Persistent aspect ratio problem

tonyjer · Post by **tonyjer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:55 am

Hi again

Apologies if this old chestnut has already been done n¡¦dusted. Am trying to put recent holiday onto DVD etc. Have created mpeg which is 4.7Gb using DVD PAL, compression variable 6000kbs, Dolby audio and aspect ratio to 16.9. I then go into Share/Create DVD etc, insert the mpeg and change the settings to the project settings in the time honoured fashion (including the aspect ratio).

All works fine but the created DVD (menus and chapters included) has two vertical black bars along each side rather than the wide screen I was expecting.

I¡¦ve never had this problem before. The first time I did the project the file was too big for a DVD so I invoked the ISO option, used Shrink to reduce that and then Roxio to burn the image to disk. Unfortunately the result was the same. My original thought was that it was something to do with Shrink/Roxio settings but it¡¦s obviously the mpeg properties as the problem is there whether I use Shrink/Roxio or not.

(Forgot to say that I also change the project properties to 16.9)

We haven¡¦t messed with the TV setting which is 16.9 wide screen.

I have Pro X2
Vista 32 bit
Oodles of RAM and disk space
Any advice would be much appreciated as usual.
Antonio

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:44 pm

Antonio,

Could you post the properties for your video clips and your project settings? Right-click on a clip in the timeline of the editor, select Properties and copy them to here. In the burn module click on the gear icon, and post those settings. Just setting the aspect ration to 16:9 does not mean that it will be. The actual video clips, images need to be 16:9. It appears that VS is seeing 4:3 clips, and since you have the aspect ratio set to 16:9, it pillars (black bars) them.

tonyjer · Post by **tonyjer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:26 pm

Many thanks Ron

Having the usual problem copying and pasting but will provide the info manually:

The clips in the timeline are showing 720*576 4.3 so you were right. However, when you use the drop down and select project properties it shows 16.9 because I changed that a few days ago. Is this a contradiction?

When I go into the burn module and click the gear icon I get 4.3 as well but I would normally change this to 16.9 to accord with the mpeg file which would show 16.9 aspect ratio (inadvertently deleted the mpeg file in my frustration)

I guess the issue is do I have to create another project from the AVI and save that as 16.9 before I create the mpeg? I must admit I thought that changing the project properties would change the clip properties but this is obviously not so.

Not sure now whether I need to recapture or just create another project file.

Thanks again

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:47 pm

Whatever the project properties are set to, it's the burn settings that matter. The project settings will not alter the settings of any clips you put in the timeline. The final output is whatmatters and if that shows 4:3 aspect ratio that is what you will get in the finished product. That little gear wheel icon in the burn module s very important!

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:00 pm

If your video clips are in fact 4:3, then setting the aspect ratio to 16:9 (editor or burn module) will result in the black bars being added.

For more information regarding widescreen, have a look at Trevor's article Working with Widescreen. He uses VS10 but it applies to all versions.

For a short tutorial on converting your 4:3 video clips to 16:9 (widescreen) please read:Converting 4:3 Video to 16:9

tonyjer · Post by **tonyjer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:12 pm

Thanks again Ron

Will study the workaround but when you say "if your video clips are 4.3"...

How do I influence this? Is it when I physically record or during the capture to PC?

I was about to say that this is the first time this has happened etc etc but realise it's probably cos this is the first project of this sort since we bought the wide screen TV??

Antonio

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:24 pm

Antonio wrote:How do I influence this? Is it when I physically record or during the capture to PC?

Does you camcorder record in 16:9 ratio?

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:24 pm

You need to shoot your video in 16:9 to have that carried forward to your final DVD product. Also be aware that some camcorders have a 16:9 mode, which is not a true 16:9 or widescreen. The camcorder will sort of crop the frame size from the 4:3, which places the black bars along the top and bottom, called Letter-Box. My old digital-8 camcorder has such a mode. The frame size for the video clips, regardless of 4:3 or 16:9 is 720 x 480.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:39 pm

Hi Antonio

Where did the original video file come from.
Was it a camera, a camcorder or maybe a TV video recorder/player.

I am experiencing some aspect ratio issues with VS recognising video from theTV/DVD recorder.

Ok pasting properties to the forum.
If your video is compatible to VS projects :-
Do this:-
From File Preferences-tick-Show messages When Inserting First Video.................
Start a new project.
Insert one of the original video files to the timeline.
You should/may get an info window requesting you change the project properties.
Select Details
The right hand panel shows the video properties.
Using your mouse highlight all details in this panel, drag the mouse, with ¡¥left click¡¦ from corner to corner.
Using your keyboard, Ctrl+C will copy
Ctrl+V will paste, paste to a word doc or direct to this forum.

Then select Yes
Your video will load to the timeline and the project properties will be changed.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:10 pm

You can get rid of those black bars. See my thread here: http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?t=35838

Keep in mind you can use anything as the background (color clip, still pic, another video clip, etc.).

tonyjer · Post by **tonyjer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:26 pm

Many thanks for these responses.

Video came from a Camcorder.

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:00 pm

tonyjer wrote:Many thanks for these responses.

Video came from a Camcorder.

Does your camcorder record in 16:9 ratio?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:59 pm

Hi Antonio

What make and model is the camera, is it a Mini DV type........
I assume you are connecting the camera via firewire to the PC and capturing to DV, is this correct?

You indicate that you are working with Avi, then converting to Mpeg, and using the Mpeg to burn a DVD.

You have also been able to burn a dvd in the past without the aspect ratio problems.

Please read my guide to DV-AVI, does this process reflect what you are doing?
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/guides/q ... de_avi.htm

Camcorder
Please check the camera settings to ensure that the aspect ratio has not been changed from 16:9 to 4:3.
If you think your tape contains both aspects then please capture using Split by Scene.

tonyjer · Post by **tonyjer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:46 pm

Hi

Camcorder is Canon MV630i and must be about 6 years old. I've looked at the manual but can't see anything about 4.3 and 16.9 settings etc.

When I said "I'd never had this problem" I have misrepresented the situation. I had never had this problem downloading and burning legitimate movie files whereas this is the first personal project I've done since having the wide screen TV. This is more than a subtle difference!

I guess I just need to play with the workaround suggested even though the end result may not be perfect.

Fact is that I can't stand those pillars or black bars!!

Many thanks

Antonio

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:13 pm

Fact is that I can't stand those pillars or black bars!!

Well, the fact is if you are shooting 4:3 and playing back on a 16:9 TV you are:
A. Going to have black bars, pillars, or some other kind of thing taking up the space

or

B. Going to have your picture distorted if you choose to have the TV, DVD Player, or VS project set for full screen