I've been looking, without any luck, for a video scaler / converter that will take 720p or 1080i (16:9) HD video (right now from HD cable via its component out), and convert it to Full Height, SD video which also has been anamorphicly (horizontally) compressed, just like SD anamorphic DVD's. Here's an example of what I mean.

Here's what you would see on your HDTV:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/18516x9tv16x9.jpg

With HD (16:9) to SD (4:3) anamorphic compression, the SD image would look like this:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/185ondisc16x9.jpg

This can then be recorded on your SD DVD recorder, and played back on the HDTV in the expanded screen mode. It's NOT HD, but its a lot better than shrunken letterbox video. My HD cable box (Scientific Atlanta) has an S-Video output, and converts HD to SD, but it's in letterbox, and poorer video quality than standard digital TV to SD.

I think there are some scalers out there, but they're very costly. There has to be something out there that's in the $200-300 range that can do this.

Also, this would be a great converter to put those widescreen (SD or HD) camcorder videos on a SD DVD.

HELP and Thanks!

i used to be able to do just that w my adelphia/comcast cable scientific-atlanta 8000hd dvr with sara software using the s video outs; the image could be set to 'stretch' and would give the result u seek.

i was able to make and still have, a LOT of anamorphic w/s concerts, movies, etc on sd dvd (-rs). the ONLY reason for making these with anamorphic flag (on dvdrs that'll let u switch between 16x9 or 4x3 in record menu) is so u can play them on BOTH 16x9 widescreen tvs AND 4x3 tvs with letterboxing.

ask your cable co if they can supply u with that dvr.

edit-else goto gefen.com or google video scalers (?)

copy protection issues may be encountered.

I have the SA 3250HD box, but the built in "stretch" doesn't work on the S-Video out. Really don't want to go with the DVR though. However, I'd like to do the conversion externally from the HD video source, then do the conversion in hardware to anamorphic SD. If you can recommend some scalers, that would be helpful. Thanks for the comments.

I have the SA 3250HD box, but the built in "stretch" doesn't work on the S-Video out. Really don't want to go with the DVR though. However, I'd like to do the conversion externally from the HD video source, then do the conversion in hardware to anamorphic SD. If you can recommend some scalers, that would be helpful. Thanks for the comments.

c 6th line down on my previous post.

also, try keydigital.com

iow, i dont know. u'll have to search.:(

:D

edit-also, try over on dvd recorder forum here at avs.

Thanks. I tried both sources, and both offer SD video (in many modes) to HD conversions, but not HD to SD. Therein lies my problem. I know it's backwards, but that's what I need. I google'd this to death, but I'll still keep plugging away.

Thanks. I tried both sources, and both offer SD video (in many modes) to HD conversions, but not HD to SD. Therein lies my problem. I know it's backwards, but that's what I need. I google'd this to death, but I'll still keep plugging away.

good luck!

You need a videoprocessor which will do a fullscreen conversion from 720p or 1080i to 480p or a common PC resolution (VGA, XGA etc) on the VGA output. You can use practially any videoprocessor. An old Lumagen oder a DVDO scaler maybe.

Then you buy an old Extron Emotia PC-SD converter on eBay ($50) and hook it up to the videoprocessor's output. What you get is the best possible SD (480i) signal in Composite, S-Video and RGBs.

We've done it in the past and it works great (recording on a Harddisc SD recorder). Really the only problem you might run into is the HDCP protection of the original signal which might turn off the videoprocessors VGA output.

$200 for the whole project might be too little, but $300 for a used scaler + $50 for the Extron converter will do the trick.

Is there a software solution (ie, for Windows or Linux)?

I thought I'd bring this subject up again, being over a year since last asked.

To restate my question, I would really like to know if there is a video scaller solution to take an HD signal (720p or 1080i), either via component/HDMI/DVI, and scale it downwards to 480p SD, with full screen anamorphic horizontal compression, the same format that is used/encoded on all anamorphic DVD's?

This is primarily to record my HD camcorder (and HDTV programs) to DVD, with the intent to preserve the most resolution in SD format.

Keep in mind that I am not talking about letterbox, but SD full height, horizontally (anamorphically) compressed video conversion.

