Force 16:9 aspect ratio for video file

[dvasco]

I record HD 16:9 shows with my Hauppauge cards s-video inputs in 720x480 which gives it a 4:3 aspect ratio. When I play them on my HD set I watch them in 16:9 fullscreen. However, when I play them back on my PCH on my 4:3 TV the video is squished. I would like the video to be letterboxed so I that doesn't happen. I use zoom on the PCH with ATSC recordings and I get letterboxing on 16:9 shows. Is there anything I can change to achieve this with the analog recordings? Do I change my recordings to 853x480?

[mvallevand]

Did you miss my last reply to you? http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=45353&page=2

However since the recordings are analog, the letterboxing is part of the video. If you only want to crop certain videos and don't want to change the default, use the zoom key on the remote.

Martin

[dvasco]

Did you miss my last reply to you? http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=45353&page=2

This is a continuation of that discussion after I have confirmed the PCH option was not a factor.

However since the recordings are analog, the letterboxing is part of the video. If you only want to crop certain videos and don't want to change the default, use the zoom key on the remote.
Martin

I want letterboxing to be ADDED, it is not part of the video. I get letterboxing with ATSC recordings on the PCH, which is what I want.

[mvallevand]

Sorry I really don't fully understand what you are asking for then. If you want to see them with letterboxed on a 16:9 monitor you will also need to watch them pillar boxed.

Martin

[dvasco]

If that were true then I wouldn't be able to watch my 16:9 ATSC recordings normally on the 16:9 set and letterboxed on my 4:3 set. Also I can watch my 4:3 ATSC recordings pillarboxed on my 16:9 set and fullscreen on my 4:3 set. I would like to be able to have the identical options with my analog recordings and it has to do with an AR flag or a derived AR from the resolution.

[sub]

When you record a 16:9 show from an analog source (from a set top box), its actually a 4:3 video by the time it arrives at GB-PVR. If you looked at each frame, it have picture in the middle with black bars above and below. Its not possible for GB-PVR to not record those black bars - it is part of the encoded stream delivered to GB-PVR.

GB-PVR plays this video the way it plays any 4:3 content. ie, on a 4:3 screen it'll fill the screen. On a 16:9 screen it places the 4:3 content in the middle of the screen, with black bars on the left and right.

[dvasco]

When I record a 16:9 show from an analog source it should be a squished 4:3 of the original with pillarboxing on the 16:9 set. This is what I get on my 16:9 set when I don't use F7 to stretch or fill the screen. The same thing happens on my 4:3 set but I want the PCH to stretch it so that letterboxing is developed and it is no longer squished.

[sub]

When I record a 16:9 show from an analog source it should be a squished 4:3 of the original with pillarboxing on the 16:9 set.

It shouldnt be squished. When you record a 16:9 show from an analog source, it'd usually support a 4:3 image that has the letterboxed 16:9 within each frame, and black bars top and bottom to fill the unused space. Unless you've got some odd set top box that outputs an anamorphic picture where there 16:9 frame is stretched to fill the entire 4:3 frame.

This is what I get on my 16:9 set when I don't use F7 to stretch or fill the screen. The same thing happens on my 4:3 set but I want the PCH to stretch it so that letterboxing is developed and it is no longer squished.

I cant answer specifically about the PCH, since I'm not 100% clear on how it behaves with aspect ratio.

[dvasco]

It shouldnt be squished. When you record a 16:9 show from an analog source, it'd usually support a 4:3 image that has the letterboxed 16:9 within each frame, and black bars top and bottom to fill the unused space.

I can only reiterate that is not what happens. I'll post pictures later today. Are you confusing an image that is already letterboxed by the network for SD transmissions?

I cant answer specifically about the PCH, since I'm not 100% clear on how it behaves with aspect ratio.

I am assuming it behaves identically to GBPVR and it is more a GBPVR or capture card setting that needs to be adjusted and not a PCH or MVPMCX2 setting to get my desired result.

[sub]

I'm pretty sure PCH doesnt behave the same behaviour, since there is no interaction between GBPVR and PCH about the aspect ratio of what is being played, or to request changes of aspect ratio. Instead, this is all done independently inside mvpmcx2, with no interaction with GBPVR. GB-PVR only actively plays a role in aspect ratio control when you view on a PC.

You'll probably need to post pictures so we can be sure we're talking the same thing.

My assumption is that all material arriving from an analog source is 4:3, and either the broadcaster or set top box has added the black bars top+bottom to make sure the 4:3 picture they supplied has the correct aspect ratio.