On the Road to High Definition using Pinnacle Studio 12The old Standard TV was (or is) a 4 x 3 format, which is pretty much square. The New Flat Screens are a 16 x 9 format which is Oblong. We (at least me) have generated our DVD creations in a 4 X 3 format. Now that many of us have acquired Flat Screens (even the Club with the 52 incher) it is time to change to the 16 X 9 format. I have doing some experimenting and I have generated a couple projects in 16 X 9 and they have turned out well. The next step is to generate what is called a AVCHD format, which is compatible with a High Def Blu-Ray player. AVCHD could be called a “poor man’s” Blu-Ray because it uses the Standard DVD (+R or –R) stock, but writes in a High Def Format – The downside is your show is limited to 20 minutes or so. The other option is to buy a Blu-Ray Burner for your Computer and burn actual Blu-Ray Discs – unfortunately, the blank stock is $5 to $7 each. (as opposed to25 cents for a DVD)

Click on SetupAnd then Project Preferences

I selected the 1440 x 1080 format

Notice that the pictures are now oblong and black borders on sides

Double Left Click the Picture and it brings up the sizing menu.

Notice how moving the slider causes the picture to fill the 16 x 9 screen – you can also bring up this menu by going to the “ToolBox” and select “Modify Clip Properties as shown below

When you are ready to burn your project this is what the setup should look like – We are burning a higher quality Video onto a Standard DVD – Max time of 60+ minutesThe quality of this is pretty good and it will be in the 16X9 Format. The reason it says “unknown media” is that I did not have a DVD in the drive. When you insert a DVD it will say DVD + R or DVD – R (The menu at the left is the “settings button” to the right of the “Create Disc” button.

The other Disc Burning Options include AVCHD, which generates a Disc that can be played on a High Def Blu-Ray Player – The quality is great, but the show is limited to around 20+ minutes. The Other option with Pinnacle is a to Generate a Blu-Ray Disc, which means you need a Blu-Ray Burner and unfortunately, the blank Blu-Ray Discs are at least $5 EACH.

Hey, good luck with your High Def Projects and the 16 x 9 format.