Aspect Ratio Changed

[Weeination]

I have a 9.24 GB video I am using to do some minor editing. I am basically just removing several seconds of the video in several different parts. The video is from a professional transfer from an old CV reel-to-reel tape. It’s H.264 High Profile Video, 24 bits 720 x 480 at it’s 93 minutes long.

When the video is in still mode with VideoStudio, it’s wider than when it is being played. When played it is displayed in the proper dimension.

I created an MP4 video file after I finished my editing. It looks the same in still mode as the source video. When it is played the width does not change unlike the source video. Also, when it is played it is not as long vertically as the source video with black at the top and the bottom of the screen. There is no black at the top and the bottom when the source video when played.

The MPG video file does not change in size from when still compared to when played on VS. When played it is not as long horizontally as the MP4 and the source file. However, it is as long vertically as the MP4 file when the MP4 file is played.

When the source video file is played on VLC in the default mode it is slightly wider than when switching to 4:3. The top and bottom of the screen is filled in completely in either default or 4:3.

Playing the MP4 video file on VLC in default mode the picture is wider than the source video filing the entire screen from left to right. However, there are two narrow black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Playing the MP4 video file in 4:3 mode the picture is the same width as the source video and there are no black bars at the top and the bottom.

Playing the MPG video file on VLC, the dimensions don’t change whether in default mode of 4:3. There are black bars on all four sides of the video. The video is as long as the MP4 video file when the latter is played in 4:3. Vertically, the MPG video is shorter than both the source video and the MP4 video file, regardless if the MP4 video file is played in default mode or in 4:3.

I have edited numerous 4:3 videos before with VS. When all other 4:3 videos are in still mode and then played, there is a very slight difference in the width of the video, but not nearly to the extent that this occurs with this source video.

In this situation, is there a possible way to make video files with matching dimensions as the source video on playback when using VideoStudio?

[tletter]

... is there a possible way to make video files with matching dimensions as the source video on playback when using VideoStudio?

Enable the ' Show message when inserting first video clip into the Timeline' option then VS should match the source video clip's properties. When rendering, use the 'Same as Project Settings' option which should give you the best possible output.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[Weeination]

Hi tletter,

I actually did enable the message and clicked yes to making the video clip's properties match the project properties. When I rendered I tried both "Same as Project Settings" and first clip but got the same result. I tried with and without Smart Render enabled. I can't remember for which of the two, but when I tried creating either an MP4 video file or an MPG video file, I was not able to use Smart Render. VS just closed up on its own. I was able to create video files every time when deselecting Smart Render regardless of MP4 or MPG.

[tletter]

It’s H.264 High Profile Video, 24 bits 720 x 480 at it’s 93 minutes long.
I have edited numerous 4:3 videos before with VS.

720 x 480 isn't a 4:3 aspect ratio, so there is going to be some distortion or slight letterboxing when displayed as such.

is there a possible way to make video files with matching dimensions as the source video on playback when using VideoStudio?

VS can render a video as 720 x 480, e.g. MPEG-2. What are the properties of your rendered file?

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[lata]

Your video is probably anamorphic in that the 720 x 480 frame is automatically resized to fit a 4:3 or 16:9, typically standard DVD using mpeg2 are anamorphic.
720 x 480 is ntsc standard using 29.97 fps, 720 x 576 is Pal standard using 25fps.

Right click your clip for properties, although showing 720 x 480 it should indicate 4:3 or 16:9

Your project properties should be set to the correct ratio as the video.
From your comments I suspect your project are set to 16:9 yet the video maybe 4:3

[Weeination]

The properties of the rendered MP4 files are H.264 High Profile Video, 24 bits, 720 x 480. For the MPG video file, the properties are 24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3.

Playing the MPG video file on VLC, the dimensions don’t change whether in default mode of 4:3. There are black bars on all four sides of the video. The video is as long as the MP4 video file when the MP4 video is played in 4:3. Vertically, the MPG video is shorter than both the source video and the MP4 video file, regardless if the MP4 video file is played in default mode or in 4:3.

