Converting 4:3 fullscreen to 16:9 widescreen - Newbie type question.

[digitalman]

I searched and searched, so I am sorry if this has been covered. All I want to do is to convert 4:3 non-interlaced fullscreen video to 16:9 widescreen, using Avisynth. The reason for this, is that my DVD authoring program does not allow two different aspect ratios to be used, when including two MPEG2 videos on one DVD. There are many posts about converting 4:3 letterbox to 16:9 widescreen, but my video is not letterbox, but fullscreen. I have tried my own settings using black borders and bicubicresize, but somehow the video never seems to look correct. Basically, what I want, is to keep the 4:3 video in its original aspect ratio, but maybe add black borders to look acceptable in 16:9 format. Some minor cropping would be okay also. Could someone please post a script that allows this? Thank you very much for your help, and again, I am sorry for asking this question, if it has already been asked hundreds of times.

[Abond]

I was very much in doubts to post or not a reply as my knowledge in AviSynth scripting is quiet limited, but I have an idea which might be helpful in your case.
As to convert 4:3 fullscreen to 16:9 I don't know any other way than to crop the 4:3 source until it reaches 16:9 dimensions and it is by far not "minor" cropping. Might be that it is useful to use WarpedResize function of SimpleResize plugin, but you should tweak settings, as I never used it.
My suggestion is to convert the 16:9 you have to 4:3 leterboxed which I think is relatively easy and even I can deal with it without problems. The advantages are that you will preserve the original look and also the aspect ratios of both videos and will not loose any picture information.
Well, I don't know if you like such an idea.:)

[Wilbert]

My suggestion is to convert the 16:9 you have to 4:3 leterboxed which I think is relatively easy and even I can deal with it without problems. The advantages are that you will preserve the original look and also the aspect ratios of both videos and will not loose any picture information.
??? If you mean add black borders to the left and right, till you reach 4:3. Then ok, I agree :)

[Abond]

Not left-right, but top-bottom:)
Edit: E-a-a maybe I don't understand correctly what means "leterboxed":D

[SoonUDie]

Originally posted by digitalman
The reason for this, is that my DVD authoring program does not allow two different aspect ratios to be used, when including two MPEG2 videos on one DVD.
Why not convert your 16:9 clips to letterboxed 4:3 instead? It's easier, faster, and if you're displaying on a normal TV you're not really losing any resolution.

EDIT: Don't post when you've had no sleep. You end up repeating things other people have said ;)

[Wilbert]

@Abond,
You are correct, I misread your suggestion (which is the same as SoonUDie's).

What I said was incorrect. I wanted to say, he could also add black borders on the left and right (to his 4:3 clips) to get 16x9.

[digitalman]

I found a good solution using a program called MovieStacker. I came across it at www.kvcd.net. When setting it up, the resolution for the source is set at 720x480. I select anamorphic for the destination and 720x480 resolution. Here is the resulting script that is given, and basically what I wanted to do without cropping anything, while adding borders on the side.

BilinearResize(512, 446, 0, 5, 720, 470)
AddBorders(104, 17, 104, 17)

It looks good on a 4:3 TV(I do not have an HDTV yet), and looks perfect in PowerDVD, when it plays it as a 16:9 video. I do not mind that it does not fill the whole screen, I just did not want the video stretched all out.

Thanks for everyones help!!! I will also give the 4:3 Letterbox thing a try.

[aklendathu]

Another option is maybe (if you can spare the $$) to get a better DVD-authoring program...

If you'll excuse the publicity, I suggest DVDLAB PRO (1.4 beta free for registered Standard 1.3 users) which allows you to have 4:3 and 16:9 movies on the same DVD. There's a tutorial on how to do it as well. I have done it a few times and it works OK.

You can find more info at
http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/
and
http://www.mmbforums.com/modules.php?name=Forums

[digitalman]

Thanks!! I have the standard DVD-Lab and did not know the newer version would support that!!!!

[kassandro]

With the little utility dvdpatcher you can force most of these brain dead dvd authoring programs to accept nearly everything, even clips with different, even non-DVD compliant resolutions and any good dvd player will accept the output.