Playing back DVD`s that I have made with Vegas and DVD Architect, are 4x3 Pal 720x576. But they playback wide screen.
Neither the 20 inch Panasonic TV, or Panasonic BD75 player has any option to change the aspect. But the Samsung 40 inch TV has. But it`s a manual option.
Commercial DVD `s will automatically play 4x3 on both, so can anyone explain why this happens please?
I have the box un-ticked in Vegas, where it says “Stretch to fill screen” and I can`t see any other boxes.
Not on the 'work' computer just now but Architect has a lot of the project settings in File / Preferences before you start - there's settings for aspect ratio in there.
robo
Thanks Robo.
The only setting is on the preview pane, and that is set to 4x3. It`s also set as 4x3 in Project Properties.
Not a lot more to tweak.....
Commercial DVDs have a 'flag' embedded in the DVD which is picked up by the player and passed to the TV via the HDMI lead. With the TV in 'Auto' it acts on this.
If you are not sure how to set the flag with your software, an alternative is to work Vegas in widescreen but adjust the aspect ratio of the video so that it is 4:3 within a 16:9 background. The player and TV recognise it as 16:9 but the viewer sees 4:3 with black bars either side.
A few years ago there was discussion on this forum about taking the technique a stage further. Instead of black bars, make the background a softened 16:9 version of the video. Some felt it was more pleasing than black bars.
Many thanks RayL.
I will try it out. I assume it`s a 16x9 project, and video cropped 4x3.
Many thanks again.
16x9 project, and load the 4x3 file. Just tried it and it works. No need to crop, and wish I had asked about it last week....
Hello, John.
I have just read your original posting in which you mention that neither your 20 inch Pana TV nor your BD75 player have the option to change the aspect ratio.
I am surprised about the TV, and I have to disagree with you about the BD75 player.
I have just tried my BD75 and I found that if I go to the player settings menu and select TV / Device Connection, the options are:
TV aspect, selectable between:
- 16:9
- 16:9 full
- 4:3 pan & scan
- 4:3 letterbox.
HDMI connection (I leave mine on 1080p)
TV system (PAL or NTSC)
I normally leave my BD75 unit on 16:9, and when I am playing disc I have recorded myself I change the aspect ratio on the TV, a Pana 32 inch set. My recordings are made on a Pana DMR-EX89, which basically records what goes into it without much in the way of bells and whistles to make changes to the input signal.
The remote for the TV set has an aspect ratio button, so I assume that your remote does not. Is it possible that there is an item hidden in a menu somewhere which will enable you to change the ratio? It seems rather surprising that a widescreen set from a manufacturer as prominent as Panasonic would have this necessary facility omitted.
Best of luck!
Hi Martchnology.
Thank you very much for your reply.
It is now working as it should. But it`s a mystery how!
The TV has an aspect button, and switches between 16x9, plus two zoom settings, also 4x3 and auto. It only switches between 16x9 and auto when playing a DVD, and does not affect the aspect.
You cannot access the BD75 settings until you insert a disk. This is unusual and not expected. The setting are as you describe, but “Tv Device Connection” is not where I would expect to find scanning settings. It was set to 16x9, and although I have checked all other settings, I have left it there.
Now, inserting either 4x3 or 16x9 DVD `s they play as they should. I can only assume that gremlins have crept in at some point. But many thanks for your help.
As Ray describes, 4:3 material can be seen stretched out to 16:9 so easily by clients. Just this very afternoon I showed a client how good her old VHSc (LP!) recordings look on my modern 55'' TV when the DVD I'd made for her is being upscaled by my BD player.
I wish I'd made it as a 4:3 project within a 16:9 black frame, as I used to do a few years ago. I gave up, thinking that everyone must have their TVs and DVD players set up correctly 18 years after the introduction of DVDs, surely!
But no, I see she's been filming her TV at home and already put some of the footage up on Facebook, and there it is, all stretched out to 16:9.
Sigh.
As a TV engineer many years ago, I used to see people watching all sorts of distorted pictures thinking they were fine. They only complained when they went off.
Most TV`s are installed by the engineer, then the DVD player is added and that`s the end! The wheels on the bus may be oval, but it doesn`t matter. it`s a picture...