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I have searched everywhere and consulted many people yet no one seems to know how to solve this problem.

I have created a large project in After Effects in 16:9 format:

1280x720
Square Pixels
Frame Aspect Ratio 16:9 (1,78)

The problem is that every single time I burn any of this footage to DVD, it works perfectly on a computer, but on dvd/tv, rather than letterboxing the tops and bottoms, the sides are cut off. (Even with black bars on the sides where footage should be). The same DVDs play flawlessly on the computer. I have tried cycling through every mode available on the TV as well (4:3, 14:9, Widescreen (16:9), SuperLive, etc etc).

I don't believe it is an issue with Action/Title Safe as vertically, nothing is cut off, only the sides.

I have tried Roxio Toast and Burn. With both, I have ensured 16:9 is enabled/checked and PAL Video DVD Format.

I have tried countless settings in my dvd burning software.

I've also tried putting everything into Final Cut and exporting with Compressor:

Name: MPEG-2 for DVD
Description: MPEG-2 elementary stream for DVD Authoring
File Extension: m2v
Estimated size: 2.25 GB/hour of source
Type: MPEG-2 video elementary stream
Usage:SD DVD
Video Encoder
Width: 720
Height: 576
Pixel aspect ratio: PAL CCIR 601 (16:9)
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: (100% of source)
Frame Controls: Automatically selected: Off
Start timecode from source
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Field dominance: Progressive

In every single case, the footage plays perfectly on a computer, but the edges are noticeably cut off on a TV. Why isn't the DVD just fitting the footage to screen??

I believe the issue lies in the PAR (Pixel Aspet Ratio) - but shouldn't a compressor setting that is setup SPECIFICALLY to output a format made for a 16:9 PAL DVD make it work regardless of the source footage?

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  • The display aspect ratio is set on the DVD in the metadata, because the actual video is always 720:576 (for PAL). So it could be something not working in your DVD authoring package. If you've got Final Cut do you have DVD Studio Pro? Give that a go maybe.
    – stib
    Jan 23, 2014 at 5:17

1 Answer 1

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Render your footage again downscaled to 720x576 then burn it to your DVD. Even though the downscaled files look squashed on your computer, when burnt to a DVD with a 16x9 anamorphic setting it should appear correctly.

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