DVD Import 4:3 to 16:9

[jbgreen31]

I have a dvd im trying to import that I know was filmed in 16:9, however the capture is listing it as 4:3.
a. How can I fix the capture to make it 16:9 or
b. once its imported can I change it to 16:9

Thanks in advance.
J

[Ron P.]

Do you have the box checked on the splash/opening screen beside the 16:9? If not you should check it if you know you're going to be working with clips using that ratio. You can also change the settings for your Project Properties, Settings>Project Properties, the press the Edit button and to to the Edit tab. Once there, look to the bottom under Display aspect ratio, you have the option of 4:3 or 16:9.

In the Preferences dialog, Settings>Preferences, on the General tab, check the box beside Show message when inserting first clip into the timeline. VS will then prompt you when you insert the first clip into the timeline, about changing the Project Settings to match that of your video clip.

[jbgreen31]

Yes, on the splash screen I have the 16:9 box checked, as well the aspect ratio is checked on the edit properties.
The issue seems to be during the capture its for some reason detecting it as 4:3

[Ron P.]

Can you post the video clip's properties here? (right-click on the clip, select properties)

[jbgreen31]

File Format: NTSC DVD
Video Type MPEG-2 Video, Upper Field First
Attributes: 24 Bits, 704 x 480, 4:3

Like I said, I know it says 4:3, but I also know it was filmed 16:9 and has the smushed effect when viewing in the preview window.

[Ron P.]

When you're importing the file from the DVD, in the Import from Digital Media dialog window, when you hover your mouse over the clip (might say Title 1), does it show the aspect ratio at that time also to be 4:3 ? There's something strange about the frame size of your clip, 704 x 480. Most of the time it would be wider than the standard 740 x 480 (NTSC) or 756 x 480.

I just ran a quick test using VS X3 and DVD MF7, where I had a DV video file that was shot in 16:9 format, even though the frame size says 720 x 480. The difference would be it did not use square pixels, so it gives the appearance of wide-screen 16:9. I created a DVD folder using DVD MF7, then in VS X3, I used Import digital media, navigated to the DVD Folder, selected my video and imported. VS does report the aspect ratio as being 16:9. So I think maybe the video file on your DVD was rendered using square-pixel rendering, which could make it 4:3.

[Ken Berry]

I don't think it's the original frame size which is the problem since 704 x 480 is one of the acceptable frame sizes in the international DVD standard for NTSC.

[jbgreen31]

The aspect ratio shows as 4:3 when I hover the mouse. So then is there a way to convert the imported 4:3 video to a 16:9 video?

When you're importing the file from the DVD, in the Import from Digital Media dialog window, when you hover your mouse over the clip (might say Title 1), does it show the aspect ratio at that time also to be 4:3 ? There's something strange about the frame size of your clip, 704 x 480. Most of the time it would be wider than the standard 740 x 480 (NTSC) or 756 x 480.

I just ran a quick test using VS X3 and DVD MF7, where I had a DV video file that was shot in 16:9 format, even though the frame size says 720 x 480. The difference would be it did not use square pixels, so it gives the appearance of wide-screen 16:9. I created a DVD folder using DVD MF7, then in VS X3, I used Import digital media, navigated to the DVD Folder, selected my video and imported. VS does report the aspect ratio as being 16:9. So I think maybe the video file on your DVD was rendered using square-pixel rendering, which could make it 4:3.