Where and when to use 16X9

[rando]

I tried shooting a job in 16X9 and I noticed a couple things. 1. It seemd to get soft(although I was using the 4:3 preset in Edius) When I changed to 16X9 everything stretched upward but got sharper. 2. On a HD set it still did the letterbox thing. Should I be using 16X9? How do I get a 16X9 set to properly fill the screen with my video? I personally dont like the letterbox thing.

Randy

[Jerry]

I tried shooting a job in 16X9 and I noticed a couple things. 1. It seemd to get soft(although I was using the 4:3 preset in Edius) When I changed to 16X9 everything stretched upward but got sharper. 2. On a HD set it still did the letterbox thing. Should I be using 16X9? How do I get a 16X9 set to properly fill the screen with my video? I personally dont like the letterbox thing.

Randy

Does the camera do native 16x9? Meaning the chips are designed for that not 4x3.
Many cameras also use what is called wide. This is just a letterboxed version of 4x3. If the camera is not native, you loose 1/3 of your vertical resolution shooting on a camera with non native 16x9 chips.
If you shot in 16x9 and editied in 4x3 you have created a letterbox version.
True 16x9 fills the screen on a 16x9 set.

[pjsssss]

Why did you use a 4:3 preset for a 16x9 project?

[rando]

Where and when to use 16X9

Because I have a 4:3 monitor and when I set it to 16X9 it stetched the image verticly.

[SRsupport]

The problem is with you monitoring.

get a display that has 16x9 capability. The strecthing you are talking about happens because your 4:3 display can't display a 16:9 signal.
Most professional Broadcast monitor have a switch to accommodate both aspect ratios.
If you don't have one get a Lcd display which can display a 16:9 signal.

If you want full screen and loose part of your framing use the layout tool in a 4:3 project. But then it would make no sense to shoot 16:9. (Well maybe to future proof for 16:9 hd)
So why did you shoot 16:9 if you want to see 4:3???? If we can figure that one out maybe we can help:)

Sr

[antonsvideo]

also, was the HD set on anamorphic 16:9? maybe it was set to normal or one of the many zoom/stretch modes provided by silly public confusing manufaturers

[pjsssss]

I agree with Steve, that your problem is probably just in what you see on the monitor. Can you output a small test section and play it in Power DVD or something similiar and check it?

[rando]

Where and When to do 16X9

There were 2 reasons for me doing it 1.was I have a JVC GY-hd100 which is native 16X9. The lense doesnt zoom out far enough in dv 4:3 2. I wanted to get used to 16X9 because I know HD is coming for me. I put Edius in 16X9 mode then exported through ProCoder and its still a 4:3 file, Do I need to change ProCoder too?

Randy

[STORMDAVE]

Yes, your poject needs to be 16:9 and you have to choose a 16:9 preset in PC. I recommend that you give your clients wide projects, if they have a 4:3 tv then they will have a letterboxed version. The cool thing is one they get a wide TV, it will fill the screen. They stopped making 4:3 tvs.

[kwshaw1]

Ditto what Dave said: I do all projects in widescreen format now unless I'm sure the customer only wants 4:3 output. Widescreen displays will become the de facto viewing standard of the 21st century, and in some ways this is more important than resolution in driving the change to widescreen/HD production.

[Jerry]

Ditto what Dave said: I do all projects in widescreen format now unless I'm sure the customer only wants 4:3 output. Widescreen displays will become the de facto viewing standard of the 21st century, and in some ways this is more important than resolution in driving the change to widescreen/HD production.

I shoot everything wide and in HD. The resulting image, even if it is delivered in SD, is wonderful. The 4x3 becomes letterboxed, without you having to do anything. The only thing that you need to make sure of is your overscan settings for web or 4x3 delivery. The SMPTE effects will show the overscan unless this is adjusted.(Personal experience on this)
The only advice I can give you is, if it is shot in wide...edit in wide. If it is shot 4x3 edit in 4x3.

[rando]

Where and when to use 16X9

O.K. I did one and on my big LCD I had to set it on "Zoom" to use the whole screen. The compression looked pretty rough though I am trying it again at 7800 mps. I think it may not look much better because its 720X480 being upscaled. Now the only thing I need to change is my Imaginate project and my jumpbacks are still 4:3 and dont match the rest of the footage.

Randy

[STORMDAVE]

Did you burn the DVD as wide? Or are you playing to the LCD directly from the NLE?

There shouldnt be a reason to zoom in from the TV at all. If you use a good upconverting DVD player, it looks very good with SD 16:9 DVDs. If you have a good brand LCDTV, like a Sony Bravia, its upconverting components are of higher quality than cheaper brands such as Westinghouse, etc. Cheaper brands only look good at native resolutions.

You didnt make it clear if youre burning a wide dvd or not. Also you need to go into the DVD players menu, and change it to 16:9.

[rando]

Where and when to use 16X9

I am using DVDSP 4 it seemed to automaticly make it a wide but I couldnt find a setting. The fact that there is 4:3 in the beginning MAY have thrown it off.

[antonsvideo]

you can't mix 4:3 and 16:9 in the same VTS set

to make a successfuld 16:9 standard def DVD

1. shoot 16:9
2. start Edius 16:9 project and capture and edit
3. export to DVD ES streams or Program stream and set advanced output aspect to 16:9 (ProCoder advanced settings)
4. set DVD authoring software to 16:9 menu aspect
5. if your authoring software allows, set option to force 4:3 TV to display letterboxed, this ensures that viewers with 4:3 sets get to see all as intended and viewers with 16:9 TV will see a filled screen

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/dvd-lab/project-properties.gif

here are problems you will encounter
1. DVD players are sold with output preset for 4:3 TV (I know, this is silly)
2. Users don't understand the remote control and the many aspect settings of their 16:9 Plasma or LCD or TV

the conclusion
YOU CAN'T WIN THEM ALL