MVP and 16x9 TV

[zehd]

OK. I know that the title indicates a topic which has been flogged to death, but I have a new slant and set of questions. They're connected to a feature I'm adding to ZProcess...

So these questions are pointed to those that are using a MVP with a Wide Screen TV...

First, I should point out that I don't have a 16x9 screen near me to test very often, so I'm gathering information so I can be swift about making changes to ZProcess..

1. With 4x3, there is a difference bewteen PAL and NTSC with resoution even though the aspect ratios are the same: 4x3: 720x 480 NTSC and 720x576 PAL. Is there a difference between NTSC and PAL 16x9 Broadcasts?
   
   
2. The DVD standard resolution of NTSC 720x480 is used for both 16x9 and 4x3 and there is a switch in the video file itself to tell the Television to either show the 720x480 as 4x3 or 16x9. In some cases, that switch is not present, and either the TV has to guess or has to be told which apsect to use... (T / F)
   
   
3. When a user wishes to view 16x9 with his MVP, currently the only way to change MVP aspect ratios is with the Hauppauge software (T / F )
   
   
4. In order to show AVIs on a MVP, the avi needs to be transcoded into a MPG. Within the 4x3 world, I have ZProcess fitting a letterboxed AVI into a 4x3 MPG. I use several different resolutions, each providing speed over final quality, but mostly, these aspect ratios are mathematically =4x3...
   
   
   What would be some 16x9 resolutions that I could try?
   
   

I would appreciate a leg up with this tech...

THanks

[HtV]

Afaik the mvp plays (PAL) 720x576 (DVD) or 352x288 (VCD). You add the 16:9 option to the commandline: '-aspect aspect' Set aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9 or 1.3333, 1.7777)So MVP-mpeg resolutions are always more or less 4:3.

[mvallevand]

Not specifically related to you each of your questions the mvpmc dongle, in emulation mode should support WSS (Wide Screen Signalling) which allows the aspect ratio of the video to change if GB-PVR doesn't modify the stream.

Martin.

[zehd]

Thanks guys, but I'm not sure if this answers my questions....

Are there any other experiences ut there with 16x9 sets and MVP?

[HtV]

I'm not sure I understand what you are looking for.

Edit: I'm sure I don't understand, sorry.:o

[zehd]

I'm not sure I understand what you are looking for.

Edit: I'm sure I don't understand, sorry.:o

I was hoping that if someone had a MVP and a 16x9 TV, they may be able to go through my first post and answer True or False to some of my guesses, and/or straighten me out...

This weekend I will be doing some experimenting with a Small DVD player that has a 16x9 screen, and I'll figure out some stuff that way...

[HtV]

Ok, I see what you mean I think. I'll try to answer some of your questions later. I will be off for the rest of the day, I hope to be back to night.

[HtV]

Ok here we go:

Just a few things I know:
- As sub said before: "resolution and aspect ratio are 2 different things",
so don't mix them up.
- Afaik the 4:3 vs 16:9 issue wrt the mvp only effects the menu.
The tv has to detect (often with your help) which AR to use, when you play a show.
- Afaik hauppauge cards always record 4:3. That doesn't mean it cuts of anything from your screen, it means recordings are always saved with the 4:3 flag. You just have to tell your tv to switch to 16:9.

So basicly: you always record/playback the same resolution 720x576(pal) or 720x480 (ntsc), and possibly a few more. The AR-switching is done by your tv.

I think some times it's easier (necessary) to add bars to the top and bottom or to the sides to get the right view on tv. The tv likes to fill the screen, so you have to help it to make the right decission.

NB: avi-resolution= display aspect ratio,
mpg resolution has nothing to do with AR.

I hope I was some kind of help:confused:

[zehd]

Ok here we go:

Just a few things I know:
- As sub said before: "resolution and aspect ratio are 2 different things",
so don't mix them up.
- Afaik the 4:3 vs 16:9 issue wrt the mvp only effects the menu.
The tv has to detect (often with your help) which AR to use, when you play a show.
- Afaik hauppauge cards always record 4:3. That doesn't mean it cuts of anything from your screen, it means recordings are always saved with the 4:3 flag. You just have to tell your tv to switch to 16:9.

So basicly: you always record/playback the same resolution 720x576(pal) or 720x480 (ntsc), and possibly a few more. The AR-switching is done by your tv.

I think some times it's easier (necessary) to add bars to the top and bottom or to the sides to get the right view on tv. The tv likes to fill the screen, so you have to help it to make the right decission.

NB: avi-resolution= display aspect ratio,
mpg resolution has nothing to do with AR.

I hope I was some kind of help:confused:

Thanks HTV

[zehd]

Thanks for the help guys... I was able to get quite a bit done on Zprocess, and it works great with 16x9 now...