[mythtv] 4:3 content on 16:9 HDTV & Black bars - revisited

[Moasat]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-dev-bounces at mythtv.org 
> [mailto:mythtv-dev-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of John Patrick Poet
> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:02 PM
> To: mythtv at moasat.dyndns.org; Development of mythtv
> Subject: RE: [mythtv] 4:3 content on 16:9 HDTV & Black bars - 
> revisited
> 
> On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, Moasat wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mythtv-dev-bounces at mythtv.org
> > > [mailto:mythtv-dev-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Isaac Richards
> > > Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 6:25 PM
> > > To: Development of mythtv
> > > Subject: Re: [mythtv] 4:3 content on 16:9 HDTV & Black bars - 
> > > revisited
> > >
> > > On Tuesday 14 September 2004 07:06 pm, Moasat wrote:
> > > > I've done a version of a non-linear horizontal image
> > > scaling function
> > > > that would stretch the edges of the video to the edge of the TV 
> > > > but keep the center more or less at 1-to-1.  My Hitachi HDTV
> > > has this mode
> > > > built-in, as do many other HDTV's I imagine.  The 
> problem with the 
> > > > code right now is that it is written in C and only has MMX code 
> > > > for Intel assembly syntax and I assume it needs to be AT&T
> > > assembly.  The
> > > > C code would most likely not be fast enough, even on 
> the fastest 
> > > > systems right now.  If someone would like to convert it, I
> > > could make
> > > > it available.  Otherwise, I'll continue to work on
> > > converting it to AT&T.
> > > >
> > > > Besides that, I currently have no idea how it would get 
> integrated 
> > > > into MythTV or MythVideo.  I planned to jump off that
> > > bridge when I got to it.
> > >
> > > If your TV has the mode built in, why not simply send 4:3 content 
> > > and let your TV stretch it?
> > >
> > > Isaac
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > mythtv-dev mailing list
> > > mythtv-dev at mythtv.org
> > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-dev
> > >
> >
> > I haven't worked out the optimum setup yet but with a modeline of 
> > 960x540, I get a great looking picture but my TV locks into 
> widescreen 
> > and the smooth-wide mode is not an option any longer so I 
> end up with 
> > black bars when watching 4:3 content.  Not that I 
> understand why but 
> > I've been warned not to leave the black bars on the screen for more 
> > than about 10% of the viewing time or burn-in will occur.  
> I kind of 
> > figured that sort of thing wouldn't happen with newer TVs 
> but I'm not 
> > an engineer so I'm taking other people's word for it.  For my setup 
> > though, I figured a software version of the smooth-wide 
> mode in Myth would solve the problem for me.
> >
> 
> What is the resolution of the source 4:3 material?  Is it 
> 704x480/720x480 or is it upconverted by your tv station to an 
> HD resolution?
> 
> If it is not upconverted by your tv station, you could 
> configure Myth to send it to your TV in it's "native" 
> resolution, thus allowing your TV to scale/stretch it.
> 
> My local stations which broadcast in HD, upconvert all 4:3 
> material.  This results in a nice picture, but I end up with 
> black bars all the way around the image, with some content.  
> I have not decided how to handle the problem.
> 
> John
> 

The source material is analog TV through s-video and the PVR350 captures at
720x480.  I have no HD input capabilities but I'm using a VGA to Component
adapter to feed the PC video to the HDTV.  At 960x540, the TV locks into HD
mode.  If I feed it a VGA res of 720x480, the TV stays in 'analog' mode and
the smooth-wide function is available but I don't think the picture is
nearly as good.

I'm trying to find the optimum resolution for watching DVDs and the 4:3
content so I thought running at 960x540 in Myth with the non-linear scaler
for the TV content would look the best and most like, or better, than what
I'm currently seeing without Myth.  (Satellite to ReplayTV to TV, all via
S-Video)