Convert 4:3 to 16:9 ..?+ best editing software?

[sunny3]

Hi

I would like to convert my wedding dvd from 4:3 to 16:9; is this possible without distorting stretching the footage....?

Ifso what software is the best to do this...?

I would also like to brighten the colour, contrast etc.

Please can someone advise on the best software for both...?

Thanks for any help.

[mats.hogberg]

In what format is your source video?
If the 4:3 version has the correct aspect ratio, you have to cut out top and/or bottom top make it 16:9 and keep the proportions ("without distorting stretching the footage")

/Mats

[guns1inger]

Have a read of this for tricks, traps and techniques

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=300597

[edDV]

Is this what you are trying to do? If so you composite your 4:3 image over the 16:9 background of your choice.

[Cunhambebe]

I would like to convert my wedding dvd from 4:3 to 16:9; is this possible without distorting stretching the footage....?

No, it isn't.

If you stretch you'll distort the pixels and the whole image, that means, a circle at 4:3 will look like a pumpkin or a smashed tomato at 16:9. A circle at 16:9 will look like an egg at 4:3. This is what happens when you stretch (4:3 to 16:9), or shrink (16:9 to 4:3) the picture.

On the other hand, it is possible to do what you want without distorting the image. Sony Vegas can do it easily, but I doubt you'd buy such a software to do this. AviSynth is a linear and non liner editor (it's freeware), much better to do this. Besides and the most important, it won't convert colorspaces so you'll keep the quality of your video source (no video banding). Even if you have to convert those colorspaces, AviSynth has a native convertor much better to meet your needs than any other software such as .... think about anyone. The problem is that since AviSynth does not have a GUI (an interface as we say here), some people will feel uncomfortable, but just at the beginning. If you are script impaired you get get some more help at Doom9 or here at VideoHelp. Let's see how it works (I'll try to make it very concise):

Since your file may be an MPEG2, you'll need at least 3 applications to help you achieve what you want:

-DGIndex (it will index your MPEG2 and create a file **.d2v);
-AviSynth (for frameserving and adding the filters needed);
-VirtualDubMod (fast recompress mode - to check out if the script works; see if the video is cropped correctly and encode to XviD if you want; if that's your case, then you'll need to install this codec too).

After installing everything - search for each tool right here at VideoHelp (all freeware) - drop your MPEG2 in DGIndex (I assume you know how to configure that application). It will create a file with this extension **.d2v

Now, write this script on your Notepad and save it for instance as "wedding.avs" (an AviSynth icon will appear on your directory, for this script):

LoadPlugin("C:\path\dgmpgdec148\DGDecode.dll") # path... if you have one such a folder etc.
LoadPlugin("C:\path\ColorMatrix\colormatrix.dll") # you may have to download this plug-in to match perfect colors.
MPEG2Source("C:\my_wedding.d2v")
ColorMatrix(d2v="my_wedding.d2v")# on this line, the plug-in will get the hints for color correction generated by the last versions of DGIndex
Crop(0,60,0,-60) # last 2 values must be negative;
Lanczos4Resize(640,360) # if you are encoding to XviD, otherwise don't add this line.
ConvertToRGB24() # I'm supposing you are gonna use TMPGEnc to re-encode the video; its input is RGB24

Note: AviSynth will ignore this sign # and everything written for your information.

Drop the script in TMPGEnc and encode only the video stream. If you dont know what to do with the audio, please ask anyone around here...

Anyway, you wind up cropping your video (bottom and top will be cut off - you'll loose those details).

Interlaced Video

Now, let's suppose your video is interlaced (not progressive). There are 2 kinds of interlaced video: TFF or BFF (Top Field First or Bottom Field First). To check this out, drop your video (MPEG2) in GSpot (download it around here - freeware). This application will tell ya what kind of video you have, includding the field order. Let's suppose GSpot says the video is TFF. Configure TMPGEnc according to this info, this way the application will re-encode the video, matching the field order of your source. Example: select Upper or Top field first at all times when configuring TMPGEnc.

That's it.