My project properties are
Format: Mobile
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
H.264 High Profile Video: 1709 Kbps, 4:3
48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 192 Kbps

I did a test after reading both of your responses. I clicked on Edit and changed Display Aspect Ratio to 4:3 instead of Source Frame Size. Then I rendered another MP4 video file with these properties with the resulting attributes now saying 24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3.

That MP4 video file played in an almost identical manner as the MPG video files that were rendered. Playing this new MP4 video file on VLC, the width changed to be slightly less wide when switching from default to 4:3. However vertically it‘s still not as long as the source video with black bars instead of video for part of the screen at the top and the bottom. The result is images are still wider than they should be.

Then I rendered another MPG video file. With the project properties still changed to 4:3 instead of Source Frame Size. It plays the same as the previous MPG video file rendered, looking identical in VLC whether in default or in 4:3 mode. In other words, the video is displayed with the correct width, but shorter vertically with the black areas at the top and the bottom. If the video could be vertically stretched to fill the top and bottom it would play just as it should. As it is, everything looks wider than it should be compared to the source video and the MP4 video file when it is played in 4:3 instead of default mode.

Even the source video looks better in 4:3 instead of default mode in VLC. The video is the same length from top to bottom, but it’s just slightly less wide switching to 4:3.

[lata]

I think, only think that when you render to MP4 you are using 16:9
Unfortunately for you the program defaults to using 16:9
To render mp4 to 4:3 you have to modify the profile

From Share
Mpeg4 Profile --MPEG-4 AVC (720 x 480, 25p, 2.5Mbps)

Hit the “+ sign” to add a profile.

Change the profile name by adding 4:3, so you recognise the new profile
I usually add MY at the beginning of the new profile name.

General Tab
Set Display aspect Ratio to 4:3

Compression tab, data rate to 4000

Ok to that

Start should create a Mpeg4 4:3 video

[Weeination]

I tried your suggestion. The properties of the new video file are 24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3, 4000 Kbps.
This MP4 file plays similar to the previously created MPG files. It is slightly wider than the MPG files in default mode. When it’s switched to 4:3 it plays the same as the MPG files. Vertically it’s the same length with the black bars at the top and bottom.

Then I created another MPG video file in custom settings in the same manner.
Profile MPEG-2 (720x480, 4:3, 30p, 8 Mbps)
From Compression I moved the quality slider from 70 to 100.

The properties are 24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3

This new MPG video file plays the same with VLC as the other MPG video files I created, whether in default or 4:3 mode.

If the black bars could be removed from top to bottom so that the video fills the screen (like when the MP4 video files play after switching from default to 4:3 mode in VLC) the video would play in the correct aspect ratio. They have the proper width whether they are played in default or 4:3 mode.

[lata]

A little confused with the different descriptions when playing the video using different media.
Is it possible that the original video transfer contains a black border?

Can you take a snapshot of the original video?

Start a new project
First go to Preferences – General tab, change the background colour to anything but black
Insert the original video to Overlay 1
The video should / may show as a smaller image in the middle of the screen
Now go to the Edit menu top left for Take a Snapshot
An image will be saved to the working folder and a clip placed in the library
Are there any black borders on that image.?

Can you post/attach that image to your reply

[Weeination]

After doing what you suggested there are no black borders.

With so many admittedly confusing descriptions, I just want to mention something again that may or may not be relevant. With every other 4:3 video I have edited before, the dimensions do not change from when a still image is shown to when it is played. Well technically they do on the sides but it’s barely noticeable.

With this source video the dimensions change. The top and bottom of the screen are still filled but the left and right sides move inward.

With the playback screen enlarged, in still mode the left border runs just between the letters l and e in File. When the video is played, the border moves to the right between Edit and Tools, just a little closer to then T in Tools than the t in Edit.

