how to change 4:3 rmvb to 16:9?

[tsutomu]

I have a TV with aspect ratio of 16:9. I now have a few rmvb files that have aspect ratios in 4:3 and I want to play them with my TV. My TV can accept USB input and play rmvb directly. However, if I play the 4:3 files directly, the TV will stretch the image laterally and everybody in the video will look short and fat, and there is no control in the TV to set the aspect ratios for files played from USB input.

Therefore, I want to be able to change the 4:3 rmvb files to 16:9 first before playing them with my TV. The effect I want is to add 2 vertical pillars on both sides such that the resulting image is unchanged. My TV can also play avi or mpg, if a conversion from rmvb to other formats is necessary.

Hope someone can tell me how on this.

[edDV]

Your HDTV or player should have settings to allow 4:3 aspect to display correctly like this.

[tsutomu]

My TV is Philips 32PFL5409/98
http://www.consumer.philips.com/c/televisions-5000-series/5000-series-32-inch-hd-ready..._98/prd/en/hk/

I've tried the aspect ratio control on the remote but it doesn't let me change the aspect ratios the rmvb/avi/mpg files to be played in. It can only control the aspect ratios for feeds from the antenna.

If you can figure out how to control the aspect ratio for the file playback, please let me know.

[edDV]

Don't know that TV but most others can turn wide stretch off. Check the menus.

Or do you want to do this?

[tsutomu]

I have checked the documentations and there is no such control for usb input playback. Therefore I think I'd rather change the video file.

I don't want to crop the image. I only want to add 2 pillars on both sides to make the video look like 16:9.

Any idea?

[manono]

I only want to add 2 pillars on both sides to make the video look like 16:9.

Any idea?

Unless these pillars can be added by the player (via ffdshow, for example), you reencode. The amount of black bars added depends on the resolution. You add enough to make it roughly 1.78:1. For example, if starting with a 640x480 video, you might add 104 columns of pixels to each side. In AviSynth speak:

AddBorders(104,0,104,0)

Other resolution 1.33:1 ratio videos might have different amounts of black added to the sides.

[KBeee]

Have you tried the Picture Format setting on your TV?
Press "Format" on your remote control. Use the up/down buttons to select 4:3. Press "OK" to confirm your choice.
Or maybe try selecting "Unscaled" if the 4:3 selection doesn't work.