[mythtv-users] Cropping NTSC to 16:9

[Christopher Meredith]

It looks like the SA3250HD does not have the ability to do anamorphic
output over s-video. Am I completely out of luck?

On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 7:21 PM, Jeff <junk_inbox at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 2:01 PM, Christopher Meredith <chmeredith at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> I use an SA3250HD cable box. I get my analog channels via s-video and
>> my HD channels via firewire. My premium HD channels are 5c encrypted
>> so I can't grab them over firewire. They all have standard definition
>> equivalents on my channel lineup, but as I have a 16:9 TV, I'd like to
>> keep the 16:9 aspect ratio even if I can't keep the HD resolution.
>> When tuned to the HD channels, the cable box "letterboxes" the feed
>> before outputting to s-video. I would like to see if I can create a
>> video source or at least set custom "per channel" options that will
>> crop out the top/bottom black bars and display the video in 16:9
>> resolution. There are a couple things I've tried:
>>
>> MANUAL ZOOM
>> Obviously, if I am watching such a channel and I set the manual zoom
>> to "full," it displays exactly as I have in mind. The problem is this
>> is not an automatic solution and I can't figure out a way to set the
>> default zoom method on a per-channel basis. Is this possible?
>>
>> CROPPING
>> The other method I tried is using a video filter to crop the black
>> bars out. The problem appears to be that the "crop" filter in MythTV
>> doesn't work the same way as the crop filter in, say, mplayer. It
>> appears that when using an NTSC capture card, the recorded video will
>> always be 720x480 and the crop settings are meant to be used with
>> equal values all around. If I set the record filter to "crop=4:0:4:0",
>> it does crop out the unwanted bars, but the recorded video is still
>> 720x480 and the "dead space" is filled with distorted patterns. The
>> same is true if I use the same string in the playback filter field.
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a method to "un-letterbox" an NTSC feed and
>> automatically display a 16:9 resolution?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Christopher
>
> Christopher,
>
>   Check if there's a way in the box to set it to 'anamorphic' output.   That
> will output the 16:9 video stretched in a 4:3 frame.
>
> J-e-f-f-A
>
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