PS: If you want to deinterlace the video, there are a lot of plug-ins for AviSynth but no one IS 100% perfect. Blend Fields is the oldest method, I guess. I much prefer TomsMoComp. If that's what you want, here's what your script will look like:

LoadPlugin("C:\unzipped\dgmpgdec148\DGDecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("c:\path\TomsMoComp\TomsMoComp_Avisynth \Debug\TomsMoComp.dll") # line for TomsMoComp - you can dropt the .dll in AviSynth plug-in folder instad of \path\path etc.
LoadPlugin("C:\avs_filters\ColorMatrix\Release\col ormatrix.dll") # don't write the line of ColorMatrix before TomsMoComp or it will destroy the colorimetry info.
MPEG2Source("C:\my_wedding.d2v")
ColorMatrix(d2v="my_wedding.d2v")
TomsMoComp(1,5,1) # values for TFF; for BFF those are (0,5,1)
Crop(0,60,0,-60)
Lanczos4Resize(640,360) # use it only if you are going XviD - don't use it for TMPEGnc.

There's a lot of reading for this process, I know. But believe me it's worth the effort and the outcome will be perfect.

Edit: spelling.

[sunny3]

Thanks guys epecially Cunhambebe your explanation is very detailed, I appreciate your effort.

It does seem a little complicated with scripts etc.

I had not heard of vegas ...I may be able to borrow it from a friend....
If I can would you say this would be a better option as it seems to have a gui.?

Also you mentioned converting colourspaces...will vegas convert colourspaces..or will vegas keep the quality of the source?

Thanks

[Cunhambebe]

I may be able to borrow it from a friend....

LOL - LOL, sorry hm hm...

If I can would you say this would be a better option as it seems to have a gui.?

Well, I guess it is always easier to have a GUI, isn't it? But what about the result? Will it be worth to have a GUI and a video full of banding? Please note that color spaces convertion don't hurt your source, but after 3 times, or beter yet, after 3 convertions, you will certainly loose quality. Your MPEG2 is YUV for sure (or any kind of YUV, for instance YV12). I don't know how Vegas deals internally with this kind of convertion but I'm sure AviSynth is much better (without a doubt). Note that Vegas as most PC software works in RGB (24 for Vegas). Dropping your MPEG2 or VOB in Vegas will convert the color space to RGB 24. How? I don't know.

will vegas convert colourspaces..

-yes, as I've just said.

..or will vegas keep the quality of the source?

-Vegas won't keep the quality of the source as AviSynth. You'll get some video banding - I can assure you.

Use AviSynth, learn how to write those scripts, download QuEnc or HC Encoder (both ARE freeware; MPEG2 Encoders) at www.bitburners.com (or do a search here). Then you can edit your MPEG2 in AviSynth, add the filters you want and drop the script in QuEnc or the HC Encoder. Note that the input for both encoders is YV12. So here, there will be no convertion of color spaces at all. Try and have fun! Wikipedia is a good place to search for info on color space convertion. If I'm wrong please someone corrects me. Thanks.

[sunny3]

I'll give both a try.

Thanks again

[Cunhambebe]

You're welcome. Anyway, if you insist, if you prefer Vegas, this software is able to open VOBs (includding the AC-3 file) - Vegas 6d and above (last version is Vegas 7e). Drop your VOB file (previously riped with DVD Decrypter (I guess you don't have any kind of new protection for your DVD). Before, try to drop this file in GSpot, it will tell you the field order (if the video is interlaced TFF or BFF, NTSC - I guess your DVD is NTSC, etc.). Go to Vegas, Menu> File> Properties>Guide Video, select here the correct NTSC template = 720x480, interlaced, Upper or Down field first or Progressive (according to what GSpot told ya).
Now drop the video in the timeline. Mouse right-click on the video track, Menu> Properties. You'll see 2 guides. On Guide Video Event leave the boxes as they are - default (Loop, Mantain Aspect Ratio and Smart Resample are all checked). On the Guide Media please check out if Vegas guessed correctly the Frame Rate; Field Order and the Pixel Aspect Ratio (4:3 - regular NTSC TV is 0,9091 - make sure to mark this option correctly because your video is 4:3.

Now, get back to the timeline. There are 2 buttons for your video track (Event pan/Crop and Event FX - this one's for the plug-ins). Click on Event Pan/Crop. Mouse right click one the "F" screen and on the menu select "Match Output Aspect Ratio". Notice the video is cropped now to 16:9.

In order not to loose details, you can "zoom the timeline" (+ sign - horizontal bar) and pointing the cursor to the parts you want, press "S" (split). Split the video how many times you need. Notice that for every video now that was split, there are the same buttons described above (Event Pan/Crop and Event Fx). Open each Pan/Crop and you can animate through keyframes your clip. For instance, one scene shows you're holding the hand of the bride at the botttom of the screen. Click on the keyframe and move the screen to the bottom (beware not to move beyound the video edges). Now on the same timeline, insert another keyframe at the end of "the same timeline"!!!, moving the screen to the top, where your faces are shown for instance (use the arrows for more precise movement). The first keyframe you can leave it as it is, linear, but the last one, select fast or Vegas will show that annoying final movement of the Pan/Crop Virtual Camera that is almost stopping the animation at the end of the clip. Do this for each of the video events you need.

