AVI Capture to Widescreen

[rcubed]

Hi,
I've checked the forums and other places and haven't found any info on the correct method to use.

I have captures from TV using a Canopus ADVC 100 which yields 720x480 AVI output. The actual picture has black bars on the top and bottom (looks like 16:9) on a 4:3 TV.

I convert using TMPGEnc 3.0 Express (or Procoder Express) and author using TMPGenc DVD Author 2.0. (I could also use Procoder Express).

I want to produce a DVD that will be widescreen. I am using the following workflow for the encode part (for TMPGenc case):
1) Read the AVI file into TMPGEnc using the defaults (720x480 Interlaced, bottom field 1st, pixel 10:11 NTSC (I'm in USA)).
Then use the following filters:
2) Crop the file to either 704x396 or 720x408 (the latter appears to reduce the overscan on TV picture. The idea is to get as close to 16:9 ratio as possible with cropping.
3) Select resize options either Center (Custom Size) 720x480 or Full Screen keep aspect ratio unchecked.
4) Encode to NTSC using Image 16:9 option.

5) Author using 16:9 format.

Is this the correct procedure to be following?

Any help/comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Rcubed

PS
Overscan is a b-tch to deal with!

[LT. Columbo]

if you want to maintain the original aspect ratio all i do is is use "full screen keep aspect ratio 2". it will keep the 16:9 with black bars

[rcubed]

Thanks

LT. Columbo,
Thanks for the input. I appreciate the response. One question, I run TMPGEnc 3.0 and there is no explicit "Full Screen Aspect Ratio 2". Do you off hand know the equivalent one. I haven't had a chance to look into or try the trial version of 2x to see what it does. I suspect it's buried there in 3.0 somewhere. The documentation for TMPGEnc is sparse at the best in its explanation of what it does in detail. Some one on the VideoHelp.com site had a similar question about the option.

I've gotten it to work for both the TMPGEnc and Procoder Express encoders. One has to be very particular about cropping, so the over scan is not excessive when viewed on a 16:9 TV.

Again I appreciate your time and kind response,

Sincerely.

rcubed

PS
After digging (I've got toooooooo much crap on my computer and in my computer room ). I (re)found the very useful thread "Determining Aspect Ratios and Resolution" by DJRumpy http://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=174200
that I remember reading quite a while ago. At my age, one forgets things. Thanks again!!!!

[LT. Columbo]

under xpress filters - resize (similar to TMPGEnc Plus)

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/advanced_tmpgenc_xpress_guide_page_4.cfm