[mythtv] Aspect Question (svn -- probably a RTFM)

[Matt]

On 10/8/07, mythtv at longhome.co.uk <mythtv at longhome.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> I agree. This used to be possible, but since the -vid merge I haven't been
> able to achieve it.
>
> I've always thought that 2 separate settings are required, although maybe
> this isn't really necessary. I think that the current 'Zoom' setting should
> only apply to 'non-native' broadcasts, ie 4:3 broadcasts on a 16:9 set and
> 16:9 broadcasts on a 4:3 set. At the end of the day, there should be no
> scaling required on native broadcasts.
>
> With the current functionality, if I want to apply a zoom (to remove the
> bars on 4:3 broadcasts) then I lose a whole chunk of my 16:9 picture too.
>
> Now, there may still even be a requirement for 2 settings, because there are
> quite a lot of 15:9 / 16:10 boxes appearing on the market. In this case it
> would be useful to have a separate policy for 16:9 or 4:3 broadcasts. Still,
> if the rules are more like a 'policy' than a standard zoom amount, one
> setting would suffice.
>
> The following I would see as the options required:
>
> Bars - Letter / pillar box
> Clip - Fill the screen, maintain square aspect, clipping may occur
> Half - Mid point between Bars and Clip
> Stretch - For our fans of fat/thin heads
>


Yea - I see the same thing.  Running current SVN it's a little more
difficult for me to get the aspect ratio correct on SD recordings.  I
have a 16x9 TV, and when watching 16x9 content, it's perfect.
However, when I watch 4x3 content the 16x9 override sometimes works
and sometimes doesn't.

Before "Zoom/Aspect" changes:
1) Aspect override is set to 16x9
2) 4x3 content without letterboxes is stretched to 16x9
3) 4x3 content with letterboxes is stretched out to 16x9, however
letterboxes still exist at the top and bottom of the picture.  Picture
fills the entire screen horizontally at this point (not vertically)
4) The entire picture can then be made to fill the whole screen by
cycling through the aspect ratio options with the "W" key.  Filling
the screen both vertically and horizontally.

After "Zoom/Aspect" Changes:
1) Aspect override is set to 16x9
2) 4x3 content without letterboxes is stretched to 16x9
3) 4x3 content with letterboxes is stretched out to 16x9, however
letterboxes still exist at the top and bottom of the picture.  Picture
fills the entire screen horizontally at this point (not vertically)
4) However, you can no longer simply scroll through the "zoom" options
with the "W" key.  If you do, you will begin to cut off the sides of
the picture each time your zoom in to try and fill the screen
vertically
5) You must turn off the 16x9 aspect ratio override
6) Now you can zoom in (usually to full) and it will fill the screen
both vertically and hortizontally

Why is this an "issue"?  Well... if for nothing more than negative
points on the WAF factor, I used to have a single button that would
toggle through all the aspect ratio options and my wife (or I) could
always fill the screen regardless of the content.  Of course this was
usually only necessary when watching 4x3 content with letterboxes
because we had 16x9 aspect ratio override turned on.

NOW... anything that's a 4x3 w/letterbox causes the problem where you
have to go in, disable the override, then do a zoom.  This has added
additional steps.  Also, if I were to turn off the 16x9 aspect ratio
override, then the same problem would basically exist for 4x3 without
letterbox where there would have to be a manual interaction to make it
fill the screen.   Obviously this differs show to show.

Either way, I just find this a regression in overall usability, not
really overall functionality.

Thanks!
Matt