aspect ratios with negative numbers ignored

[johnsonx42]

1.3.7 seems to be ignoring any <AspectRatioMode> with a negative number in it. My config.xml has these entries:

Code:

<TvShape>4x3</TvShape>
  <AspectRatioModes shape="4x3">
    <AspectRatioMode name="Auto" ratio="0,0,0,0" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="Fill" ratio="0,0,1,1" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="LetterBox" ratio="0,0.125,1,0.875" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="Remove LetterBox" ratio="0,-0.125,1,1.125" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="Center Cut" ratio="-0.05,-0.17,1.04,1.17" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="PillarBox" ratio="0.08,0,0.92,1" />
  </AspectRatioModes>

This is completely stock from a clean install of 1.3.7, I haven't changed anything.

When I press F7 to cycle aspect ratios, it ignores the Remove Letterbox and Center Cut, the only two with negative numbers. I also tried adding another ratio with a negative number, and it ignored it as well.

1.2.13 did show the two missing ratios, so this is new in 1.3.7.

I do need an AspectRatioMode with a negative number, I'm not just fishing for bugs....

Log attached.

[sub]

You can only use aspect ratio modes with negative numbers with the VMR9 renderer options. Overlay and EVR will ignore these. This was the same in all previous releases.

[johnsonx42]

aha, naturally I wasn't using EVR on my test build since it was XP.

Let me ask the question this way then:

Many of my local HD stations, which broadcast in 16:9, still show many 4:3 shows. So within the 16:9 letterbox, the 4:3 show appears as a rectangle (is that what you call a pillarbox?). On a 4:3 TV the end result is a 4:3 frame in the middle with large black borders all around.

So what I need is an equivalent of the Fill aspect ratio that fills the screen vertically, while also stretching the display horizontally. Starting from the letterboxed 16:9 display, it would be a linear Zoom.

Is there any other method to accomplish this with EVR, or must I revert to VMR9?

Thanks.

[sub]

Sorry, your only option is to use VMR9 if you need to do this.

[johnsonx42]

Sorry, your only option is to use VMR9 if you need to do this.

boo hoo, I was starting to like the creamy goodness of EVR.

Is this something that will later be supported, or is this imposed by a limitation of EVR?

[sub]

Its a limitation of the EVR. There maybe other ways to achieve the same thing with EVR, but I havnt investigated these, so cant really give you any indication if it'll be supported in the future or not.

[johnsonx42]

I got it sorted, had to switch to VMR9 Custom, and switch the Windows theme to 'classic' otherwise the playback wasn't smooth (I guess because of Vista doing it's aero crap behind the screen?). I tried VMR9 FSE, but it wouldn't work with a custom task I have that launches a web browser; the browser would run ok, but PVRX2 wouldn't come back even after clicking on the taskbar icon manually, and I'd have to kill it with task manager.

I did something I think is rather elegant too:

Code:

<TvShape>4x3</TvShape>
  <AspectRatioModes shape="4x3">
    <AspectRatioMode name="Auto" ratio="0,0,0,0" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="Fill" ratio="0,0,1,1" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="LetterBox" ratio="-0.15,0,1.15,1" />
    <AspectRatioMode name="WideScreen" ratio="0,0.125,1,0.875" />
  </AspectRatioModes>

I renamed the original LetterBox ratio to WideScreen, and then made a new LetterBox ratio with my custom settings. This way in Auto mode, 16x9 channels automatically fill the whole screen regardless of what's actually being shown. This is usually fine, as most 16:9 broadcasts are framed to be cropped to 4:3 - the stuff on the sides is extra, just there to fill a widescreen TV. If I want to actually see the full widescreen image, I can select the WideScreen ratio manually. This will improve the WAF tremendously.

I miss EVR already, but I suppose I should just pretend I never saw it.

Oh, is there a setting anywhere to make it revert to the Auto aspect ratio automatically? If I put it to my 'Widescreen' setting, it sticks even if I exit LiveTV and start playing a recording. Not a big deal I guess, but it'd be nice to have it switch back to Auto.

[johnsonx42]

argh! I can't win. Now I've got tearing across the middle of the screen. So I'm down to this:

EVR: can't get the aspect ratio setting I want
VMR9 FSE: can't run my browser custom task, also doesn't work with GameZone
VMR9 Custom: screen tearing
Overlay: same problem as EVR, and probably a bad choice for other reasons.

I'm ready to cry, I thought I was so close...

[stustunz]

can you try enabling force wait for vertical sync(3d settings on video card) on vmr custom and see if it goes away
someone else says it doesnt work but im sure thats what i used to use before upgrading to 8600

[sub]

It sounds like you need to buy a widescreen tv so you can continue to use EVR and wont have to worry about negative aspect ratio values