Now, since you're not using AviSynth, you'll have to cover up the video banding. You can use Vegas' Plug-ins for "video dithering". This can be done before splitting the tracks (when you still have a whole video in the timeline). Press the button Event FX and choose 2 plug-ins: Add Noise and Film Grain. For Add Noise, set a value of 0,005 and for Film Grain, I suggest you set 0,0650. If it is too dithered (full of granularity, generally; because the value for noise, 0,005 is OK), you can bypass each of the plug-ins (uncheck their boxes) or decrease the values for Film Grain untill you get a better image (always render a small sequence to see the results).

Afer you're satisfied with the results, save your project (save as) and render it (Menu Bar> File> Render as MPEG2 (I assume you know how to configure the MPEG2 encoder - choose DVDArchitect 720x480 and on the guide video, choose the options for kind of video you have in your timeline (progressive, Upper or Down Field First; Variable Bit Rate, 2 passes...etc. Warning: encode only the video stream!!!

If you want to server this video to another MPEG2 encoder, you can install Debugmode's Frameserver (freeware) choosing RGB24 wich is a value that matches TMPGEnc's input (that's a good video encoder - makes a better job than Vegas' MainConcept). Go Render as, choose Frameserver, choose RGB 24, start framserving the video, open TMPGEnc, configure it according to what you have in the timeline (warning: encode only the video stream). After finishing the process, close TMPGEnc and get back to Vegas and stop frameserving.

Now, let's encode the audio IN VEGAS since its Dolby Surround Plug-in is excellent and fully certified by the Dolby labs. Vegas Main Menu Bar> File> Properties> Guide Audio> Select Stereo or 5.1> 48 Hz> Dolby> Best> 120 Dolby (ProFilm) and Best> OK. Back to Menu Bar> File > Render as> Dolby AC-3 > Configure the encoder. Done!

Give both files the same name, drop one of them in DVD Architect (the other one goes together) and re-author your DVD.

Now you can choose which way is the most simple one but remember, Vegas convertion is poorer than what AviSynth does for color spaces. Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes (I did this in a hurry) :P

PS: If you wanna check out the color space convertion done in AviSynth, please downlaod this video and then tell me if you see some video banding (there's some blocking only because of the source file and / or strong compression - but no banding at all).

Watercolor of Brazil

Cheers,
Mark

[sunny3]

Thanks again for the detailed info...I will not be able to try until next week due to work!

I do have another question though....

Do you know of any other software that has the conversion utility ie 4:3-16:9 that also does it by croppping as well as warp re-sizing ( keeping centre perfect and just strectching the sides)
And that also has a gui...?

Just wandering...not asking for a lot lol....
Do you know if "Cyberlink Power Director" has all of these features..it has also been recommended....?

Thanks.

[BJ_M]

almost any NLE can do this -- but i would NOT recommend "Cyberlink Power Director"


I do not get banding in vegas as Cunhambebe mentions - but i do add dithering to a lot of sources , but i also do not (very very rairly) re-edit already burned dvds as i usually have the source files..

[Cunhambebe]

I do not get banding in vegas as Cunhambebe mentions - but i do add dithering to a lot of sources , but i also do not (very very rairly) re-edit already burned dvds as i usually have the source files..

Did you read this sunny3? Vegas is excellent because it was intended firstly for original material AviSynth has 2 filters called WarpResize and SimpleResize by TBarry. But only YUY2 color mode is currently supported. You'll have to add ConvertToYUY2 command first, if needed. Here you'll make the color conversion inside AviSynth (which is great for this). Anyway, if your source is YV12 you would still loose some quality but not as if it were done in Vegas. Anyway, using Vegas, you can animate the cropped video as explained above, what would be easy, easy and much more difficult to achieve using AviSynth. About the quality: do some video dithering as BJ_M has suggested (do some testing first) and as I had explained before (in fact BJ_M has explained that technique to me a few years ago) But don't forget that Vegas is not freeware and it comes along with DVDArchitect.

Want to see what AviSynth can do? Please click on the link "Brazil" under my signature and download an XviD video encoded at a low bitrate.

Edit: spelling / adding some more info.

[rvelez]

DVD Rebuilder Pro can convert your movie.