16:9 video that's not!

[Ken Berry]

Here's a mystery. I have been working for the past week or so on 6 separate projects which will all be burned to the same DVD (total of about 50 minutes). I captured all the video from the one mini DV tape at the same time, using DV Type 2 Encoder 16:9 setting. Edited in VS11.5+ also set to 16:9 mode. Did my edits over the past week, and today added all my voiceovers (standard .wav format recorded in Nero Wave Editor).

Then I produced a final DV Type 2 of each of the projects, again all using exactly the same properties, and more particularly 16:9 format. SmartRender was used. I didn't turn off my computer during all this and I must say VS11.5+ performed impeccably the whole time. I was using my XP Pro video editing computer (as per my System button below).

Five of the projects came out without problem. The sixth, and last, seemed to process OK, but when it emerged it was not 16:9 format but 4:3, and the properties, unlike all the others, also did not show it to be 16:9. I repeat: I used exactly the same properties on all projects -- DV Type 2, with VS set in 16:9 mode. I even made two more copies of the project in DV format just to make absolutely sure the properties for the final format said 16:9 (and the second time not using SmartRender). But each time I got a 4:3 result for that one clip. And to repeat again: it was captured from exactly the same mini DV cassette as all the others, at the same time.

Even more curious, when I play it in Power DVD or Nero Showtime, it plays correctly as 16:9 but VS continues to see it as 4:3.

I have also just converted it to widescreen HQ PAL mpeg-2 (8000 kbps, 16:9, LFF, LPCM audio 48000) but it plays as a 4:3 both in VS and now also PowerDVD.

Any clues?

[Ken Berry]

I still haven't solved the riddle of why only one of six identically properties projects did out come out as 16:9. I produced another couple of videos that everything else thinks and plays as 16:9 but VS11+ sees as 4:3. I will continue investigating.

Meanwhile, I solved my immediate problem by putting the problem DV/AVI clip through Canopus Procoder and producing an .m2p file of it, which VS11+ happily accepts as 16:9. It's also excellent quality. So now I can proceed to make my menu, DVD folder and then multiple burns...

[lancecarr]

Hi Ken,
I have absolutely no idea why it would do that on one and not the others and can add no light to the subject.

The only reason I am replying to your post is so that you don't feel as though you are having an ongoing conversation with yourself!

[Ron P.]

I don't have any 16:9 video to experiment with, or I would be. This does appear to be a glitch with the programming. Ken you may want to contact Corel and report this. I'll PM you and email address....

[Ken Berry]

Thanks.