Overscan

[tenordude12]

hey,

I was wondering if anyone has any tips and tricks when it comes to overscan? If you don't know what over scan is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overscan

Basically I have a few videos that I made awhile ago and am looking to use DVD Architect to put them on a dvd. Now, when i watch the video with the guidlines on, a good portion of it is in the unsafe area and would look very weird on a tv like I had my camera WAY to close to the actore.

So anyone have any tips for the next i film to avoid this and does anyone have any tricks to use to fit these videos within the overscan "safe area".

thanks so much guys,
-Tenordude12

[bobaandy1]

A flatpanel TV does not suffer from this problem. You can try to shrink the image to 90%, but this will result in a black border on a flatscreen TV. Remember the safe zone varies, but it's usually only about 10% of the image. The inner safe zone is the text safe area and it's a "just in case" area.

To avoid it in the future, invest in a professional broadcast monitor with underscan option. You can actually get them pretty cheap. (http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-8-Color-Monitor-PVM-8041Q-Broadcast-Quality-16-9_W0QQitemZ140334921050QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item20ac9cf55a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

[tenordude12]

Now with this monitor would it be already displayed with the overscan or would it be putting up a safe area grid or something?

[bobaandy1]

Nope, in it's default state it would act like a normal monitor cutting off the non-safe areas. There is a button on the front labeled "underscan" that will display the entire image, overscan areas and all, when toggled on.

[tenordude12]

oh very cool,

now just in the interest of saving money, would a small t.v displaying a feed of the cameras video through RCA cables display the image with the overscan? I'm assuming yes. If so I got a nice 10 inch t.v. I could use. I'm really only worried about the overscan.

But what are the other benifits to a monitor, I don't want to rule out not investing to quickly. Anyone who has one, feel free to jump in and give an example of how its helped you.

[bobaandy1]

A regular TV would clip off the overscanned areas, just like a TV does. That's the point.

The other advantage of a broadcast monitor is portability (has a handle and its square shape) full image color control with the dials on the front, blue channel view, and you can have multiple inputs and switch between them on the front.

You also have control over all the phases and plenty more.