Correct OBS settings to avoid smart TV stretching 4:3 VHS captures

[benawhile]

Hang on I just noticed something: In the command line you posted, the object file is named "16-9". I will try changing that first to any other name, in case 16-9 was getting overwritten, and then to the same name as a copy of the subject file and see what happens.

[benawhile]

Yes, It seems my problem was I didn't think to change the name of the object file, will carry on testing, you can ignore last three posts for now.

[Sharc]

I don't see anything unusual, but it looks to me like the encoding did not finish. Did you interrupt it?

Edit: While I typed ..... ok let's see.
Your source file is your 720x576 capture. The output file you name as you like with extension .mkv if you want it in an .mkv container.

[benawhile]

Thank you everyone for your help. This thread can be considered as solved. It was very educational.
I found the whole process very difficult and had to take the difficult decision to limit it by replacing most of the cassettes with a DVD equivalent. There was very little personal stuff.
I had thought I was progressing and recorded 4 hours from 3 cassettes but the project was abruptly ended when my second VCR, a Samsung 440 combi from eBay which had originally showed promise, developed drive problems, never properly diagnosed, but started feeding tape into the works apparently due to the take up spool turning in the wrong direction for about 6 turns prior to every insertion, play, FF or RW instruction.
I imagine the many short test recordings I made contributed to this.

I found a useful yt vid showing how to clean the mode switch, which I was able to follow, but with no effect.

I will no doubt however, find much use for Sharc's code for converting 4.3 to 16.9 with black bars, I have applied to several files already