Aspect ratio problem (aka: I miss my 4:3 side bars...)
I just did a fresh install of MythDora 4.0 and I’m having an aspect ratio problem.
The problem is that 4:3 standard definition recordings no longer have black sidebars (pillarboxes). 4:3 playback is being stretched horizontally. Changing the aspect ratio to 4:3 has no effect (but other aspect ratios seem to work).
I have a LCD TV whose native resolution is 1280x768 (15:9). It is connected to the MythDora box via a DVI cable. The TV’s on-screen status indicates that it is receiving a 1280x768 @ 60 Hz signal over the DVI cable. In my /etc/X11/xorg.conf, I’ve indicated the proper modeline and displaysize for the TV. I’m reasonable confident that the TV (which can be considered an LCD monitor at this point) is configured correctly. The menus on MythTV look great. DVD playback looks great (aspect ratio looks correct). But playback of 4:3 recordings is stretched.
Any ideas on what happened to the sidebars?
One idea that occurred to me is that MythTV thinks my TV has a 4:3 aspect ratio. When I first installed MythDora I was using a 4:3 monitor in the basement. Did MythTV store a setting that says “I’m running on a 4:3 monitorâ€, and now I’ve defined (through xorg.cong) that “4:3 monitor†as being 1280x768 pixels? Is there a setting in the settings table that indicates aspect ratios?
Another idea for the source of the problem...
The TV in question is an Olevia by Syntax LT26HVE. I've read elsewhere on the web the Olevia TV's are not good about reporting accurate EDID information. Perhaps the EDID information is reporting to Xserver that the TV has a 4:3 aspect ratio (with 1280x768 rectangular pixels?) and MythTV is placing the 4:3 image into the mis-identified 4:3 screen.
Although I've properly identified the DisplaySize in xorg.conf as the true dimensions of the TV screen, I've read that presence of EDID information overrides information within the xorg.conf (although, perhaps this override only applies to nVidia drivers).
I'll try to eliminate EDID as a factor by adding the Option "IgnoreEDID" "true" option to my xorg.conf file.
I'll report back tonight if it worked.
In the mean time, I'm still open to suggestions.
Have you tried using the W
Have you tried using the W key to change the aspect ratio?
"Please ignore the man behind the curtain"
Dennis
"Please ignore the man behind the curtain"
Dennis
'W' key has no effect.
Yes, I've tried using the 'W' key. Changing the aspect ratio has no effect. I've tried using the 'W' key, using the on-screen menu, and the aspect ratio override in the settings menu. 4:3 always stretches.
I have an Olivia 27in hdtv.
I have an Olivia 27in hdtv. Mine is connected via component however. I have the line:
Option "IgnoreEDID" "true"
In my Monitor section and modeline of:
ModeLine "1368x768" 85.5 1360 1408 1520 1792 768 771 776 794 -hsync -vsync
Take a look at:
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Aspect_ratio
Also what is your aspect ratio in setup?
Aspect ratio can be overriden for TV playback using the following setting.
Setup -> TV -> Playback -> General
Thanks for the suggestions, but sadly nothing has helped
Thanks for the reply.
To answer your question:
Q: Also what is your aspect ratio in setup?
A: In the capture cards recording profile the aspect ratio is 4:3. In the Setup->TV->Playback->General settings, the aspect ration is 4:3.
Did you add the Option "IgnoreEDID" "true" to your xorg.conf file, or did setup put it in there?
Also:
Did you create your own ModeLine?
Did you set the DisplaySize in xorg.conf?
Thanks in advance,
Chris.
Chris Let me preface
Chris
Let me preface this with I dont think xorg is your problem. Im not sure what the problem is, and others are reporting the same problem in different threads. But as far as xorg goes...
The xorg.conf pieces that I posted are ones that have been with me since myth .18. I spent hours and hours trying every possible combination with my tv. I added the ignoreEDID command and I think I saw somewhere that your tv will not accept a signal higher then 720p via the DVI connector. I think your TV has the same screen size that mine does 1368x768. I tweaked the modeline so that the screen was completely filled. I have a Nvida5200 card with an Audio Authority 9a60 going from VGA to component. Posted if my modeline dosent work you can try this one that came from the mythtv wiki. All 3 are reported to work with your tv.
