confused with aspect ratio

dicck · Post by **dicck** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:44 pm

I have a movie file in 4:3.
The 'properties' say it's 16:9,
the projectsettings say it's 4:3.

When I proceed it becomes 16:9.

I don't understand!!
Any help?

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:51 pm

What happens is that your Project Properties are going to assume the properties of the First Video Clip added to the timeline. As you are probably aware of, in Preferences, you can (and should have) check the option for VS to Show Message when inserting first video clip into the timeline. When doing so, the message asks if you want to change the project properties to match that of the video.

I'm confused alright, is that in VideoStudio or MovieFactory? After posting, I noticed this was the DVDMF forum, and then realized that what I posted pertains to VS. So I then looked up the info for capturing with DVDMF, and can not find those dialogue windows. I don't use DVDMF to capture, so I'm not sure on that part.

dicck · Post by **dicck** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:07 pm

Indeed no such option in MF.

But what appears? I saved the file as Video TS and imported the TS files. Now the display is 4:3 and so is the burned movie.

It's not very transparant...

Thanks for your help!

snoops · Post by **snoops** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:16 pm

It's not very transparant

Your project settings will determine what aspect ratio is used for anything and everything that MF will render, including menus and clips.
You choose the project settings. The last choice (16:9 or 4:3) is the default next time you start a new project.

About the file properties... how does it play in MediaPlayer or DVD player software? Normally the software should see the flag and play the clip 16:9 if it flagged as 16:9.

dicck · Post by **dicck** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:24 pm

The file was played in VLC- and BS-player in 4:3, but displayed in MF as 16:9.

Your project settings will determine what aspect ratio is used for anything and everything that MF will render, including menus and clips.
You choose the project settings. The last choice (16:9 or 4:3) is the default next time you start a new project.

What is the meaning of "last choice"? Why can't I change the aspect ratio of the current project?

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:48 am

dicck · Post by **dicck** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:24 am

LOL!
I think I don't overlook that item: the problem is: the displayed aspect ratio IS not 4:3 despite it's the setting in that drop-down box. The film IS 4:3, but it is displayed as 16:9.

Or am I really overlooking something??

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:36 pm

Dicck, please follow the steps in http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=8960 to let us know the information so people can help.

Also DVDMF version would be great.

H.T.

snoops · Post by **snoops** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:54 pm

With "last choice" I meant just that. The last project you created determines what your next new project begins as. So you simply change it to what you want when you begin a new project.

Back to the topic...
MF obviously thinks the MPEG2 clip is 16:9, so it is displaying the 16:9 clip letter-boxed in a 4:3 screen area (black bars above and below) when you choose a 4:3 project. This is correct behavior to protect the 16:9 aspect ratio when viewing on a 4:3 monitor.

Load your MPEG2 clip in a real MPEG2 tool to check its 16:9 flag. Try the free version of bitrate viewer:
http://www.tecoltd.com/bitratev.htm
If this tool says the 16:9 flag is set, then your clip was created as 16:9, not 4:3. If it says 4:3, then MF has a problem.

dicck · Post by **dicck** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:11 pm

Since I got a DVD via a detour in the right format (see some posts above) and because of much headache from the trial and error with these files I threw them away!
So I can't experience the problem with these files.

If I meet a problem alike I know to return to this topic!

Thanks a lot for your help!