[James Morau]

I want to edit mixed aspect ratios by converting 4:3 footage to 16:9 by adding black vertical letterbox lines to both sides of the frame. The result will be the 4:3 footage in its correct aspect ratio in the middle of a 16:9 frame with black lines on each side.

This will allow me to edit in the wide format and convert to DVD, also in the wide format.

I have noticed Australian television ads using 4:3 footage simply stretch it to 16:9 and create a stretched image which looks bad.

Can someone propose an appropriate program or procedure ?

I was good at tape to tape editing but …