# Modeline "1280x768@60" 80 1280 1312 1608 1640 768 783 791 807
# Modeline "1360x768" 85.50 1360 1476 1588 1776 768 771 777 795 +hsync +vsync
# Modeline "1368x768" 85.50 1368 1478 1590 1776 768 771 777 795
My entire xorg.conf
# XFree86 4 configuration created by pyxf86config
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection
Section "Files"
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, a font server independent of the X server is
# used to render fonts.
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/nvidia"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "fbdevhw"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "freetype"
Load "type1"
Load "v4l"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
# Option "Xleds" "1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
# Option "XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
# Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
# Option "XkbModel" "microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# or:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
#
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Olevia Syntax LT27H"
ModelName "LCD Panel 1366x768"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
HorizSync 31.5 - 48.5 ##31.5 - 48.5
VertRefresh 50.0 - 80.0 ## 40.0 - 70.0
## Option "dpms"
Option "IgnoreEDID" "true"
ModeLine "1368x768" 85.5 1360 1408 1520 1792 768 771 776 794 -hsync -vsy$
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "nVidia Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200]"
Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "false"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1368x768" #"1280x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "DRI"
Group 0
Mode 0666
EndSection
I concur
I concur with your assessment: xorg.conf probably isn't the problem.
My LT26HVE has a native resolution of 1280x768 and will support that resolution via DVI (but not VGA, which is weird and poorly documented by Syntax).
The MythTV GUI looks great: crisp, clear, proper aspect ratio. DVD playback has proper aspect ratio. The LT26HVE reports that it is receiving a 1280x768 60 Hz signal over the DVI connection. Looking at the screen up close I can see that 1 computer pixel is using one LCD pixel.
I suspect that the problem is one of two things:
1) Somethings broken with playback aspect ratios and aspect ratios "Off", "4:3", and "Fill" all switch to "Fill". I find this scenario unlikely, because everybody would be reporting it.
2) MythTV thinks my TV has a 4:3 aspect ratio, so "Off","4:3", and "Fill" all switch to "Fill".
My bet is on option 2, but I don't know *why* MythTV thinks my TV is 4:3 when it's clearly 15:9.
I wonder if there is some code somewhere that says something like:
if ((screen.x_size / screen.y_size) == (16/9))
{
// it's a widescreen
}
else
{
// it must be 4:3
}
with this code, my 15:9 would default to 4:3.
But I doubt such a code path exists, because MythTV programmers aren't that sloppy :)
I've changed my mind, I think xorg.conf *is* the problem...
Running with my assumption that MythTV thinks my 15:9 display is a 4:3 display, I ran xdpyinfo and here's the result:
name of display: :0.0
version number: 11.0
vendor string: The X.Org Foundation
vendor release number: 70101000
X.Org version: 7.1.1
maximum request size: 16777212 bytes
motion buffer size: 256
bitmap unit, bit order, padding: 32, LSBFirst, 32
image byte order: LSBFirst
number of supported pixmap formats: 7
supported pixmap formats:
depth 1, bits_per_pixel 1, scanline_pad 32
depth 4, bits_per_pixel 8, scanline_pad 32
depth 8, bits_per_pixel 8, scanline_pad 32
depth 15, bits_per_pixel 16, scanline_pad 32
depth 16, bits_per_pixel 16, scanline_pad 32
depth 24, bits_per_pixel 32, scanline_pad 32
depth 32, bits_per_pixel 32, scanline_pad 32
keycode range: minimum 8, maximum 255
focus: window 0x120001f, revert to Parent
number of extensions: 31
BIG-REQUESTS
Composite
DAMAGE
DOUBLE-BUFFER
DPMS
Extended-Visual-Information
GLX
MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
MIT-SHM
MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
RANDR
RECORD
RENDER
SECURITY
SGI-GLX
SHAPE
SISCTRL
SYNC
TOG-CUP
X-Resource
XC-APPGROUP
XC-MISC
XFIXES
XFree86-Bigfont
XFree86-DGA
XFree86-Misc
XFree86-VidModeExtension
XInputExtension
XKEYBOARD
XTEST
XVideo
default screen number: 0
number of screens: 1
screen #0:
dimensions: 1280x768 pixels (40x30 millimeters)
resolution: 813x650 dots per inch
depths (7): 24, 1, 4, 8, 15, 16, 32
root window id: 0x50
depth of root window: 24 planes
number of colormaps: minimum 1, maximum 1
default colormap: 0x20
default number of colormap cells: 256
preallocated pixels: black 0, white 16777215
options: backing-store NO, save-unders NO
largest cursor: 64x64
current input event mask: 0xfa2033
KeyPressMask KeyReleaseMask EnterWindowMask
LeaveWindowMask ButtonMotionMask StructureNotifyMask
SubstructureNotifyMask SubstructureRedirectMask FocusChangeMask
PropertyChangeMask ColormapChangeMask
number of visuals: 5
default visual id: 0x22
visual:
visual id: 0x22
class: TrueColor
depth: 24 planes
available colormap entries: 256 per subfield
red, green, blue masks: 0xff0000, 0xff00, 0xff
significant bits in color specification: 8 bits
visual:
visual id: 0x23
class: TrueColor
depth: 24 planes
available colormap entries: 256 per subfield
red, green, blue masks: 0xff0000, 0xff00, 0xff
significant bits in color specification: 8 bits
visual:
visual id: 0x24
class: TrueColor
depth: 24 planes
available colormap entries: 256 per subfield
red, green, blue masks: 0xff0000, 0xff00, 0xff
significant bits in color specification: 8 bits
visual:
visual id: 0x25
class: TrueColor
depth: 24 planes
available colormap entries: 256 per subfield
red, green, blue masks: 0xff0000, 0xff00, 0xff
significant bits in color specification: 8 bits
visual:
visual id: 0x4e
class: TrueColor
depth: 32 planes
available colormap entries: 256 per subfield
red, green, blue masks: 0xff0000, 0xff00, 0xff
significant bits in color specification: 8 bits
Notice the part where it thinks the screen dimensions are 40 x 30 mm!
Apparently, my 26" TV is actually an iPod Nano screen.
What's crazy is that I've set the DisplaySize to 570 x 342. So something is causing X to ignore my settings and something is setting it to 40 x 30 mm. My guess is bad EDID information from the Olevia LT26HVE. If that's the case how do I make my SiS display driver ignore the EDID information? Most of the 'Option "IgnoreEDID" "true"' posts are talking about nVidia drivers.
Possible source of problem identified. Workaround achieved!
I'm convinced that the problem stems from bad EDID data from my Olevia LT26HVE. Why else would xdpyinfo report a display size of 40x30mm?
Here's my theory:
- The SiS drivers have been updated to respect the EDID information.
- The EDID information is bogus (google "Olevia EDID").
- The SiS drivers provide this information to the XServer.
- MythTV gets this information from the XServer so it can determine the aspect ratio of the screen.
- MythTV correctly Fills the whole 1280x768 screen with 4:3 content because according to XServer its a 40x30mm screen (with very high rectangular pixel density!).
The workaround is simple:
Tell MythTV to have a +1 percent vertical overscan (to get rid of the annoying frame information at the top of NTSC transmissions). And tell it to have a -9 percent horizontal overscan (to compress the image horizontally).
It looks like your solution
It looks like your solution works, but what happens when you playback HD content that is 16x9, or watch a DVD player using the internal player?
I think your driver is overriding your setup for safety reasons do to your bad EDID data. Have a look at:
http://www.winischhofer.eu/linuxsispart2.shtml#overruleranges
Option "OverruleFrequencyRanges" "off"
You seem to know what your doing so I dont need to stress how this could mess up your display if something is misconfigured. :)
SOLVED
I solved my aspect ratio problem.
Here's the recap: http://mythdora.com/?q=node/2555