[mythtv-users] transcoding widescreen recordings

[Steve Peters - Priority Electronics]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org 
>[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Michael T. Dean
>Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 2:34 PM
>To: Discussion about mythtv
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] transcoding widescreen recordings
>
>
>On 03/21/2008 03:05 PM, Steve Peters - Priority Electronics wrote:
>> Hello, i'm using the pvr-500 in my mythbox, and I get a few hd 
>> channels via my cable box. Currently,  i record those 
>channels and get 
>> nice and useless black bars at the top and bottom of the mpeg files. 
>> Does anyone know how to remove that? I know it's only an SD 
>recording, 
>> but sometimes, there are some good shows on hd only channels.
>
>You can set your cable/satellite box to not send the black bars (i.e. 
>send a "widescreen" output) and then you won't waste those 
>precious few 
>lines you have available in NTSC/PAL.  Of course, this assumes that he 
>who controls your cable/satellite box deemed it necessary to offer you 
>this option (though most all I've seen do).
>
>I'm pretty sure ivtv supports Widescreen Signalling, so if 
>your STB uses 
>it properly, Myth can be made to "know" whether it's a 
>widescreen video 
>or not.  This isn't to say Myth doesn't support it--I don't know if it 
>does; I've never looked, but if it just works for you, that's a /much/ 
>simpler test than digging through code.  (However, it sounds 
>like you'd 
>prefer for Myth to think everything is 4:3 because you want everything 
>stretched, so even if Myth overrides the WSS information, it 
>will likely 
>"just work" for you.)
>
>> I want to remove the bars, then transcode my recordings, or have the 
>> bars removed in the transcoding.
>>  
>> I'm pretty sure that my cable box does not send the bars with the 
>> composite signal, because when i plug the composite cable into my tv 
>> directly, the black bars are now gray bars.
>>  
>> What do you guys do with those bars?
>
>I pulled my PVR-x50's out and replaced them with HD-3000's.  For those 
>things with bars (whether letterboxed 2.39:1 movies or pillarboxed 4:3 
>content), I leave them.  I won't stretch the content as I 
>don't care to 
>watch shorter/fatter versions of actors (nor would I want to watch 
>taller/thinner versions of them).  They take up almost no space in the 
>compressed recording, so they're harmless.
>
>Mike
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I didn't plan on stretching the video either. The main issue is that
currently I have a 4:3 55" hdtv by philips, but eventually I'll go with a
lcd/plasma tv, and it'll be widescreen. If my transcoded video is done at
4:3, and there are black bars at the top, then the actual video part won't
reach the top of the lcd/plasma display, and I'll end up with black bars on
the top/bottom AND on the left/right sides of the video. So my future 55"
lcd tv will be showing a 40" picture when you consider the black bars all
around. I know stretch is an option, but hopefully there is a way to fix it
in the transcoded video so I don't have to ever worry about stretch/fill
stuff during playback.

Try recording a 4:3 video with black bars on top, then play it back on a
widescreen display, you'll see exactly what I mean.

As for having ivtv detect that, that would be pretty nice. Where would I
even start on getting that working? Any ideas?

-Thanks
-Steve