VS8 Widescreen

chask · Post by **chask** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:12 pm

I have VS8 which I have not used for many years because my camera was broken and left in disrepair.

I now have a new Sony DCR-HC48E which records in widescreen (16:9).

When capturing with VS8 I cannot find any way to set the aspect ratio to 16:9, consequently everything is very "squashed".

Is there any way to change the aspect ratio in VS8 or is it limited to 4:3?

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:55 am

I don't remember if VS8 was limited to 4X3.... Does it show 16x9 in any of the project settings?

If it's only a capture problem, try winDV (FREE!!).

chask · Post by **chask** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:38 am

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Well that is the issue, I can't find ANY setting that relates to aspect ratio, and was hoping I had missed something, but after even further searching, still nothing.

I do already have WinDV and will try that.

Also have Microsoft Movie Maker and that will capture in widescreen, but limited for further processing. Also tends to crash randomly.

Would still like to use VS8 for further processing and just hope that it will maintain the widescreen aspect for all further editing/processing.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:20 am

When I get chance I will dig out my copy of VS8 to confirm but looking at this thread it appears that VS8 was the first version that supported 16.9

http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=64

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:45 am

Hi

There was a way to activate an ¡¥Advanced¡¦ button that contained the 16:9 option.
These are some notes I found from many years ago.

1. Click the Advanced button in the Compression tab of the Video Save Options dialog box.
If you see no such button, you will have to activate it first.
by closing VideoStudio and adding the line Advance=1 at the end of both the [MPEGVIO] and [VIODRIVER] sections

in the file uvs.ini under \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ulead Systems\Ulead VideoStudio\8.0.

Now when I enter the project settings, I see a new ADVANCE button under the COMPRESSION tab.

In addition, I see an option to choose 16:9 aspect ratio in the MPEG CAPTURE SETTINGS during capture when the ULEAD DSW MPEG CAPTURE PLUG-IN is selected in connection with an OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE) PCI card during capture.
Hope this helps,

chask · Post by **chask** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:55 am

Thanks for that Trevor, and I'll give it a go, however it seem as if VS8 does handle 16:9 as is, however the preview screen during capture always displays as 4:3 so looks strange, however the saved file is in 16:9 format.

And thanks to the responses on here I have now found the aspect ratio settings, though to be honest, it seems as if the aspect ratio is determined by the input format of the DV tape regardless of aspect settings.

Anyway, my problem is now resolved. Thanks to all.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:16 am

The preview screen remains immutable, even in the most recent versions. So those of us with widescreen SD and HD cameras still preview in Video Studio on a preview screen with large black bars above and below the video.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:47 am

Hi

When you view a 16:9 video the preview screen shows a black bar top and bottom.

If the project properties are set to 16:9 then the bars are unused, that is they are not included in the video frame.

If the project settings are 4:3 then the bars form part of the frame and may be included in the rendered video.

As the background and the unused preview areas are the same colour (black) it is hard to identify, change the background colour from black. You can now view the video frame accurately. You may wish to revert to black for rendering.

---------------------------
The capture screen in the older versions did show as 4:3 even though you were capturing to 16:9. things have improved a bit since VS 8, now capture does look like 16:9.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:02 am

I understand you have solved the problem about how to set your VS8 to 16.9
but just for roundness in case anyone else is reading this thread (now or in the future)

chask · Post by **chask** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:37 am

Thanks sjj....that's a very helpful set of images.

I'm now not so sure I have resolved the issue.

Certainly, I have captured clips (as AVI files) and when played back within the editing function of VS8 they appear to be widescreen - ie they are correctly proportioned, but...they have black bars above and below.

Haven't yet burned to disk, so not sure how they will appear on a widescreen TV. Attempts to play the avi files on my computer using WinAmp fail, but I was able to convert one file to an MPEG file using a converter tool and that played correctly as a widescreen image - no black bars.

However I have also now encountered another problem, when checking the aspect ratios as per your images, the MPEG setting is fine, but if I set to Microsoft AVI files, and proceed to "edit" then as soon as I click the AVI tab, VS8 crashes with the message "Ulead Video Studio has encountered a problem and needs to close".

May try uninstalling and reinstalling, but may also try using something more up to date - just got to decide what, VS11 or something different.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:14 pm

Hi chask

It is normal for the 16:9 widescreen video to show as letterboxed. The preview screen will show black bars top and bottom. Provided these bars are not part of the video then all should be ok.

Have a look at my guide ¡¥16:9 A look at Widescreen¡¦ from the link below.
Here I show what VS should look like when using 16:9
Although showing the later versions of Vs it should be relevant to VS 8.
The only thing I can say is that the later versions seemed to have improved in using 16:9.

I do remember that VS 8 may distort the video frame if inserted to the wrong project, that is if a 16:9 is inserted to a 4:3 project. Or in fact a 4:3 used in a 16:9.

Providing your project properties and video match you should have no problems.

As for the program crashing there was quite a lot of problems using VS 8, ( not particularly crashing) -------have you installed the relevant patches/fixes.

Hope this Helps

chask · Post by **chask** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:19 am

Trevor,

Many thanks for all the help.

In fact I have decided to bite the bullet and upgrade to V11

Hopefully that will overcome my problems.

I will however spend some time checking out your user guides.

Thanks to all who have offered help and suggestions. Nice to find a forum with such helpful contributors and no prima donna's.