VideoStudio :: Square Pixels - MP4 16:9 From MPEG2 DVD Or DV AVI

local library with transferring their betacam based collection into digital video files.

The set up is:

Sony J3 video tape player ( a beautiful expensive machine that plays multi beta formats SX, Digi & Standerd betacam tape)

They had this set up through a switcher which in turn is connected to a TV monitor, aVHS machine and a couple of DVD recorders. Till I came along and suggested to remove one of the DVD recorders and hook that up to an external analogue to digi video converter hooked up to a PC ( now running trial version of Corel).

I set this up for them using components they already have. Their set up was so that patrons can view their audio visual collection and I'm setting them on the path of digitising their entire collection.

Basically, when I'm capturing PAL DVD standard video files the set-up and digital converter are spitting out squared pixels...so I cannot capture in the 16:9 anamorphic. This is easily fixed of course by dropping the capture to the overlay video track and selecting fit to screen. Ideally I would like to spend some money re-jigging the set-up so I capture in proper 16:9 anamorphic (and through Firewire) and avoid the extra step. We are also then producing MP4's with the view of making them into low res viewing only lets call them proxy files (with BITC to boot (Burnt in time code))

Why oh why is it so hard to custom select a known small frame size (16:9). Picking mp4 HD is NOT an option because I'm working from SD stock. Why can't I pick something like 640x360? It would make life so much easier.