Aspect Ratios

[DRB]

SnapStream seems to have more/better aspect ratio qptions. They have pilliarbox, letterbox, ect. Pillarbox for instance would zoom and strech and is useful when you have 4:3 content being broadcast in HD. This way you can remove the sidebars on this content and truly fill your screen.

Now I know I can adjust each of the current choice but I don'tt want to totaly loose an option once I change it? By editing the proptries file would it be possiable to add an option and have it chosable while watching TV?

Thanks
DRB

[nielm]

There are only the standard 4 aspect ratios, you cannot add any more, but they should be enough to suit your needs.

If you set Display Aspect ratio to that of your display (16x9, I assume), then Source Video aspect ratio should automatically pillarbox 4x3 content, and automatically fill 16x9 content (assuming that the Aspect Ratio flag in the video content is correctly set, which it normally is for directly captured digital TV).

The 16x9 and 4x3 aspect ratios override the flag in the video content, and Fill by default zooms to fit.

The only time I have had to customise an AR is for 16x9 letterboxed into a 4x3 video: I setup the 16x9 AR to zoom by and center so that the letterboxed content fills by 16x9 screen.

[DRB]

If you set Display Aspect ratio to that of your display (16x9, I assume), then Source Video aspect ratio should automatically pillarbox 4x3 content, and automatically fill 16x9 content (assuming that the Aspect Ratio flag in the video content is correctly set, which it normally is for directly captured digital TV).

Maybe I didn't try all the different modes in different scencerios. When at home I will re-try, but this is how I think it might work. When your watching 4:3 content broadcast as HD the station is sending a 16:9 signal, it just that this signal is 4:3 and contains black bars on the side marking it the 16:9 signal. So if you are in 16:9 mode it going to as is.

Are you saying if I have this set to 16:9 instead of FILL it will expand the picture to completly fill the screen and not leave any sidebars?

This is what Snapstream does, it is some kind of smart strech, it zooms a little, and streches a little. There is little distortion.

DRB

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by DRB

Maybe I didn't try all the different modes in different scencerios. When at home I will re-try, but this is how I think it might work. When your watching 4:3 content broadcast as HD the station is sending a 16:9 signal, it just that this signal is 4:3 and contains black bars on the side marking it the 16:9 signal.

Yup, that's how 4:3 is broadcast in HD.

So if you are in 16:9 mode it going to as is.

If you have a 16:9 display, and SageTV's Display Aspect Ratio set to 16:9, then the 16x9, Fill, and Source AR options will all provide the same result in this situation.

Are you saying if I have this set to 16:9 instead of FILL it will expand the picture to completly fill the screen and not leave any sidebars?

It would help to know what AR your display is. It sounds like it's 4:3, in which case you could quite easilly set the 4x3 AR in Sage to be approx 133% Horizontal Zoom, which would effectively crop the pillarboxes.

[DRB]

My display is 16:10.

If you have a 16:9 display, and SageTV's Display Aspect Ratio set to 16:9, then the 16x9, Fill, and Source AR options will all provide the same result in this situation.

Meaning what I said? You would have a 4:3 image with bars on the side, right? My point is that you could smart stech this and fill the entire screen with very little distortion. As it is now I would be able to do a smart strech but then I would lose the mode I edited.

DRB

[Mark SS]

'Smart' zoom is what you're looking for and unfortunately its an option Sage is lacking. Would be a very useful addition.

[DRB]

'Smart' zoom is what you're looking for and unfortunately its an option Sage is lacking. Would be a very useful addition.

Is this something that can be done in Studio?

DRB

[nielm]

no -- 'Smart' zoom would need to post-process the video to disproportionally stretch the edges relative to the center... Something like ffdshow may be able to do it...