On the right border when in still mode, it’s between the scissors and the minimize/maximize button just above the time counter. When the source video is played the border then moves toward the left, just beyond the right side of the Mark-in bracket.

The snapshot is from the test pattern at the very beginning but it has the same dimensions as the actual video.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nzPFxV ... UuLCe/view

[lata]

Hi
post updated
The image you provided shows the background in a yellow/gold colour.
After downloading the image, yes it is 720 x 480 a 4:3 frame
Yes inserting to the top track will fill / should the frame with no borders

Just to double check go to settings project properties to make sure they are using 4:3 and not 16:9

Tletter mentioned using the messages to change / match the properties to your video file
Ok
Start a new project......
this clears the timeline, it is important to start a new project to allow messages to show.
Now Insert your original video to the top track
A panel should show prompting you to match the properties to help with smart render

I usually press Details, this shows the video properties in the right panel
and the existing project on the left panel
Take a screen shot of that panel to attach to your reply here.

Pressing ok will set the project properties to your video properties
As far as i know these should be mpeg2 4:3 settings
Your video should fill the preview screen, no borders

You may wish the change the background colour back to black

Now when you do Share- using same as First clip or Same as Project settings will render the video to Mpeg2 as indicated on the earlier Show Messages panel

Does that video play ok without the boarders
Repeat the process above to add the new video to the overlay track, there should be no boarders

[Weeination]

Hi,

The original video project properties don’t state 4:3, they are
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
H.264 High Profile Video: 1709 Kbps
48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 192 Kbps

When I click on Edit, Display Aspect Ratio says Source frame size.

Details panel
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y-1jNg ... sp=sharing

The MP4 video files created from share do not have black at the top and bottom of the screen when there is just a still image. When there are played however the video shrinks vertically which results in the black bars at the top and the bottom. The MPG video files have black at the top and the bottom whether there is just a still image or if the video is played.

Just in case, I rendered another video file from the unedited source video. I used same as project settings. This new MP4 video files gave the same result. It fills the screen without any black at the top and the bottom when there is just a still image. However as soon as it begins to play it shrinks at the top and the bottom.

The source video changes dimensions when played as I mentioned previously, but only at the left and right sides to correct itself to play in proper 4:3.

The MP4 video files don't change dimensions on the left and right sides, regardless whether there is a still image or if the video is played.

[lata]

Unfortunately I am not on my pc to check this.
When you say “When I click on Edit, Display Aspect Ratio says Source frame size.”
Is there an option for “fit to screen”
The original video frame is 720 x 480, this is not 4/3

720 x 540 is 4/3, it maybe the program is switching the video from 720/480 to full screen 4/3 causing these borders?..
Although the image of the "show messages" (thanks for those) seem to indicate no borders, confused....
If the video were mpeg2 then it would be anamorphic and automatically display 720 / 480 as 720 / 540 to fill the screen

Clear as mud

[lata]

I have had chance to have a quick test on my pc and created a project using 4:3
Can you down load the attached .vsp.txt, created using VS 2021, what version are you using?
You will have to rename removing .txt
Open the project then insert your video file

Weeination.VSP.txt

(25 KiB) Downloaded 59 times

[Weeination]

The two other options are 4:3 and 16:9. When I switch to the 4:3 option the source video now has black at the top and the bottom. The video that I made and mentioned in my last post now has black even when the video is not playing. When that video is playing the black bars are even larger whereby the picture is stretched even more.

I tried this previously but once again I made a new video file with the project settings changed to 4:3 instead of Source Frame Size. That video has black at the top and the bottom and of the same amount whether the video is still or played.

I am using Pro X8.

I have the .VSP project file you sent but I don’t know how to open it with VS. I went to the file properties and changed to open with Corel VideoStudio. When I try to open the project, it does not show up in my list of options. I renamed it but that didn't help. It's still a TXT file with a .VSP extension.