Cropping Videos???? Software???

[OldSkoolNJ]

I have a handful of movies that I have gotten that are letterboxed. I have both all widescreen computers and also all widescreen tvs. Now on the computers I can use VLC to crop these videos and watch them but I really hate using VLC. Also I like to use FrontRow, iTunes and of course my newly aquired TV. So now this is quite annoying. So I want to know if anyone has found any software that will take the file and permanently crop and save the file as is. Freeware or Something I would have to purchase, doesnt bug me. I just want it to work. I have done Google and with crop being a general term I am getting thrown in many directions.

Kevin

 

[Erendiox]

In general, cropping video just isn't something that's done much outside of the professional circle. You'd need something like final cut or a compositing program like combustion. In general, only pro programs can crop video into different formats. Where did you get those letterboxed movies? It's very odd that they're formatted that way.

 

[MacinJosh]

In general, cropping video just isn't something that's done much outside of the professional circle. You'd need something like final cut or a compositing program like combustion. In general, only pro programs can crop video into different formats. Where did you get those letterboxed movies? It's very odd that they're formatted that way.

As far as I know, cropping can't be done without re-encoding the video. I can't speak for the über pro programs. Cropping is easy to achieve when doing the initial encoding with programs such as VisualHub.

Joshua.

 

[Erendiox]

As far as I know, cropping can't be done without re-encoding the video. I can't speak for the über pro programs. Cropping is easy to achieve when doing the initial encoding with programs such as VisualHub.

Joshua.

Oh absolutely they'd need to be re-encoded. There's no other way to do it. I was just saying the only programs I know of that can do that are pro programs. There may be others.

 

[sandman42]

MPEG Streamclip (freeware) will do it

I record widescreen TV shows (like Battlestar) all the time using my EyeTV, then I use MPEG Streamclip to transcode to DV for iMovie. When I transcode it, I convert it to 16x9 by 'zooming' the image, scaling the horizontal back down, then saving it as 720x480 anamorphic widescreen. I import my iMovie into iDVD, and it plays just like any widescreen DVD.

Anyway, the point is MPEG Streamclip gives you crop and zoom controls when you transcode, and you can change the ratio of the horizontal and vertical if need be. I wouldn't be surprised if VisualHub gives you similar control, but I've haven't tried that program yet.