors and video producers can compensate for this other than shrinking the picture to a "safe zone" in which case you'd might get black boarders around the image. Then you'll be pissed you're not using all of the tv screen you paid for.

[Suntan]

Agreed Dr_Layne, that is why it is naive to state that the production companies fix it for you. If you are going to convert it then you might as well fix it up so it works best on your TV.

btw, yes plasmas do have overscan if you feed them a default 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p signal. You can get 1 to 1 pixel mapping if you feed it a custom timed signal from a computer.

-Suntan

[lordsmurf]

Some people will never be happy. They'll always find something to complain about, no matter how insignificant (like 30 pixels).

[piano632]

If you need to see the overscan area, just watch your videos on a computer monitor. I've done so, and the only thing I think I've gained is seeing the boom microphone bob down into the top of the frame a few times. I've seen this on a few different "professionally made" TV shows, it's hilarious sometimes. But it just goes to show you that TV execs know about the overscan area, so they don't worry about reshooting a scene if the above happens.

[Suntan]

Some people will never be happy. They'll always find something to complain about,

Seems a little hypocritical seeing as your site is full of information on how to get the best transfer/capture.....

Also, I don't see anyone on this thread is complaining about overscan. The original post was to ask for info on AVIsynth and wheather or not it worked with DIKO (of course you never added anything to answer the origianl questions) then a few replys by other people with useful info. Certainly I am not complaining as I stated that I easily correct the problem of overscan.

-Suntan

[Mecha]

haha, I can see this went out of control
Well anyway.. Ive been using this:

converttoyv12()
LanczosResize(608,384,0,0,640,368)
AddBorders(56,96,56,96)
AssumeFPS(25.000, true)
AddAudio()

But I still dont get a black border around my image. If I add AVISource I corrects the problem and *BAM* black border is added. But.. I have a anime serie on 120eps.. and it cant possible so horrible that I have to change the AVISource for every episode? Isnt there a way to like.. add a folder instead of single files?

[Suntan]

@Mecha

Sorry, but you need to add the location of the file to open otherwise AVIsynth doesn't know which source file to use. Not aware of a way to have it auto generate for each file in a folder.

Copy and Paste my man.

-Suntan

[Mecha]

Hmm.. yeah.. But.. Dialhot's V4 works on any file right? And it dont have any AVISource.. from what I can see.

[Suntan]

Not sure what Dialhot V4 is, is it a program like DVD-RB or autoGK that auto generates an AVIsynth script?

If it works in an auto batch mode go with it.

-Suntan

[Mecha]

Its a AVIScript that comes with DIKO from installation.

[Matt D]

I personally don't bother with trying to "fix" normal overscan. It's different from TV to TV so what may look perfect on yours might still be chopped on another, or another screen may crop less leaving the border visible. It's just not worth the trouble so that you can see the other half of the Coke machine that's been overscanned or an extra meter of out of focus wall behind a character.
Now if there is a logo or something that should be completely visible but is being cropped off for whatever reason, that should absolutely be fixed. In my experience AVISynth is the program to use. Create your script, load it in Virtualdub and then frameserve it to whatever you use to convert. Not sure if this will work with DIKO, but I'd imagine that it should work fine.