Problem with DVD recording

[Schreck]

Hi all,

I have recorded some stuff from cable TV using the scart output and have a slight problem..

I'm fairly sure I have it all configured correctly with regard to aspect ratios, and when I put the recorded DVD into DVD players the results are very good.

However, when I view the disc on the PC, there is a black line to the left of the screen, leaving it looking a little unbalanced. I'd expect there to be one on each side if it was an aspect ratio thing but it's only on the left.

Is this something to do with overscanning? I've messed with VLC settings to see if I can change it but it remains the same. Any help would be appreciated!

Many thanks,

[jagabo]

That black border was in the broadcast. You didn't see it on TV because TVs overscan the image (they hide all four edges).

[Schreck]

That black border was in the broadcast. You didn't see it on TV because TVs overscan the image (they hide all four edges).

Thanks for the reply. Though it's not a border - just on the left:

Screenshot

[jagabo]

What are you going to do with the video?

[Schreck]

Well it's on DVD so that's all I wanted, I just wondered if that black bar was caused by incorrect settings/the configuration of my DVD recorder.

[jagabo]

I doubt your DVD recorder has any settings you can change to better center the picture. Analog PAL signals have an active picture of about 702x576. The DVD recorder records at 720x576, capturing a little extra to the left and right. A different recorder, or a different source, may better center the image -- but then you'll have black borders (half as wide) at the left and right.

[Schreck]

I doubt your DVD recorder has any settings you can change to better center the picture. Analog PAL signals have an active picture of about 702x576. The DVD recorder records at 720x576, capturing a little extra to the left and right. A different recorder, or a different source, may better center the image -- but then you'll have black borders (half as wide) at the left and right.


[Attachment 17363 - Click to enlarge]

That's the strange thing, there's no extra captured to the right, it's just the left. I have the cable outputting to the DVD recorder using RGB for the best quality. I wonder if there's something there I should change.

[jagabo]

That's the strange thing, there's no extra captured to the right, it's just the left.

There's nothing strange about that at all. It's very common.

I have the cable outputting to the DVD recorder using RGB for the best quality. I wonder if there's something there I should change.

Doubtful.

Cable companies, recorder manufacturers, etc. don't care about centering problems. They "know" that TVs overscan and you can't see the edges of the picture. That's why digital recordings capture more than the active picture content. So they don't have to worry about perfect centering.

[Schreck]

Ah I see. So are you saying everything I record will have this black bar? Or only certain broadcasts.

I'm just hopeful I can change it as it is a little annoying when watching discs on the laptop!

Later I will post the settings I have configured on the cable box.

[jagabo]

Ah I see. So are you saying everything I record will have this black bar? Or only certain broadcasts.

It could be either one.

[Schreck]

Later on I'll try some tests and see if it's there on other DVDs I've recorded.

[Schreck]

Annoyingly it appears to be on all of my recordings so far so I'm going to see if there's any settings I can change

[hech54]

Annoyingly it appears to be on all of my recordings so far so I'm going to see if there's any settings I can change

So much for:

Well it's on DVD so that's all I wanted

[Schreck]

When you quote those two in succession it does seem quite contradictory!

But what I mean is, if it is fixable, I want to try and see if I can prevent it. Interestingly when I captured using a PAL output it wasn't there.

If I keep trying and find there's no way I can stop it from happening, then I won't be too bothered. I just feel like I should try and correct it if I can.

[hech54]

Interestingly when I captured using a PAL output it wasn't there.

You are in the UK.....what else is there but PAL?

[Schreck]

Interestingly when I captured using a PAL output it wasn't there.

You are in the UK.....what else is there but PAL?

On the output settings of the cable there are two options: PAL and RGB. PAL doesn't have the problem mentioned above but isn't as good quality. RGB looks good but has the problem.

[fvisagie]

@Schreck,

Depending how much you care for this material, you could crop off bits you don't like in software and re-encode afterwards.

Cheers,
Francois