16:9 Imports As 4:3

[steves3688]

Hello -

 

My Sony HD-DVR is filling up, and I would like to archive some of the TV programs by burning them onto DVDs. As an intermediate step, the programs(widescreen 16:9) are burned onto DVD-RAM discs, using a Samsung DVD recorder connected to the DVR. The programs recorded on the DVD-RAM discs, while probably no longer HD, preserve the orginal 16:9 aspect ratio when played on another DVD player or on my PC. Since in some instances I would like to combine some of the episodes onto a single DVD-R disc, I would like to use EMC to edit out commercials, etc.

 

When I use EMC10's media import, the resulting imported files have a 4:3 aspect ratio, even though EMC10 indicates that the file on the source DVD-RAM disc is 16:9 NTSC, as other posts have noted.

 

Is there any way to preserve the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio of the original file using EMC10? If not, does a more current version of EMC(or any competing software, for that matter) allow this?

 

From searching prior posts, I realize this general topic has been touched on several times, but I was wondering if DVD-RAM discs are a special case.

 

Thanks in advance

[bimicher]

Hello -

 

My Sony HD-DVR is filling up, and I would like to archive some of the TV programs by burning them onto DVDs. As an intermediate step, the programs(widescreen 16:9) are burned onto DVD-RAM discs, using a Samsung DVD recorder connected to the DVR. The programs recorded on the DVD-RAM discs, while probably no longer HD, preserve the orginal 16:9 aspect ratio when played on another DVD player or on my PC. Since in some instances I would like to combine some of the episodes onto a single DVD-R disc, I would like to use EMC to edit out commercials, etc.

 

When I use EMC10's media import, the resulting imported files have a 4:3 aspect ratio, even though EMC10 indicates that the file on the source DVD-RAM disc is 16:9 NTSC, as other posts have noted.

 

Is there any way to preserve the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio of the original file using EMC10? If not, does a more current version of EMC(or any competing software, for that matter) allow this?

 

From searching prior posts, I realize this general topic has been touched on several times, but I was wondering if DVD-RAM discs are a special case.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Are you selectiing the option to create a 16:9 Widescreen production when you start your project? It is found under File/New Production

[steves3688]

Are you selectiing the option to create a 16:9 Widescreen production when you start your project? It is found under File/New Production

 

Yes, I have tried that. The file that I am trying to use still shows up as 4:3, even though it was 16:9 before it was imported into EMC. Thanks

[Jim_Hardin]

Yes, I have tried that. The file that I am trying to use still shows up as 4:3, even though it was 16:9 before it was imported into EMC. Thanks

It would appear that your file is either not a true 16:9 or that the 16:9 Flag was not properly set within the file. If that is the case the resulting capture will look 'squished'?

 

I don't know of any way to change that but some others may.

 

[steves3688]

Exacxtly how are you burning the files to a DVD RAM? there could be a probably there. You are saying the Samsung is 'preserving' the 16:9, but in reality it probably isn't depending on how you have it connected to the SONY DVR. The only way it will definitely preserve the aspect ratio is if you are using firewire. If you have the SOny connected to the Samsung using composite (yellow RCA) , then you will lose the aspect ratio and most likely Hidef, too.

 

If you have it connected via firewire, the video should be transferred as hidef, 16:9 video.

 

The DVR(Sony DHG-HDD250) does not have firewire in or out, and the DVD recorder(Samsung DVD-R4000) has line - in for only S-video and RCA plugs, so the two are connected by S-video; I am assuming this would precluded any hi-def recordings from being made on the DVD recorder.

 

I downloaded a trial version of a competitor's product, which did produce a DVD with the correct aspect ratio, i.e. the picture was not squished, but appeared as it should. The aspect ratio of the resulting DVD was displayed correctly in about every DVD player I could find to test it in, so I was able to eventually do what I set out to do.

 

Thanks again for trying to help figure out what was wrong with my procedure.

 

[ggrussell]

Exacxtly how are you burning the files to a DVD RAM? there could be a probably there. You are saying the Samsung is 'preserving' the 16:9, but in reality it probably isn't depending on how you have it connected to the SONY DVR. The only way it will definitely preserve the aspect ratio is if you are using firewire. If you have the SOny connected to the Samsung using composite (yellow RCA) , then you will lose the aspect ratio and most likely Hidef, too.

 

If you have it connected via firewire, the video should be transferred as hidef, 16:9 video.