Widescreen playback on TV

[lpk2006]

I have read other posts regarding playback on TV of widescreen videos, and have followed instructions, such as making sure that the DVD player is set to letterbox. However, my movies still do not play widescreen on the TV, though do play widescreen on our computer. Any suggestions?

[ggrussell]

When using MyDVD, it shouldn't matter what the aspect ratio of the menu is. I have done this many times with no problems. If the 16:9 isn't playing correctly, then there is a problem with that file. What is the source of the video? Does it play back in 16:9 using Windows Media Player? Try adding it to a Videowave 16:9 project. Does it add as 16:9 ok?

[ggrussell]

What type of TV? 4:3 or 16:9? When you set MyDVD to 16:9, the final DVD is true anamorphic - meaning the 'black bars' is NOT actually encoded in the video. So proper playback depends totally on teh DVD player. Most DVD players have 3 settings: Letterbox, pan.scan and widescreen.

 

If your TV is 4:3, the DVD player should be set to letterbox.

If you TV is 16:9, the DVD player should be set to widescreen.

 

This 'should' work on all DVD players. Of course, I'm also assuming that the video file that you are burning IS widescreen. Maybe we should backup to that point.

[lpk2006]

Thanks for the reply.

I read other posts about this problem and did check to see if my DVD player was set to 4:3 letterbox (I have a 4:3 TV). In fact, tried all three options in case I missed something. And yes, I've made the movies in widescreen (my computer plays them widescreen no problem as I mentioned before). So am not sure why DVD player is not playing the disc correctly.

[pants10]

I have the same problem. The only way I found to fix it is to either A: save the project and open it in an older version of Roxio 8 (I was told this works, I don't actually have Roxio 8, my friend does and he got it fixed somehow) or B: run all the movies through VideoWave 1st to force letterboxing.

 

It isn't the DVD player. I would gladly send you a DVD I created to be widescreen, and you can play it on a DVD player. Windows media player will widescreen it. However a PS2 set to letterbox will not. I use PS2 because it is standardized, and I am willing to bet you can get your hands on one to see what we are talking about. you can set it to the correct settings, but it WILL NOT WORK. The same goes for all sony DVD players I have ever encountered. And all NOT sony, NOT Divx players I have ever encountered that wasn't a computer. (I say not Divx player because my Divx player doesn't make the mistake for some reason)

 

Sometimes, they would even display the menu on a DVD letterboxed, but switch to not-letterbox when the actual movie would play.

 

I would not be surprised if some DVD players will treat it like Windows media player and somehow get it right... however, for what ever reason.

[ggrussell]

That is odd. What are you getting - a squished picture? Is there another DVD Player that you can try the disc on?

[tallicdeth]

I have added 16:9 videos to a 4:3 menu project, and I get the same effect, it cuts the image off on the sides to make it fit to the screen. I have tried using Gspot, it said it was 1.78:1 which is 16:9...but it rendered the video into fullscreen in the preview and on both of my DVD players. Which are both set to 4:3 Letterbox.

[ggrussell]

PS 2 'standard'? Thanks I need a good laugh! What makes you think that the PS2 is standard and all other DVD players are not? The DVD PLAYER inside the PS2 is the same DVD player mechanism used in most computers and other DVD players. My mother has a SONY DVD player and ever disc I have made using EMC 9 plays just fine on it. The DVDs I have created in EMC 9 also play perfectly fine on an el cheapo Cyberhome player and my own Samsung DVD/VCR combo.

 

Doing a quick search on Google I found this here:

"We need to say up front that the PS2 is a game console first and foremost. Its performance as a DVD player does not even match DVD players costing $100 less. So, if you are looking primarily for a DVD player, you can do better."

[bexley]

I have read posts where 16:9 versus 4:3 issues are dismissed as incorrect DVD player settings, etc.

I think there is a real bug in how 16:9 is handled in the MyDVD/Videowave products, where they should be set to Anamorphic display, that is one can select 4:3 P&S, 4:3 Letterbox, or 16:9 display, and the display should be appropriate to that setting.

 

My DVD players: OPPO, Sony RDX300, Panasonic DMR ES10, Cyberhome

 

I have created DVDs using MyDVD9 and VideoWave. The above, and most DVD players have settings for 4:3 P&S, 4:3 Letterbox and 16:9. Only DVDs I have created using MyDVD do not respect the 4:3 Letterbox setting, all my other DVDs show up in 4:3 Letterbox format - the MyDVD created DVDs treat 4:3 P&S and Letterbox as the same setting. This seems to me to be a flaw in the MyDVD (VideoWave product).

[bexley]

Upon further research, I think I may have an idea why the 16:9 / 4:3P&S / 4:3 Letterbox problem is occurring. Looking at the MyDVD generated IFOs, the 16:9 flag video attributes should read "16:9 (pan-scan & letterboxed)" to allow the player to make the right automatic decisions; the attributes instead appear as "16:9 (pan-scan)", which would account for the symptoms I am describing. If I edit the IFOs, and set the attributes by hand correctly, the DVD player correctly sets 16:9 / 4:3P&S / 4:3 Letterbox.

 

And not setting the 16:9 flag correctly is a bug, if I'm not mistaken.

 

This link explains the 16:9 flag in detail:

http://www.dvdr-digest.com/articles/42_1.html

[Howcome]

Ok no laughing but how do you make a dvd (using imported digital video camera) that will play on a home dvd player? I have no trouble getting them to play on my computer but they fail to play on my home dvd player. I have tried all dvd disk formats i.e. +rw,+r, -rw, and -r. Whats the secret?

[ggrussell]

No secret...

 

Use MyDVD

Create project

Burn

 

Works on every player (5 different brands in the family) that I have tried. 4:3 or 16:9. However, you should check the manual of the DVD PLAYER to see what types of discs it is compatible. Then find one of those brands/types that ALSO works well with your burner.

 

If you are having a specific problem, then you really should start your own thread. Much easier to keep tack of responses.

[lpk2006]

That is odd. What are you getting - a squished picture? Is there another DVD Player that you can try the disc on?

 

I sent some DVD's to family members - those without a widescreen TV had the same issue with the discs. The pictures were not squished. However, all their computers played the DVD's widescreen. I have no idea what the problem would be. I haven't read anything on the forum that would indicate that this problem has happened to anyone else either. Any ideas?

LK

[grandpabruce]

I sent some DVD's to family members - those without a widescreen TV had the same issue with the discs. The pictures were not squished. However, all their computers played the DVD's widescreen. I have no idea what the problem would be. I haven't read anything on the forum that would indicate that this problem has happened to anyone else either. Any ideas?

LK

 

They need to have the settings correct, on their DVD players.

[ggrussell]

I sent some DVD's to family members - those without a widescreen TV had the same issue with the discs. The pictures were not squished.

Squished or not squished? As Bruce pointed out, they need to check their DVD player setup. When playing back widescreen on a regular 4:3 TV, it is up to the DVD player to 'letterbox' it (insert the black bars). Have them go into the DVD player setup and set it for 'letterbox'.