DVD recorder discs not correct on 4:3 TV

Mikeygee1a · 22-04-2009, 22:52

Hi all
I've got a Sony RDR-HXD995 HDD/DVD recorder, which I am extremely pleased with.
My one minor quibble is that sometimes I want to watch a programme I have recorded on the HDD (which is in anamorphic format, from Sky) on my old 4:3 TV upstairs, which is connected to another, 4-year old Sony DVD player.
I Dub the programme from HDD to a DVD+RW so I can take it to the other TV.
However, when I watch the disc on this other player/tv the image stays as anamorphic, even though I have set the DVD player to show on a 4:3 tv.
Although I can watch the programme, I can't stand the squished figures!
Shouldn't the second DVD player automatically show the picture as letterbox format?
Am I doing something wrong at the Dubbing stage?

Any help/thoughts would, as always, be appreciated!

Willie Wontie · 22-04-2009, 23:02

I read somewhere that DVD+R and DVD+RW discs do not store the widescreen flag when recording on a Sony DVDR - so although you have recorded the anamorphic widescreen picture, you haven't recorded the widescreen flag to tell it that it is a compressed picture. Therefore, it doesn't know to automatically stretch the picture out if played back on a widescreen TV, and doesn't know to apply letterbox or pan-and-scan logic when played back on a 4:3 TV.

Basically, the compressed picture is all you have got - you can manually decompress the picture on a widescreen TV by manually selecting 16:9 aspect ratio, but you can't do anything with it when watching on a 4:3 TV, because as far as the disc is concerned, what it has got on it is already in 4:3 mode.

Toxteth O'Grady · 23-04-2009, 12:09

Yes this is quite common, many DVD recorders don't record the aspect ratio flag, it tends to be the higher end or professional machines that do it.

The only solution is to either record them with a letterbox (from the Sky box) or change the ratio manually on the TV set you're playing it on.... if it has that function

klaeresource · 24-04-2009, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeygee1a

Hi all
I've got a Sony RDR-HXD995 HDD/DVD recorder, which I am extremely pleased with.
My one minor quibble is that sometimes I want to watch a programme I have recorded on the HDD (which is in anamorphic format, from Sky) on my old 4:3 TV upstairs, which is connected to another, 4-year old Sony DVD player.
I Dub the programme from HDD to a DVD+RW so I can take it to the other TV.
However, when I watch the disc on this other player/tv the image stays as anamorphic, even though I have set the DVD player to show on a 4:3 tv.
Although I can watch the programme, I can't stand the squished figures!
Shouldn't the second DVD player automatically show the picture as letterbox format?
Am I doing something wrong at the Dubbing stage?

Any help/thoughts would, as always, be appreciated!

Most dvd recorders have trouble with the widescreen switching flag that is required to letterbox anamorphic dvd's.
No dvdr will retain WSS if you copy from HDD to dvd in real time.
Many dvd formats will not retain WSS depending on the recorder.
Panasonic only retain it on RAM.
Pioneer retain it on all formats but only with a high speed burn.

I'm not sure about Sony but probably not on any format

If you want to go out and buy a Pioneer then that will do the job

Best bet is to take your +RW recording , download a free program called IFO Edit , copy the +RW to the PC HDD , manually add WSS using IFO Edit then burn it back to +RW.

All will be sorted

22-04-2009, 22:52	#1
Mikeygee1a Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2	DVD recorder discs not correct on 4:3 TV Hi all I've got a Sony RDR-HXD995 HDD/DVD recorder, which I am extremely pleased with. My one minor quibble is that sometimes I want to watch a programme I have recorded on the HDD (which is in anamorphic format, from Sky) on my old 4:3 TV upstairs, which is connected to another, 4-year old Sony DVD player. I Dub the programme from HDD to a DVD+RW so I can take it to the other TV. However, when I watch the disc on this other player/tv the image stays as anamorphic, even though I have set the DVD player to show on a 4:3 tv. Although I can watch the programme, I can't stand the squished figures! Shouldn't the second DVD player automatically show the picture as letterbox format? Am I doing something wrong at the Dubbing stage? Any help/thoughts would, as always, be appreciated!

22-04-2009, 23:02	#2
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	I read somewhere that DVD+R and DVD+RW discs do not store the widescreen flag when recording on a Sony DVDR - so although you have recorded the anamorphic widescreen picture, you haven't recorded the widescreen flag to tell it that it is a compressed picture. Therefore, it doesn't know to automatically stretch the picture out if played back on a widescreen TV, and doesn't know to apply letterbox or pan-and-scan logic when played back on a 4:3 TV. Basically, the compressed picture is all you have got - you can manually decompress the picture on a widescreen TV by manually selecting 16:9 aspect ratio, but you can't do anything with it when watching on a 4:3 TV, because as far as the disc is concerned, what it has got on it is already in 4:3 mode.

23-04-2009, 12:09	#3
Toxteth O'Grady Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 7,631	Yes this is quite common, many DVD recorders don't record the aspect ratio flag, it tends to be the higher end or professional machines that do it. The only solution is to either record them with a letterbox (from the Sky box) or change the ratio manually on the TV set you're playing it on.... if it has that function

24-04-2009, 21:52	#4
klaeresource Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 751	Quote: Originally Posted by Mikeygee1a Hi all I've got a Sony RDR-HXD995 HDD/DVD recorder, which I am extremely pleased with. My one minor quibble is that sometimes I want to watch a programme I have recorded on the HDD (which is in anamorphic format, from Sky) on my old 4:3 TV upstairs, which is connected to another, 4-year old Sony DVD player. I Dub the programme from HDD to a DVD+RW so I can take it to the other TV. However, when I watch the disc on this other player/tv the image stays as anamorphic, even though I have set the DVD player to show on a 4:3 tv. Although I can watch the programme, I can't stand the squished figures! Shouldn't the second DVD player automatically show the picture as letterbox format? Am I doing something wrong at the Dubbing stage? Any help/thoughts would, as always, be appreciated! Most dvd recorders have trouble with the widescreen switching flag that is required to letterbox anamorphic dvd's. No dvdr will retain WSS if you copy from HDD to dvd in real time. Many dvd formats will not retain WSS depending on the recorder. Panasonic only retain it on RAM. Pioneer retain it on all formats but only with a high speed burn. I'm not sure about Sony but probably not on any format If you want to go out and buy a Pioneer then that will do the job Best bet is to take your +RW recording , download a free program called IFO Edit , copy the +RW to the PC HDD , manually add WSS using IFO Edit then burn it back to +RW. All will be sorted

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DVD recorder discs not correct on 4:3 TV