What settings to use for final destination to VHS ?

gnfoster wrote on 6/12/2003, 2:00 PM
I've searched and searched for the answer...

It's all in the settings of aspect ratio's I think.

I'm using a Panasonic PVDV-101 mini-dv camcorder. No problems whatsoever.
(Sometimes I will incorporate video from a VHS-C camcorder also. Imported thru Dazzle).

Capturing with SF Video Capture. No problems.

Editing. No problems.

Print back to tape. No problems.

Copy from DV to VHS. Problems...
(even have tried to burn VCD and play thru DVD and have same problem)

I'm losing the left and right sides of my video. If I have text or anything at the sides of my video, they're not completely visible when put onto VHS. Do I just have to be careful as to where I place anything like that, and expect to lose the sides, or is there actually a setting somewhere that would prevent me from losing my sides. Pan/crop maybe?

LETTERBOXING is FINE! I actually would prefer to have the letterbox effect. However if I select that before rendering/PTT, it makes no difference, I don't get the top and bottom bars. I still lose the sides. I've tried several different settings, but...

It's got to be a simple explanation. I think I've even done it before, but can't remember when and how.

Using VV3.0c

Frustrated....


Thanks for ANY help.. even guesses.


gnf

Comments

Jsnkc wrote on 6/12/2003, 2:17 PM
I think you need to turn on the title and action "safe ares" in your preview window when you are editing. The average TV screen will cut off about 10% of the video on all 4 sides. In your video preview window there is a little button that has a symbol like this # on it and it will say overlays if you mouse over it. Turn that on, the inner box is your title safe area, as long as you keep your titles within that box they should be viewable when you view it on a TV screen. The outer box is the action safe area, if you keep all the video that you want seen within that box you should be able to see it when you play it back on a TV monitor. When you use widescreen video it shouldn't cut off any of your picture so don't use the safe areas for that, you should be able to fill up the whole screen, but I'd stay a little inside the box just to be safe :)
gnfoster wrote on 6/12/2003, 2:31 PM
Hmmm...

Thanks. I'm gonna try that next. I'm gonna try the Track motion tool too.


I just found this after my post:

http://sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=189670&Page=0

Don't like the answers I'm getting there. But they sound correct.


gnf
mikkie wrote on 6/12/2003, 7:35 PM
As Jsnkc wrote, need to allow for the area of the screen that is cut off on a TV. as this is not always the same amount - varies by tv to tv - use the safe overlays &/or if possible preview to your tv monitor while editing.

When you captured your DV footage it was set with the std aspect ratios for DV. As long as the clip's properties, and proj properties agree, should be no problem - can verify this by hooking your cam up to your TV using pass thru on the vcr if needed, you should see full screen. That's about all you need to think about aspect ratios in this case, and pan/crop will only increase your render times while decreasing quality.

RE: The thread you mentioned... Subject crops up from time to time, and reading the threads can get confusing as well as lead you in directions other then the one you might want to go. Use the safe area, a bit of common sense, and generally everything comes out OK.
gnfoster wrote on 6/12/2003, 10:19 PM
No reason I couldn't have used the safe areas for the last one I did, but the one before that was a rush and had lots of stills, animated text, words scrolling and flying all over the place. just didn't think of that when I was putting it together.

....note to self: SAFE AREAS....SAFE AREAS... SAFE AREAS...

I'm gonna try a different preview - out to TV next time also. That way I'll be a little safer.

Thanks all...


gnf