Handling 4:3 PC video on 16:9 TV

[ptrk.mj]

Hello.

I've VGA-connected my laptop to my widescreen TV set.

Unfortunately, it does not support 16:9 resolutions so I end up watching movies in a black frame (letterboxed by media player for 4:3, then pillarboxed by TV for 16:9).

For what I know, DVD players actually output 4:3 frame, even for widescreen movies, which is then unsquished by the TV itself (if it happens to be anamorphic).

The point is: can I somehow adapt this routine to my setup? That is, tell the media player to play back the video intact (no letterboxing, no stretching) and let it to be handled by TV as it is.

That would enable me to watch anamorphic DVDs. However, I have a lot of square pixel movies too so let me know if there is soulution for them as well.

BTW, I use VLC media player and MPC-HC.

Looking forward to your reply.

ptrk.mj

[darkknight145]

"For what I know, DVD players actually output 4:3 frame, even for widescreen movies, which is then unsquished by the TV itself (if it happens to be anamorphic)."

Yep, that's the standard, even for free to air television.

"I've VGA-connected my laptop to my widescreen TV set.
Unfortunately, it does not support 16:9 resolutions so I end up watching movies in a black frame (letterboxed by media player for 4:3, then pillarboxed by TV for 16:9)."

It should be just a matter of going into your display properties on your laptop and selecting the second monitor and selecting a 16x9 resolution for it. If it doesn't allow you to do this maybe you haven't got the proper display drivers installed for the laptop display card

[ptrk.mj]

It might seem strange nowadays but my laptop's video card indeed doesn't support 16x9 resolutions. And no driver will change that. That's what the problem is.

[edDV]

It might seem strange nowadays but my laptop's video card indeed doesn't support 16x9 resolutions. And no driver will change that. That's what the problem is.

You should be outputting VGA at the TV set native display resoloution (e.g. 1366x768, 1920x1080, etc). The display card doesn't consider aspect ratio. It just passes pixels.

The TV should be set for unity pixels (i.e. no overscan, pixel by pixel, "Just Scan"). Most HDTV sets will default to pixel by pixel mode for the PC (VGA) input.

From there it depends on your software player to handle aspect ratio. You would play to the TV in "full screen" or ATI "Theater" mode. VLC or MPCHC give you complete mode customization to get your aspect ratios set correctly.

[ptrk.mj]

You should be outputting VGA at the TV set native display resoloution (e.g. 1366x768, 1920x1080, etc)

Okay, so how do I do that? My PC Display Properties only allow for 4:3 aspect ratio resolutions. I can't set 16:9 output from there. Neither from ATI taskbar utility. My video card is ATI Rage Mobilty 128.

The TV should be set for unity pixels (i.e. no overscan, pixel by pixel, "Just Scan"). Most HDTV sets will default to pixel by pixel mode for the PC (VGA) input.

I haven't seen this option but I think everything is just right. I have a HDTV Samsung LE26A451 (1366x768.)

[guns1inger]

Are you running the latest drivers ? It is an old chipset, but the latest drivers may support that resolution.

On the Samsung remote the button is usually marked P.Size. Pressing it should cycle through the available zoom and AR options.

[ptrk.mj]

Yes, I am. This one to be exact.

[edDV]

That is a very old chipset. In "Display Properties" you should see a list of supported screen resolutions.

That chipset may limit you to your main screen resolution for the VGA out (i.e. no dual monitor support).

[ptrk.mj]

In "Display Properties" you should see a list of supported screen resolutions.

That chipset may limit you to your main screen resolution for the VGA out (i.e. no dual monitor support).

I've set TV as the primary display and disabled laptop's screen. It hasn't took me any closer to 16:9 resolutions.

[edDV]

In "Display Properties" you should see a list of supported screen resolutions.

That chipset may limit you to your main screen resolution for the VGA out (i.e. no dual monitor support).

I've set TV as the primary display and disabled laptop's screen. It hasn't took me any closer to 16:9 resolutions.

Duh? Your choice should be resolutions not aspect ratio.

e.g.

640x480
848x480
800x600
1024x768
1280x768
1366x768
1280x1024

etc.

Any of those can be displayed 4:3 or 16:9 depending on TV and software player settings.

[ptrk.mj]

Any of those can be displayed 4:3 or 16:9 depending on TV and software player settings.

That's news to me. I thought that 1024x768 is basically 4:3 and 1366x768 is the same way 16:9.

What feature are you actually referring to? Making pixels 'fatter', is that what you mean?

[edDV]

Yes. You are thinking square pixels.

1366x768 setting is native for your TV and is the best setting. If you feed the TV 1024x768, the TV will either display it pillarbox 4:3 (square pixels) or widen out to 1366x768 depending on your TV settings. You would compensate with the software player settings.

An adjustable player such as MPCHC will compensate for most displays.

[ptrk.mj]

edDV, what do you mean by 'compensating'?

Could you point the exact feature of MPC-HC?

[edDV]

edDV, what do you mean by 'compensating'?

Could you point the exact feature of MPC-HC?

MPCHC has several aspect ratio controls. Here is how I did it from the normal play window (right click).

First I changed VGA resolution from 1366x768 to 1024x768 to simulate your situation. Then I used these settings to stretch the image to fit the HDTV screen. You can also play with "Override Aspect Ratio". The MPC-HC window is in "Full Screen" mode.




Also look at "Options" menu for

Remember last window position/size and
"Store settings to ini file"

[ptrk.mj]

Thanks a lot!

I set 'Override Aspect Ratio' to 4:3 and TV to 16:9 and it works like a charm.