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DVD on widescreen TV's |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Barnsley
Posts: 3,302
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DVD on widescreen TV's
When I first got my widescreen TV my girlfriend rented "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" - no matter what I did it was clear to me (though not her) that it wasn't displayed correctly - in fact she told me to stop messing with the TV/DVD and watch the film but it "bugged" me all the way through.
From the titles I could tell that the 4:3 pic I was getting wasn't the full picture cause words were cut off the left/right side. Anyway this bugged me even after we went to bed and the next morning (a sunday) I got up at 7am to check it out and from reading the DVD manual I found the setting to tell DVD to output to a 16:9 TV. Tried the DVD and it was fine. However some films are not so obvious so how do I know which films need to use 16:9 zoom and which just need stretching to FULL mode cause they are anamorphic? She rented The Pianist and I put that on 16:9 zoom and it wasn't till near the end that I realised it was wrong! Its not so bad on DVD's I buy cause can often tell from the box but surely Blockbusters etc should print such info on the rental box - I know its on the box in the store but usually my girlfriend goes to get them and she doesn't bother to check! |
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#2 |
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: 0.3 units from doom
Posts: 17,447
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If you have your DVD player set up to output 16:9 and have your TV set up to display 4:3 unless a 16:9 signal is detected, then it should do it all automatically
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#3 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 550
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Yeah, label info with aspect (and other stuff like running time, please) wouldn't be much of a stretch, but then Blockbuster's antiquated system only seems to handle title, lead actor and a meaningless category. And if they did give picture info you'd have to hope that they got it right (or as right as the original label was). Just be thankful there's no US-style dual-inventory and you don't have the added hassle of trying to avoid the pan-and-scan version.
The problem is, there's actually two ratios to consider - whether the picture format is 4:3 or anamorphic/16:9-enhanced/"widescreen version" - and what ratio the movie actually is (1.33:1/1.85:1/2.35:1). Many studios leave out the details and just label as "widescreen", because there's no standard terminology, and anyway why should the punter care?. Fat people/incorrect zoom mode scanlines should be easy to spot though. And you could throw in all the other format considerations such as sound format, subtitles, interlaced vs prog scan, and spend all evening just figuring out how to watch one movie. On DVD you can pretty much trust that it'll be proper original theatrical ratio and anamorphic, with SKY it could be anything, but if you have your DVD player properly setup for TV size 4:3 (letterbox 16:9 stuff) or 16:9, your TV in auto mode, and the widescreen switching signal being detected (and there are two methods - line 23 and RGB scart pin 8 - which may or may not be implemented... aaargh!), then things should just sort of magically work, like they should... |
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#4 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by Exulus Thats how I have them set up but it doesn't switch automatically - i think thats cause I only have one RGB scart input which I have the Sky box connected to
If you have your DVD player set up to output 16:9 and have your TV set up to display 4:3 unless a 16:9 signal is detected, then it should do it all automatically
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#5 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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RichardS: Plug the DVD player into the Sky box and then the Sky box into your TV. That way, you'll get RGB quality from both.
Justin. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: West Midlands
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Unfortunately the last posters suggestion will only pass through a PAL quality picture from your DVD player, not the sharper RGB mode picture.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12,173
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It should work, I connect my DVD to video scart2, video scart1 to Sky VCR scart then sky TV scart to TV and RGB is passed through the VCR socket on the Sky digibox through to the TV scart to the TV....so basically my Pace 2500 digibox does pass RGB through the VCR scart socket.... not sure if they all do though (and many VCR's don't pass RGB)
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#8 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by Orbitalzone It should work, I connect my DVD to video scart2, video scart1 to Sky VCR scart then sky TV scart to TV and RGB is passed through the VCR socket on the Sky digibox through to the TV scart to the TV....so basically my Pace 2500 digibox does pass RGB through the VCR scart socket.... not sure if they all do though (and many VCR's don't pass RGB) No I can't work that one out! I've got 3 scart inputs on my TV so Sky box, DVD and video each have their own input. The Sky box uses the only RGB input. I also have a scart from Sky box to video. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Quote:
Unfortunately the last posters suggestion will only pass through a PAL quality picture from your DVD player, not the sharper RGB mode picture.
It does work at full RGB quality. Until recently, I also had my Dreamcast games console plugged into the DVD player, with full RGB quality from that, too. The output from each device was switched automatically.No fiddling with menus and remote controls is required - I just switch on the device I want to use, and it appears on the screen, with the correct aspect ratio and at full RGB quality. Justin. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Quote:
I've got 3 scart inputs on my TV so Sky box, DVD and video each have their own input. The Sky box uses the only RGB input. I also have a scart from Sky box to video.
