16:9 capture

[JDizzy]

I have a quaestion...

I am using a Happague PVR 150 for capturing off of a DirecTV box.
I have the TV box set to output 16:9 but it seems like the capture card defaults to capturing and passing through at 4:3.

I have configured the Sage User Interface (using overscan setup) to fill my 16:9 HDTV but when I watch live TV all I get is a 4:3 image within the 16:9 Sage screen.

The only way around this I have found is to actually use the Stretch function on my HDTV to force the image larger (and of course, causing it to distort and sending part of the Sage User Interface off screen), but at least the entire video capture image stays on the screen

I know you can use the aspect setup within Sage to also stretch the image out, but it ends up forcing part of the image off the screen and out of view. (If there is text on bottom of screen, you only see the top of it scroll by...kinda funky and unacceptable)...

So, is there another way?
Can you force the PVR 150 capture card out of 4:3 mode (if that is the issue)
Are there other cards available that use 16:9

Thanks,
JDizz

[dbfresh23]

The PVR150 is an NTSC tuner. The NTSC standard is 4:3 so no you cannot change this. Also you cannot force a show to be captured in a resolution that it's not broadcast in.

[blade]

The aspect ratios in Sage are adjustable. Each one has its own horizontal and vertical stretch settings.

[JDizzy]

When using Sage's built-in aspect adjuster, to get the screen to fill horizontilly it forces the top and bottom of video off screen...

And as I said, I have the DirecTv box sending out the signal as 16:9....and it will show up on TV as 16:9 when connected directly to TV, but not through my PVR150..

Therefore, is there a card that will capture what it is fed, rather than what it wants to be fed.... or have I lost it here...

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by blade

The aspect ratios in Sage are adjustable. Each one has its own horizontal and vertical stretch settings.

But this doesn't affect the recording itself, a 4:3 show is still recorded in 4:3.

There is a plugin for auto aspect ratio changing for playback, may want to take a look at that.

[JDizzy]

I am still configuring my way around Sage and have seen a few plugins of interest like the commercial skip one... and also some custom interfaces...I am a bit leary of messing with too much at the moment until I have a good reference point to work off of...

But, do you know the name of the aspect changer, and can it do it in realtime as you watch a show? (or do I really want to really go there??)

I am just trying to make using Sage as easy as possible for someone without them having to change settings when going from DVD (works in 16:9), imported video (also in 16:9), to TV (in 4:3) to get a full screen .... I mean why have widescreen if you're only using the middle of it??!

JDizz

[nielm]

http://www.sage-community.org/index....i/AspectRatios
http://www.sage-community.org/index....duleAutoAspect

[blade]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

But this doesn't affect the recording itself, a 4:3 show is still recorded in 4:3.

I never said it did. I know that the capture card isn't going to capture in 16:9, but I also know that Sage's aspect ratios can be adjusted to stretch without pushing the picture off the screen.

From reading this:

Originally Posted by JDizzy

I know you can use the aspect setup within Sage to also stretch the image out, but it ends up forcing part of the image off the screen and out of view. (If there is text on bottom of screen, you only see the top of it scroll by...kinda funky and unacceptable)...

It sounds like JDizzy doesn't know that the the aspect ratios can be adjusted. Of course I could be wrong, but I'll explain it anyway just in case.

Go to setup, detailed setup, multimedia, then click on modify aspect ratio settings. You'll see a horizontal and vertical stretch. You can raise or lower these settings so that the video fits the screen without pushing part of it out of sight. Also each aspect ratio has it's own settings.

You don't have to use fill in order to stretch the content to fit the screen. For example I have 16:9 tv, for 4:3 content I use Sage's 4:3 setting and have the horizontal stretch set so that it fits the screen. For 4:3 letterboxed I use the 16:9 setting and have it set to stretch both horizontally and vertically so that the content fills the screen. I use source for imported videos. If they're 16:9 they should play back at 16:9 when using source. I don't know about DVDs because I don't have a DVD drive in my HTPC. Try source for it and see if that works.

The aspect ratio changer works great. You still need to configure the aspect ratios in Sage so that the video fits the screen properly. The changer just switches between Sage's ratio settings so they need to be right or you'll still have your problem.

[JDizzy]

I do know about the aspect changer and have tried (and use it to some extent)

But, what happens is, when I change my horizontal setting to say, 122% the vertical also seems to change (keeping aspect ration the same) so unless I have equal voids around the border, eventually something goes off the screen while trying to acheive a full picture... strange, eh?!

I have even tried negative numbers to try and bring back part of the offscreen video to no avail...

Dunno....JDizz

[blade]

Originally Posted by JDizzy

But, what happens is, when I change my horizontal setting to say, 122% the vertical also seems to change (keeping aspect ration the same) so unless I have equal voids around the border, eventually something goes off the screen while trying to acheive a full picture... strange, eh?!

Very strange.