Sony M25U no letterbox at DVinfo.net

Paul Cronin · November 21st, 2006, 11:45 AM

Hi this is my first post on the site. I have been using DVinfo.net for a year and all I can say is THANK YOU. All of my purchases have been based on what I have learned on the site.

I am looking to buy a Sony M25U deck to copy tapes (for clients) from my Sony Z1 and save my camera heads while sending 100 tapes a year to my computer. But I have read the deck will not downconvert using letterbox. Has any one found a way around this problem?

Bob Grant · November 21st, 2006, 04:00 PM

I have one at 'work' and my own M15 and I think you're right.
The only downconvert options are squeeze (true 16:9) and crop, from memory the M25U will let you pan the crop downconvert.
I couldn't really see much need for letterbox myself as I always work in 16:9, letterboxing to 4:3 throws away a lot of resolution.

Spike Spiegel · November 21st, 2006, 05:40 PM

if you're working in HDV timeline, and want to capture HDV footage off a deck, what setting should the conversion options be at? Leterbox or crop, i don't recollect there being a "off" mode for conversion... Thanks

Paul Cronin · November 22nd, 2006, 10:53 AM

Bob the one problem I might see is if I shoot in HDV which is most of the time I want to down convert to SD in the 25U. If it does not give me letter box when I down convert to SD what option will I have for 16:9. I have never used squeeze. Is this the option?

Sorry if I am missing the point I just want to make sure the deck will do the down convert job and still handle the HDV load prior to spending the money.

Thanks for your help.

Bob Grant · November 22nd, 2006, 01:59 PM

What is called "Squeeze" is what you want. That gives you real anamorphic 16:9 DV, it's the same aspect ratio as HDV. Don't know why Sony called it Squeeze, maybe Anamorphic was too long to fit on the menu?

Letterbox is giving you a 16:9 sized image fitted inside the 4:3 frame, you get black bars top and bottom. If you manage to convert that back to real 16:9 then you've lost 30% vertical resolution in the process.

Paul Cronin · November 22nd, 2006, 02:58 PM

Thanks Bob that makes sense to me.

This is good info since I have been using Letterbox downconverting from the camera. I did not know I was cutting off so much information.

Now if I use squeeze and I go to a 4:3 tv with the DVD that was made from a timeline where the video came in Squeezed what will happen?

Paul Cronin · December 8th, 2006, 09:48 AM

Thanks everyone for your help I purchased the 25U deck today from B&H. Also purchased yesterday and am playing with now DvFilm maker, wow great results.

November 21st, 2006, 11:45 AM	#1
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Sony M25U no letterbox Hi this is my first post on the site. I have been using DVinfo.net for a year and all I can say is THANK YOU. All of my purchases have been based on what I have learned on the site. I am looking to buy a Sony M25U deck to copy tapes (for clients) from my Sony Z1 and save my camera heads while sending 100 tapes a year to my computer. But I have read the deck will not downconvert using letterbox. Has any one found a way around this problem? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

November 22nd, 2006, 10:53 AM	#4
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Bob the one problem I might see is if I shoot in HDV which is most of the time I want to down convert to SD in the 25U. If it does not give me letter box when I down convert to SD what option will I have for 16:9. I have never used squeeze. Is this the option? Sorry if I am missing the point I just want to make sure the deck will do the down convert job and still handle the HDV load prior to spending the money. Thanks for your help. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

November 22nd, 2006, 02:58 PM	#6
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Thanks Bob that makes sense to me. This is good info since I have been using Letterbox downconverting from the camera. I did not know I was cutting off so much information. Now if I use squeeze and I go to a 4:3 tv with the DVD that was made from a timeline where the video came in Squeezed what will happen? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

December 8th, 2006, 09:48 AM	#7
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Thanks everyone for your help I purchased the 25U deck today from B&H. Also purchased yesterday and am playing with now DvFilm maker, wow great results. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

November 21st, 2006, 04:00 PM	#2
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	I have one at 'work' and my own M15 and I think you're right. The only downconvert options are squeeze (true 16:9) and crop, from memory the M25U will let you pan the crop downconvert. I couldn't really see much need for letterbox myself as I always work in 16:9, letterboxing to 4:3 throws away a lot of resolution.

November 21st, 2006, 05:40 PM	#3
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	if you're working in HDV timeline, and want to capture HDV footage off a deck, what setting should the conversion options be at? Leterbox or crop, i don't recollect there being a "off" mode for conversion... Thanks

November 22nd, 2006, 01:59 PM	#5
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	What is called "Squeeze" is what you want. That gives you real anamorphic 16:9 DV, it's the same aspect ratio as HDV. Don't know why Sony called it Squeeze, maybe Anamorphic was too long to fit on the menu? Letterbox is giving you a 16:9 sized image fitted inside the 4:3 frame, you get black bars top and bottom. If you manage to convert that back to real 16:9 then you've lost 30% vertical resolution in the process.