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3.2 Selecting the Source
3.2.2 Selecting Video Sources
Video sources for the display come in two basic types (composite and S-Video) and in three formats
(NTSC, PAL, SECAM). The three formats are automatically detected and switched. There are also
several aspect ratios, only one of which fits the screen exactly.
When you select a video source, either C-Video
(composite video) or S-Video, the electronics
automatically detects whether the video signal is
NTSC, PAL, or SECAM and switches the elec-
tronics accordingly. To select a video source:
1. Press
SOURCE
2. Highlight the top pair of arrows on the left
(using the up-down arrow buttons).
3. Press the left or right button to change to
C-Video or S-Video, whichever connector
you are using.
Mode (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) is selected auto-
matically. However, if the electronics doesn't
choose correctly, you can select the signal type
manually.
The three bottom menu items—Mode De-
tect, Scan and Sync—willed be grayed out so you
can't change them.
The one thing you must choose manually is
the Format or Aspect Ratio.
Format (Aspect Ratio)
The aspect ratio of a picture is the relation of
its width to its height. This is not a measure-
ment in inches or centimeters. It is a ratio that
can be expressed in two ways:
1.33:1 means the screen is 1.33 times as
wide as it is high. If the screen is 12
inches high, it will be 15 inches wide.
This is the aspect ratio of standard televi-
sion pictures
4x3 means the screen is 4 "units" wide and 3
"units" high. If the screen is 12 inches
high, the "unit" is 4 inches, and it is 4 of
these units, or 15 inches, wide.
✎
Note: 1.33:1 and 4x3 are two ways of describing
the same aspect ratio. Similarly, 1.77:1 and
16x9 are the same, which is the aspect ratio
of the SN-4215-P screen.
3 - 16
on the remote control.
How to choose Aspect Ratio (Format)
It is easy enough to change the aspect ratio of
the picture display. Simply highlight the third
item in the menu so the right side says "For-
mat," and use the left-right arrows to change it.
But which aspect ratio should you use?
Before the 1950s, movies were 4x3 (1.33:1).
Most wide-screen films today are 1.85:1,
although some are 1.77:1 (16x9). A few very
wide screen films are 2.35:1. If you are playing a
DVD movie, the package usually lists the aspect
ratio. This is often in small type. Sometimes it
just says "wide screen," which is no help, except
that you know for sure it isn't 4x3.
If the material you are playing doesn't tell
you what the aspect ratio is, try different selec-
tions until the picture looks right. Find
something in the picture, such as a circular
object viewed straight on, that you can use as a
guide.
✎
Note: Be aware that sometimes the information on
the box is apparently wrong. We found a
movie that said 16x9, but 2.35:1 made it look
correct.
If the Format is 4x3, the screen will show
colored panels on the right and left sides. In
other Formats, there may be colored panels at
top and bottom.
Current
When you open the Source Select menu, the
Format always starts on Current. The aspect
ratios of 1.33:1, 16x9, and so on, all have stand-
ard settings.
Suppose you select NTSC and 4x3, and later
you change the values in the Zoom Factor and
Position menus. Now the Format isn't the
standard 4x3, it is something else.
Suppose you Save the settings, then turn off
the display. When you turn the display on again
and choose NTSC, the dot in Format will be on
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