How do I make V10 work permanently in 16:9?

m47 · Post by **m47** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:53 pm

It's driving me mad. My Camcorder is 16:9 format. My TV's are all 16:9.

I declare a new project as 16:9 in File-Project Properties. Yet the capture comes in a squashed 4:3.

Nothing seems to keep 16:9 as the format.

I won't have any hair left soon. Can someone set me straight please?

Thanks

Mike

Post by **lancecarr** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:17 pm

Go to File / Preferences and place a check next to "Show Start Up Screen."
Close VS.
Open VS. When you see the Start Up screen place a check next to the 16:9 box and also "Don't show this screen again."

Now and until the end of time (or at least until you change it) you have will a 16:9 type VS! The project properties should default to a 16:9 config.

m47 · Post by **m47** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:48 pm

Thanks Lance. I have followed your instructions and it's just as you say. It seems to be in 16:9 default mode.

However I try to capture from my Camcorder and it now shows the film with a black surround on all 4 sides ie a squashed 4:3 image in the middle. It seems to have still recorded in 720*576.

I still can't see what to do to capture successfully in 16:9. The help file barely talks about 16:9 at all.

I thought 4:3 was near dead for TV/movie work.

Post by **lancecarr** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:59 pm

I'll be blunt.
I know very little about the capturing properties of VS because I don't use it. Many of us don't.
Most of these consumer level suites are a capturing program, an editing program and a DVD authoring program all in one. Trying to be all things to all people cos' the competition is doing it too!
So the short story is that I use a free utility called WinDV (just Google it) and it does a great capturing job, it is a "stand alone" so no install required and best of all it allows you to name your imported files that have something to do with the real world! Things like "Summer Holidays 2008.001.avi. Not uvs.483.44.4.65.0011.avi!

Someone may come on later to debug that one for you but I have never bothered!
Sorry!

m47 · Post by **m47** » Fri May 09, 2008 5:58 pm

Thanks for trying to help.

I've downloaded WinDV as you suggest.

But my 16:9 movie comes into WinDV as squashed up 4:3!

Am I missing something obvious?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:09 pm

Hi

First have a look at my guide ¡V16:9 A look at Widescreen from the link below.
This shows what 16:9 should look like using VS.

OK

I assume you are capturing using firewire to DV format, using a Mini DV type camera.
If not what is your capture device.

We need to view the video properties of the captured file, if you go to File-preferences-tick--show messages when inserting first video¡K¡K¡K¡K

Start a new project, insert a captured video file
An info window should show
¡Xselect details¡Xview the right hand panel (Video Properties)
Use the mouse to highlight the text. Copy and paste to the forum.

Now when you say the movie is squashed, do you mean it is out of proportion/distorted, or just smaller but in proportion?

m47 · Post by **m47** » Sat May 10, 2008 9:45 am

Hi Trevor,

Ok I've read your guide. The problem I face is rather like your 'what can go wrong' part. I see the whole 16:9 image compressed into 4:3 giving elongated images.

I have a Mini DV camcorder (Canon 950) and I have only ever recorded in 16:9. I am using Ulead VS10 under Vista.

This is the rh panel that you suggest I paste into the forum:
Video Properties:
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

The Project Properties are:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Clearly 720x756 is an inappropriate format for 16:9 but I can't find any option to change it.

Looking forward to your advice

Mike

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:03 am

Hi Mike

The properties you show are for Mpeg 2, (Pal-DVD)

If this is your captured file then you have captured to DVD format 4:3
You are best to capture to DV not DVD.
This copies / transfers the video to the pc as DV-Avi and uses 13 Gb per hour.
What you have on the camera is what you get on the pc.

It is the best method.

All other format options require you to set the capture properties.

If for some reason you need to use DVD capture, select the ¡¥Options¡¦ cogwheel
Choose Video and Audio Capture Properties¡XEdit¡Xcapture tab¡XAdvanced
Change the Aspect Ratio to 16:9¡XOK

Capture a short section.

Again capturing to DV format is best.

Read my guide to DV-Avi Capture from the link below.

720 x 576 is the correct size for both 4:3 and 16:9. the pixels are stretched to fit the appropriate frame, known as ¡¥Non Square Pixel Rendering¡¦
Basically the pixels are rectangular not square as in a still image.

m47 · Post by **m47** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:23 pm

Some helpful advice. I have now successfully managed to capture and save in 16:9 thanks to using the DV option. Unfortunately it's in 320x256 but it's a start.

Thanks again

Mike

ps is your user guide downloadable as a pdf perhaps?

pps and when I convert it to mp4 format for transfer to my AppleTV it goes into distorted 4:3 again! A curse on 4:3!

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:24 pm

If you did in fact "capture" to DV using Firewire, it really is not capturing anything, just transferring the data. DV is the same format that the tape uses on a Mini-DV or Digital -8 camcorder. This would include the Frame sizes. So if the recording on your camcorder is 720 x 576 16:9, then the "captured" frame size should remain the same, unless you changed it, or your camcorder does not record full frame sizes, which would be real odd..

Capturing DV via Firewire, there are no settings to be made other than capturing Type-1 or Type-2, both of which have no affect on the frame sizes in VS10, and especially not in WinDV. What make/model of camcorder are you using? Again I emphasize that using Firewire to get the video/audio from a camcorder, in DV format is nothing more than a simple transfer of data, just like copy/paste is on a PC.

Post by **lancecarr** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:21 am

Mike can you confirm that the camcorder you have is actually a camcorder? You say it is a "950." That could be a Canon ZR950 miniDV camcorder or a Canon 950 digital camera. (Which has limited video recording functions)
That point is kind of important!

Also both Trevor and Ron have mentioned "firewire" in their posts. Do you know what they are talking about?
We need to know if you are using firewire as often people buy DV camcorders and try to use the USB cable the manufacturer provides. They never seem to provide a firewire cable and this leads people to belive that they should use the USB which is NOT the case.

m47 · Post by **m47** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:27 am

I am definitely using firewire to transfer, not USB (sorry about my loose use of 'capture' to describe the transfer). My camera is a Canon MiniDV MV950 camcorder (with widescreen 16:9 screen & capture).

Post by **lancecarr** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:29 am

OK so you rewind the tape to the point you want to capture.
Connect to the computer via firewire.
Go to the Capture tab of VS10.
Start the capture and somehow end up with 320x256 resolution file.
There is no way that I know of that this can occur. There simply are no properties selections available for firewire capture from a miniDV cam that would allow you to do that. As Ron said you can only choose DV Type 1 or Type 2 and they are full resolution captures.
There must be something else you are doing we are not aware of.
Please post a "step by step" of how you are capturing from the cam to the point of having the files on your computer.

m47 · Post by **m47** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:08 am

Thanks, I will do.

However I have to leave for a couple of weeks now and when i get back I shall have a tape full of events at and around my daughter's wedding.

I am sure I shall need more help then.

Thanks again

Mike