DVD aspect ratio question

[westy]

I've downloaded a few documentaries and was wondering if there is any way to correct the aspect ratio of the videos when I burn them to DVD so I don't get the black space on the top and bottom of the picture when I play them on a regular TV.

I'm using NeroVision Express 2 to burn the videos to DVD and have tried setting the aspect ratio to automatic and 4 : 3 but the result is the same. The only other choice I have is 16 : 9. What will that setting do and is there possibly a different way to make the video fill the screen ?

Thanks in advance !

[Mark]

you can try useing TMPGEnc Plus, but i think the result will be messed up looking. just use the projsct wizard and check some settings.

only do a few minutes of the video to see if it works, that way you don't waste too much encodeing time trying different settings.

[Jim]

Need a little more info. I'm assuming you have some sort of wide aspect ratio on your source videos, but would like them to display at full 4:3 on your TV?

If that's the case, Mark's right in suggesting a program like TMPGEnc. It'll do a good job at adjusting the video like this. You should also be able to preview how it'll look before you even reach the encoding steps.

However, you're obviously going to be cutting off part of the picture, distorting it, or even both, depending on how you choose to do this. That leaves me with the question: why bother?

[westy]

I think I fixed the issue, for good or bad. I went into the setup on my DVD player and changed the setup in the menu to 4:3 and now th picture fill the entire screen.

Bad part is the picture looks oblong sort of. I didn't fiddle with it long enough but I think that might be my fix.

Thanks guys !

[zooner]

easier way.

simply zoom in on your dvd player. same idea, but keeps the aspect ratio the same.