Richard, I may be misunderstanding you, but do you understand the concept of daisy-chaining all your hardware devices?Plug the VCR into the DVD player, then plug the DVD player into the Sky box, and finally the Sky box into the RGB-scart socket of your TV. You place your VCR at the end of the chain because many don't support RGB pass-through. Devices further down the chain (further away from the TV) have priority, so if your DVD player and Sky box are switched on at the same time, it is the output from your DVD player that you will see on your TV. Justin. |
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#11 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by Justin Firstly - YES I do understand daisy chaining - I work in IT, I understand the concept of connecting devices.Richard, I may be misunderstanding you, but do you understand the concept of daisy-chaining all your hardware devices? Plug the VCR into the DVD player, then plug the DVD player into the Sky box, and finally the Sky box into the RGB-scart socket of your TV. You place your VCR at the end of the chain because many don't support RGB pass-through. Devices further down the chain (further away from the TV) have priority, so if your DVD player and Sky box are switched on at the same time, it is the output from your DVD player that you will see on your TV. Justin. Now you've stopped patronising me onto how you state to connect up. Seems to negate the idea of having 3 scart sockets on the TV to just do that. I used to have to do this with Sky box and VCR before and it was less than ideal - picture from video would have slight interferance on it from the sky box. Also I don't see how it answers the question of how you know what format a DVD is in when you get from the video shop (if your non-technology minded partner has brought it back!) - cause all the TV will know is you have the DVD player has 16:9 but won't know the format of the DVD....or will it? Will the DVD player read something on the disc that says whether its 16:9 or anamorphic etc? |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Manchester
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Quote:
Will the DVD player read something on the disc that says whether its 16:9 or anamorphic etc?
Yes, like others have said before your TV should auto detect and switch to Wide (16:9). If it doersn't (I believe there was a problem with some early WS TVs before the WS signalling was finalised) and your settings are correct then there is something wrong with either your TV, DVD or cables.A DVD will either be in anamorphic WS or not and it's not that difficult to tell by looking at the screen with your own eyes. |
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#13 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kevo I think the "problem" there is that there is only one RGB scart connector which I have my Sky box connected to, I don't want to root the DVD/VCR/Sky box all together as I will lose quality on the VCR, also whats the point of having a set with 3 scart inputs?! Not sure I could root the DVD via the Sky box alone cause I think theres only 2 scarts on the Sky box - 1 to the VCR and 1 to the TV, so non free.Yes, like others have said before your TV should auto detect and switch to Wide (16:9). If it doersn't (I believe there was a problem with some early WS TVs before the WS signalling was finalised) and your settings are correct then there is something wrong with either your TV, DVD or cables. Guess my girlfriend will have to get used to me messing about for the first 5 mins of a DVD!
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#14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Quote:
Seems to negate the idea of having 3 scart sockets on the TV to just do that.
Yes it does. I have two non-RGB, and therefore useless, scart sockets, too. The executives who run these TV manufacturing companies have no idea.Quote:
I used to have to do this with Sky box and VCR before and it was less than ideal - picture from video would have slight interferance on it from the sky box.
I had the same problem until I used a good quality, fully-screened scart lead for the VCR and not a cheap one with a thin cable.Quote:
Also I don't see how it answers the question of how you know what format a DVD is in when you get from the video shop (if your non-technology minded partner has brought it back!) - cause all the TV will know is you have the DVD player has 16:9 but won't know the format of the DVD....or will it? Will the DVD player read something on the disc that says whether its 16:9 or anamorphic etc?
If your DVD player, Sky box, and TV are set up properly, the TV will switch aspect ratios - no user intervention required.Justin. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NE England
Posts: 3,096
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I just watch all dvds in 'wide' mode and it is fine. When playing a dvd the tv automatically puts it into 'wide' mode if that is the signal it is receiving. I never zoom in on any input.
If you do not fancy daisy chaining to get the best picture from your dvd player and Sky you could get a RGB compliant scart switch box and have the Sky and DVD scarts plugged in here. The only drawback here is you would have to manually switch the input over to the DVD player when you wanted to play a DVD (but then you are already by the tv putting the disc in, in any case). I know the newer Sony models have two RGB scart connections so some manufacturer's are taking the RGB demand on board. |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
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Quote:
Originally posted by wicket I think you can get automatic SCART switches, but these are more expensive.If you do not fancy daisy chaining to get the best picture from your dvd player and Sky you could get a RGB compliant scart switch box and have the Sky and DVD scarts plugged in here. The only drawback here is you would have to manually switch the input over to the DVD player when you wanted to play a DVD (but then you are already by the tv putting the disc in, in any case). I overcame the problem of my VCR not supporting RGB loopthrough by connecting the DVD (1 SCART) to the S-Video SCART on the TV. I'm not going to enter an S-Video vs. RGB debate here, all I'll say is that the picture quality is superb (especially now I have a decent OFC lead with gold connectors), and all the input selection and widescreen switching takes care of itself. Only grumble now is that I can only use the composite PAL output on the SEGA Mega-Drive on the VCR loop-through and I have to use the 'SAT MONI.' button on the VCR remote to set up the SCART-path. Also have to select a different audio input on the amp, but the early 90's gaming nostalgia makes it all worthwhile!
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