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Thread: XBMC 16:9 and 4:3 widescreen setup need help.

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    Exclamation XBMC 16:9 and 4:3 widescreen setup need help.

    I am currently running the latest version of xbmc and have just purchased a new 16:9 widescreen Samsung LCD tv.

    Problem is that I have set tv and XBMC on the Xbox console to widescreen. But all my media and dvd's are stretched to 16:9. Including 4:3 content.

    How do you setup xbmc so that it knows when playing media to switch to 4:3 or 16:9 according to the type of media or dvd its playing? And play everything in its correct aspect ratio on my widescreen tv?

    Do I need to get a component cable? I am currently using origional composite video cable on my XBOX.



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    1st off if you buy a component cable then you will be able to switch to NTSC rather than PAL, and then you will be able to see your XBMC screens in high def 720p and 1080i, but note this does NOT mean you will be able to play HD content

    From memory if you have done a 'clean' install, then it will take care of aspect ratio for you and not stretch things

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    Theres also the setting for widescreen in the original microsoft dashboard

    In xbmc there's a setting for auto/wide/letterbox in the video settings. Also calibrating the edges of you screen is worthwhile.

    The yellow Y button from memory changes the display settings while viewing the video from: original size, 16:9, 4:3 and some others.

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    Default getting the new xbmc

    Quote Originally Posted by Gerbertron View Post
    Theres also the setting for widescreen in the original microsoft dashboard

    In xbmc there's a setting for auto/wide/letterbox in the video settings. Also calibrating the edges of you screen is worthwhile.

    The yellow Y button from memory changes the display settings while viewing the video from: original size, 16:9, 4:3 and some others.
    If the Y button is pressed then the picture will still be stretched 4:3 -> 16:9 widescreen just slightly various aspect ratios will be displayed they will all still be stretched and that will still in no way display related to video in its origial 4:3 ratio.

    I will do as the previous poster said and start with a fresh copy of the next most latest compilation of XBMC and see how the defaults fair.

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    Could it be your screen not the xbox auto stretching it?

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    I've had a look at the XBMC configuration and noticed that the only choice in the video player configuration is PAL 4:3 and that the resolution in the system information screen says "720x576 PAL 4:3 50.00 Hz" where it should be PAL 16:9 but as I can see, pal 4:3 is the only available option.

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    Banned Micksxboxmods's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg View Post
    I've had a look at the XBMC configuration and noticed that the only choice in the video player configuration is PAL 4:3 and that the resolution in the system information screen says "720x576 PAL 4:3 50.00 Hz" where it should be PAL 16:9 but as I can see, pal 4:3 is the only available option.
    what XBMC skin are you using?

    some lack some of the more advanced features, best one to use for this type of stuff is the Project Mayem III, reckon you'll be sorted then.

    Mick

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg View Post
    I will do as the previous poster said and start with a fresh copy of the next most latest compilation of XBMC and see how the defaults fair.
    The problem is that newest isn't necessarily the most stable version.

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    Default Finally Worked it out.

    I finally worked it out.

    Here are the settings I used to get XBMC to to display my media in the correct aspect ratio.

    TV: Set to 16:9 Widescreen

    Dashboard: UnleashX
    System -> settings -> Video display
    Video Display: Pal
    Format: Widescreen
    Auto Switch: Yes (this is the setting I was missing)
    Multi-region Mode: Pal
    Force PAL 60: No

    XBMC
    Setting -> Video -> Player -> Pal 16:9

    Pal 16:9 lets XBMC do all video scaling not the tv.

    The Part I was missing were the dashboard setting that caused my problems.
    Without the Auto Switch set to Yes in dashboard, only PAL 4:3 would be available in XBMC.

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    Junior Member teztickles's Avatar
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    Greg, thank you so much for discovering this!! It's something that has bugged me for ages yet I've just gotten used to, either having to change the TV's aspect ratio back and forth to suit or just watching 4:3 stretched to 16:9 but just tried it out and it works a treat! All I had to do was change the XBMC setting to 'Pal 16:9' (ironically from the 'Autoswitch between 4:3 and 16:9' setting) and it changes to the correct aspect ratio.

    Cheers!

    ..........tez

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg View Post
    I finally worked it out.

    Here are the settings I used to get XBMC to to display my media in the correct aspect ratio.

    TV: Set to 16:9 Widescreen

    Dashboard: UnleashX
    System -> settings -> Video display
    Video Display: Pal
    Format: Widescreen
    Auto Switch: Yes (this is the setting I was missing)
    Multi-region Mode: Pal
    Force PAL 60: No

    XBMC
    Setting -> Video -> Player -> Pal 16:9

    Pal 16:9 lets XBMC do all video scaling not the tv.

    The Part I was missing were the dashboard setting that caused my problems.
    Without the Auto Switch set to Yes in dashboard, only PAL 4:3 would be available in XBMC.
    aha...I was under the impression that you were using XBMC as the default dashboard.
    if you were, it would of been fine.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg View Post
    Do I need to get a component cable? I am currently using origional composite video cable on my XBOX.
    If picture quality is any concern to you, you should get a component cable. I could not believe the improvement at first.
    By reading this, you have already given me control over a tiny slice of your mind

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    Quote Originally Posted by covert View Post
    If picture quality is any concern to you, you should get a component cable. I could not believe the improvement at first.
    I've just ordered a component cable for $13 delivered from Ebay, which is about the only place you can find them these days. So I'll be getting it next weeks and hopefully should see an impovement in video quality over the composite cable I am currently using.

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