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I have a project that I created with 16:9 video that I want to output in 4:3 for people without widescreen displays. Obviously this will cut off the sides of the video, but in this case it is alright.

Are there settings in videostudio to cut off the sides of a 16:9 video and output in 4:3?

I wanted to do it the other way, for some reason my Sony DVD recorder records all 16:9 programmes in 4:3 and so I need to stretch them out again but Video studio just puts bars on the left and right and leaves the picture stretched! For this I have used Sony Vegas which correctly put the video in a 16:9 format for me.

Hi

Use the ¡¥distort¡¦ option from the attributes tab to fill the screen.
Or the overlay track

If you place a 4:3 in a 16:9 project the viewable frame should be in proportion, if it is distorted then there is a problem in recognising the aspect ratio.

Read my guide ¡¦16:9 A look at widescreen¡¦ from the link below

s0n1cm,
When VS reads your 16:9 as 4:3 aspect ratio and it's really a 16:9 frame you can fix this:
Make your project settings same as source (the video & audio properties) except keep it 16:9.
Under the "Project Settings" (ALT+ENTER is the HotKey) Turn OFF "Perform Non-Square Pixel Rendering"

Then when you goto "Share -> Create Video File -> Same As Project Settings" Make sure "Perform Non-Square Pixel Rendering" is OFF for your project settings.

The video should be smart-rendered very fast and at the correct ratio. It's not re-encoded if you do it correctly.
Now when you re-insert the video into the timeline it should look correct.

Hi

Disable Perform Non-Square Pixel Rendering

When using Pal standard that will leave a small black border left and right.

Difference between 720 and 768 frame sizes.

If you disable Perform Non-Square Pixel Rendering on a true 4:3 you will see the black border.

Not sure how this affects Ntsc video. But looking at the frame sizes it may produce a black border top and bottom.???????????

Trevor,
Yes, I agree with you when the true recorded AR is 4:3, but Sony (which I've used these disks and have come across this problem) will record a 16:9 AR to the disk but Ulead reads the header information as a 4:3 AR when it's imported. Other video programs will also misread the Sony video header information, not just ulead. Some use a program (can't remember the name) to fix the header information.

That's why his picture is vertically stretched.

I also use your method(s) on my 16:9 videos to make a 4:3 AR playable on 4:3 TV's so the picture fills the screen. Yes, I may lose a little left & right side information but I know that's how it works.

Anyway, I thought that might just be the OP's case since his source is from a Sony recorder. But to fix a true 16:9 video that ulead thinks is 4;3 just turn non-square off and they smart-render fine, at least the sony videos do. Provided your Project Settings are 16:9.
To smart-render & re-stamp/convert the videos is like a file copy.

Thanks for the information, I like your tips on working with the overlay tracks & resizing etc.

If you use the cineform codec in VS you have to do the same thing, turn off non square pixel rendering and then render in the 16:9 AR.

I wasn't trying to post against your recommendations, apologize if it sounded that way.

etech

Hi etech

A little confusion here, I was referring to the original post from kinglerch, I hadn¡¦t digested the post from s0n1cm until you mentioned Sony.

Anyhow it was just an observation on my part that a small border would be created by disabling Non-Square Pixel Rendering.

I think the Op¡¦s will get the message

My question was more about how to cut the sides of a video off, to account for the difference in aspect ratio. VS seems to offer many ways to resize, stretch, add small bordering...but is there a way to trim the resulting output, so to speak?

Hi kinglerch

With your 16:9 video in the timeline.
Make sure the project properties match the video files properties.

Now edit the project properties changing only the ¡¥Aspect ratio¡¦ from 16:9 to 4:3

Select the video in the timeline.
From the attributes tab select ¡¥Distort¡¦

Right click the preview screen and select ¡¥fit to screen¡¦
Right click the preview screen and select ¡¥Keep aspect Ratio¡¦

You now create a new video file of your project
Share Create Video File¡XSame as Project Settings¡Xthis should render the project to the same settings as your video file with the exception of the aspect ratio which has changed. 16:9 to 4:3

Interesting, thanks! I will give it a try.