I've seen some possible solutions, but they are well over $1,000. Does anyone know of a much more reasonable solution?

Thanks

This is primarily to record my HD camcorder (and HDTV programs) to DVD, with the intent to preserve the most resolution in SD format.
DVD is recorded in 480i, not 480p.

If you don't mind running through a PC, all the Blackmagic cards to HD to anamorphic SD conversion on the fly. The output is available live on HDMI, component, s-video and video ports.

I thought I'd bring this subject up again, being over a year since last asked.

To restate my question, I would really like to know if there is a video scaller solution to take an HD signal (720p or 1080i), either via component/HDMI/DVI, and scale it downwards to 480p SD, with full screen anamorphic horizontal compression, the same format that is used/encoded on all anamorphic DVD's?

This is primarily to record my HD camcorder (and HDTV programs) to DVD, with the intent to preserve the most resolution in SD format.

Keep in mind that I am not talking about letterbox, but SD full height, horizontally (anamorphically) compressed video conversion.

I've seen some possible solutions, but they are well over $1,000. Does anyone know of a much more reasonable solution?

Thanks



Hi Bill,

I'm in the same boat you are, and it's something that has prevented me from making the leap to the 16:9 display world. I like to record quite a bit of 4:3 letterboxed SD programming to my DVD recorder, and the thought of it being "postage-stamped" on a widescreen display is something that I'm not looking forward to.

I'm wondering if this could be the solution though? It seems to have worked for others.

The sticking point seems to be that the Scientific Atlanta 3250HD STB will not output native (i.e. anamorphically squeezed) 16:9 through its S output, and our DVD recorders only have an S input (i.e. no component input). However, the 3250HD *will* output 16:9 through its component output, as well as allowing us to set the box to 480i. So, setting that output to 480i, couldn't we come out of our component outs instead, and then use a component to S converter that a few companies sell (see two posts below)? That way, we could get our desired 16:9 anamorphically squeezed signal -- already at 480i SD -- sent to our DVD recorders. No scaling needed. The widescreen TV could then do the inverse stretch on playback. Or, if one wants to go the extra step, the flag could be permanently reset to 16:9 using software like IfoEdit (and a computer) to still make it compliant for 4:3 displays, or already unstretched for 16:9 displays (reburning the disc of course).




Sincerely,
Dave


PS - The sad part is that this should all be so easy. My Channel Master DTV converter will already send a "full" anamorphically squeezed 16:9 signal from its S output. I then use the software-flag-reburn technique above to unstretch it. This allows me to watch it letterboxed on my current 4:3 display, while making it fully compliant for future 16:9 display viewing (all standard-def of course). Again, if one wants to simply unstretch it using the controls on a 16:9 display, the extra step isn't needed.

(links to follow)

Regarding my above post, these should work, shouldn't they? I haven't tried any of them yet, but as noted, others are having success with one of these component to S converters.

This one's $159.00

http://www.svideo.com/appletv2tv.html


There's a simple one here for $99.00, as well as one with pass-through for $249.00

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/cotosad.html



And...here's a thread that discusses it all:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=828063&highlight=converter

Hi, I was in the same boat - needed anamorphic 480i to my DVD recorder.

I am currently using an ADS Tech HDUP-1500 (discontinued but real cheap if you can find them). It was originally marketed as an HD upconverter (which it is TERRIBLE at), but with some color adjustment I get a real good match downconverting my original signal, & full/pan-scan/letterbox aspect options. There are some known issues with IR signal conflicts with Motorola set top boxes.

Previously I was using an AV Tools 3190. It is a solid, one-box NTSC/PAL solution, & also has HD pass-through - handy if you want to run your original signal out as well - but I found the picture a bit washed out, and it also had some slight cropping on the left side of the picture (more noticable on projector screen).

As mentioned above, you could also check the available cable bix settings; I found it inconvenient to always change my output res.

Hope that helps...

Hello. I used for a long time a Philips dvd recorder with sa3250hd to record HD programing on discs. I had cable box set to output component 480i. Catch is that only this recorder had a component input. It had worked perfectly. I think it will do what you guys ask for. Robert.