Help Black borders while recording video

[blackyblackguy]

So i just noticed this today so im not exactly sure if it is suppose to be like this. When i go to record a video i see black borders to the left and to the right thus making what i am recording seem a little narrow. I was under the impression that if i were to record the entire screen of my phone would be used. I dont know if this will help but im on AOKP buil 27.

 

[blackyblackguy]

bump? anyone? is this normal?

 

[viebroccoli]

So i just noticed this today so im not exactly sure if it is suppose to be like this. When i go to record a video i see black borders to the left and to the right thus making what i am recording seem a little narrow. I was under the impression that if i were to record the entire screen of my phone would be used. I dont know if this will help but im on AOKP buil 27.

Hey blackyblackguy, let me first say that I don't have a Galaxy Nexus yet (coming in the mail tomorrow), but I think I can help you. Check your recording resolution setting. 1080p and 720p should get rid of those black bars, whereas 480p and lower resolutions will give you the black bars. Here is why you are seeing the black bars:

Whenever you see black bars horizontally, or vertically, it means the aspect ratio is not the same as the display. Because the Galaxy Nexus is 720p, which has pixel dimensions of 1280 pixels wide, by 720 pixels tall, the Galaxy Nexus has an aspect ratio of 16:9. This means for every 16 pixels wide, there are 9 pixels tall. You are most likely shooting in 480p, which has an aspect ratio of 4:3. You are seeing the black bars because whereas the vertical pixels are maxed out to the top of the screen, the video can't stretch the full width because of the aspect ratio it is limited to.

For common reference, HD screens are typically set to 16:9, whereas CRT screens are typically set to 4:3.

 

[Demache]

Hey blackyblackguy, let me first say that I don't have a Galaxy Nexus yet (coming in the mail tomorrow), but I think I can help you. Check your recording resolution setting. 1080p and 720p should get rid of those black bars, whereas 480p and lower resolutions will give you the black bars. Here is why you are seeing the black bars:

Whenever you see black bars horizontally, or vertically, it means the aspect ratio is not the same as the display. Because the Galaxy Nexus is 720p, which has pixel dimensions of 1280 pixels wide, by 720 pixels tall, the Galaxy Nexus has an aspect ratio of 16:9. This means for every 16 pixels wide, there are 9 pixels tall. You are most likely shooting in 480p, which has an aspect ratio of 4:3. You are seeing the black bars because whereas the vertical pixels are maxed out to the top of the screen, the video can't stretch the full width because of the aspect ratio it is limited to.

For common reference, HD screens are typically set to 16:9, whereas CRT screens are typically set to 4:3.

Pretty much this. Except when you record in 720p or 1080p, you will get black bars. That's just because the viewfinder in the camera app isn't the correct aspect ratio for the video (eg. its not wide enough). At least if the app used in that ROM is the same as the stock one.

Rest assured though, they aren't being recorded into the video. When its played back on the phone, it will be full screen. Though I'm sure you figured that out by now.

 

[blackyblackguy]

Actually when i do play it back the black borders still appear even on the phone. thats why i got confused =/ im recording in 1080p and im still getting the black borders when i record and also play back. Is there any way to fix this?

 

[blackyblackguy]

actually ignore what i said earlier its not showing up when i play back anymore haha oops thanks though for the info =) but just in case is there any way to change the aspect ratio? idk why but the black borders while recording kinda annoys me

 

[Demache]

actually ignore what i said earlier its not showing up when i play back anymore haha oops thanks though for the info =) but just in case is there any way to change the aspect ratio? idk why but the black borders while recording kinda annoys me

Use a different video recording app. The stock one is pretty much locked as is.

 

[Tim K]

It has to display black bars because the "viewfinder" can't take up the whole screen as the buttons and settings use some real estate. In order to keep the viewfinder's aspect ratio the same as the footage you are shooting, it has to be made smaller when squeezing into the available 3/4 of the screen real estate. Just like when you try to watch a widescreen movie on a 4:3 TV it has black bars.

Not sure how else you could do it unless you had a video cam app that overlays the buttons/controls on top of the video....but I wouldn't want that.