Aspect Ratio Difference and...

[disneyland]

I just purchased a MX440. Coupled with TV Tool I am sending a composite NTSC signal to a 27" screen. The advantage of this card is the ability to extend the desktop to the television without affecting the computer monitor. With the change I have two questions:

1.) I was disappointed to find my recent encodes of 2:35 movies (Peter Pan and The Last Samurai) appeared to be much wider and shorter in height. I thought the video card was somehow stretching the video. But, when I compared a static shot on the DVD with nearly the same frame on the encode I found there was MORE visual information on both sides of the frame in the encode. My questions: Since the DVD does not show this video information, was it viewed by the original theatre audience? If so, why isn't it shown on the DVD? Why would the encode reveal this information and why would a new video card suddenly make it known?

Next question: When the Real Player is used in Theatre Mode on the extended desktop, as soon as any item on the computer monitor is selected, Real reverts to normal mode on the COMPUTER desktop. Is there a way to maintain theatre mode on the extended desktop yet use the computer monitor for work. This problem doesn't occur when Real is run in a window mode.

Thanks!
GJC

[manono]

Hi-

I may or may not be able to answer the first one. But this made me chuckle:

Why would the encode reveal this information and why would a new video card suddenly make it known?

You make it sound as if in the process of the encoding, new video was invented that wasn't on the DVD. I know nothing about TVTool or theater mode or any of that, so maybe someone else can step in. And you might find information and help at the HTPC Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=26) of the AVS Forums. Their FAQ is quite good.

But it sounds to me as if you're managing to output your avi to the TV without overscan, while when playing the DVD, of course, you'll lose 5-10% of the video from the sides. I think that if you play the DVD on your computer there won't be any overscan, so you'll see the whole thing, just like your avi. If you can gain access to your TV's service menu, you can lessen the overscan most likely.

The fact of the overscan not only makes the DVD lose picture information from the sides, but also accounts for the fact that it seems "taller", or has a greater measurement from top to bottom than does your avi when sent from the computer to the television. If you don't know about overscan, and want more information, then this link will fill you in. Interestingly, he claims up to 20% of the picture information is lost, a higher percentage than I've read before (or experienced myself). But his pictures seem to prove his point. But different TVs have differing amounts of overscan:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Overscan.html

[SeeMoreDigital]

Also...

Can we have some info about your encode?

Did you crop and resize. What's your encodes, image pixel frame size?

Like manono, I'm not an TVTool user but it sounds to me like some kind of 16:9 TV output might have been selected instead of 4:3.


Cheers

[niann]

I am using a similer setup with a ATI Raedon based GPU with a Composite output to a 27" TV. I have not noticed a difference at all between my Divx encodes, and the original DVD Video. (Including The Last Samurai) (When I encode I try to have the Vertical zoom as close to 100% as I can get it) I am using Windows Media Player in full screen mode to play the files. (Don't laugh it works for me :) ) I have never user real player or TV tool. In your display control panel there should be a way to adjust how the picture on the tv works. Is every thing a bit distorted or just a few movies? Maybe take a look at how they were encoded and make sure your pixel aspect raito is correct?