Modifying output aspect ratio for SD 4:3

thomasand1 · 08-20-2007, 11:11 AM

I would really, really like to replace my recently-dead xbox (which ran xbmc) with an Apple TV to mesh nicely with the rest of my mac/itunes setup, but I don't have a widescreen TV. I have a large ~6yr old Sony projection TV (doesn't have component, HD, or widescreen/zoom functionality) - still works perfectly so I'm holding out on a new HDTV.

My h/k AVR 135 receiver can handle the component-cable requirement, but I don't see a way to modify the aspect ratio to appear native on the 4:3 screen (I really can't settle for a "squished" picture). Does anybody know of a way to modify the aspect ratio the Apple TV outputs? Are there any plugins or hacks? If no software solution, can an A/V receiver do it?

Also, is this a shortcoming acknowledged by Apple? I think they're cutting out a huge number of potential customers and I don't understand why it couldn't just work out of the box

rumplestiltskin · 08-23-2007, 01:06 AM

I also have a 4:3 SDTV (Toshiba 32A10) with component input. Same problem: Pillarboxed 4:3 (ending up square) and wide-screen video that ends up stretched vertically.

My solution has been to use QT Player Pro to alter the aspect ratio (Command-J to get that dialog, then click on the video track). Uncheck the "preserve aspect ratio" checkbox, then reduce the height by 25%. I've been rounding the result to the nearest multiple of 16 (the "rule of 16's" may or may not apply here as it does in other devices but I'm being careful). Then I "save as" a self-contained movie and drop that into iTunes. Result: Everything plays perfectly - both 4:3 and 16:9. (Well, it's no longer 4:3 or 16:9 due to the alterations I've made but it plays that way now.)

Let me know how it works for you.

By the way, I'm not sync'ing; rather, I'm streaming from my iMac to my AppleTV. Works great!

rumplestiltskin · 08-24-2007, 12:17 AM

Re-read your post and realized you don't have component input. Here's a solution that will get you into the game but you'll probably still need to do the QuickTime Pro "shrink the height" alteration as I think the device won't fix the 480i-on-SDTV distortion about which I wrote in my previous post.

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

08-20-2007, 11:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
thomasand1 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1	Modifying output aspect ratio for SD 4:3 I would really, really like to replace my recently-dead xbox (which ran xbmc) with an Apple TV to mesh nicely with the rest of my mac/itunes setup, but I don't have a widescreen TV. I have a large ~6yr old Sony projection TV (doesn't have component, HD, or widescreen/zoom functionality) - still works perfectly so I'm holding out on a new HDTV. My h/k AVR 135 receiver can handle the component-cable requirement, but I don't see a way to modify the aspect ratio to appear native on the 4:3 screen (I really can't settle for a "squished" picture). Does anybody know of a way to modify the aspect ratio the Apple TV outputs? Are there any plugins or hacks? If no software solution, can an A/V receiver do it? Also, is this a shortcoming acknowledged by Apple? I think they're cutting out a huge number of potential customers and I don't understand why it couldn't just work out of the box

08-23-2007, 01:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
rumplestiltskin Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 14	I also have a 4:3 SDTV (Toshiba 32A10) with component input. Same problem: Pillarboxed 4:3 (ending up square) and wide-screen video that ends up stretched vertically. My solution has been to use QT Player Pro to alter the aspect ratio (Command-J to get that dialog, then click on the video track). Uncheck the "preserve aspect ratio" checkbox, then reduce the height by 25%. I've been rounding the result to the nearest multiple of 16 (the "rule of 16's" may or may not apply here as it does in other devices but I'm being careful). Then I "save as" a self-contained movie and drop that into iTunes. Result: Everything plays perfectly - both 4:3 and 16:9. (Well, it's no longer 4:3 or 16:9 due to the alterations I've made but it plays that way now.) Let me know how it works for you. By the way, I'm not sync'ing; rather, I'm streaming from my iMac to my AppleTV. Works great! Last edited by rumplestiltskin : 08-23-2007 at 01:07 AM. Reason: Clarification

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08-24-2007, 12:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
rumplestiltskin Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 14	Re-read your post and realized you don't have component input. Here's a solution that will get you into the game but you'll probably still need to do the QuickTime Pro "shrink the height" alteration as I think the device won't fix the 480i-on-SDTV distortion about which I wrote in my previous post. http://www.svideo.com/appletv2tv.html