dvd expertise needed
 

Well I just shelled out 25 bucks for the Wilco - I Am Trying to Break Your Heart documentary. Problem is, when the video plays, the sides (and possibly the top and bottom, I'm not sure) are cut off by about 6 inches on each side. I'm somewhat new to DVD formatting, but the box says its widescreen and 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. So should I return the defective DVD? Or is there an option that I'm missing somewhere. Thanks, Mike

edit: I can tell it's cut off because pieces of text (people's names, song titles, etc) that are on the edge of the screen are sliced in half.

Did you accidently press the ZOOM button?

Just checked that, and no, I didn't. It says "ZOOM OFF." I also played it on a friend's DVD player and it did the same thing.

If you have a standard 4x3 television, double-check your DVD player's video set-up. It should be set for "4x3 Letterbox" instead of "4x3 Pan & Scan."

DJ

Hmm... it could be a mis-framed transfer. But if it really is 6" on each side, that's a pretty major screw-up. I can't help but think it has something to do with your setup.

That did it. Thanks a ton...you were right vivarey. Now should I just leave it like that? Or do you change it for certain formats of DVD? Caus I have a bunch of other DVD's and never had that problem (or I probably just didn't notice it).

Leave it the way you have it now. You have probably never noticed it before because it will only affect a disc if it has certain "flags". It sounds like this disc is one of the rare ones that uses on-the-fly pan-and-scan.