VideoStudio Pro X4 - Aspect Ratio Incorrect

[GiddyUpHorsey]

I'm having a problem with VideoStudio where it is not correctly detecting the aspect ratio of the video.

The video was created by HandBrake by converting a DVD to an MP4. VLC Player correctly detects the aspect ratio and displays it fine. VS doesn't.

In VS the video is coming up as 4:3 and so when played, it has black pillars on either side.

How can I get VS to interpret the aspect ratio correctly, or even override it?

The video files details (MediaInfo):

General
Complete name : C:\Temp\Handbrake\Vts 01 1-2.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 230 MiB
Duration : 35mn 54s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 895 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2012-07-03 14:43:12
Tagged date : UTC 2012-07-03 14:58:46
Writing application : HandBrake 0.9.6 2012022800

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 35mn 54s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 732 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.071
Stream size : 188 MiB (82%)
Writing library : x264 core 120
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2012-07-03 14:43:12
Tagged date : UTC 2012-07-03 14:58:46
Color primaries : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 35mn 54s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 291 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -80ms
Stream size : 41.1 MiB (18%)
Encoded date : UTC 2012-07-03 14:43:12
Tagged date : UTC 2012-07-03 14:58:44

[lata]

Hi

Using VLC Player to identify the aspect ratio is a little difficult, you can change the way VLC Player displays the video so you can play a 16:9 as 4:3 but this does not identify the actual file.
Converting the video from DVD using HandBrake choose a frame ratio of 16:9 (1280 x 720) may be suitable. I think using 720 x 576 may interpret as 4:3????????
Thats assuming the original DVD was widescreen 16:9.

Using Video Studio.................
With the clip in the timeline, right click and select properties, what are they?

The black bars are either part of the video frame or unused parts of the preview screen?
Viewing the video with black bars, is the actual video in proportion or squashed?

OK

Start a new project
Go to preferences--change the background colour to anything but black.
the coloured frame identifies its shape, by default will be 16:9 widescreen.

Add your video file to the overlay track, it will display as a smaller version.
Does the smaller version contain any black bars.?
If no
Right click the preview screen and select Fit to Screen
Repeat and select Keep Aspect Ratio.
--------------------------------

If black bars are part of the video then the conversion settings using Handbrake were incorrect.

[GiddyUpHorsey]

Hi Lata

I managed to find a workaround. I moved the video to the overlay track, and then right clicked on the video in the preview pane and selected "Original Size". The video would then resize to the correct aspect ratio (16:9).

This is definitely a bug in VS, because MediaInfo shows that the video is identified as 16:9 aspect ratio.

I'm lucky that what I'm doing is fairly simple and that having the video in the overlay track is no problem.

Cheers
John