Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What aspect ratios does the Gateway DVD Recorder support?

A: The Gateway DVD Recorder supports the following aspect ratios:

  • 16:9 Widescreen
  • 4:3 Pan and Scan
  • 4:4 Letter Box

The Aspect Ratio option in the DVD recorder's Playback setup adjusts the screen width displayed on the TV or other output screen.

What is aspect ratio?

Aspect ratio refers to the ratio of width to height of a television set. Traditional television sets have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Widescreen television sets have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Traditional television sets are almost square in appearance; widescreen displays are rectangular.

DVD has the capability to display movies in three different ways:

  • Widescreen - Provides a special anamorphic video signal that, when processed by a widescreen television set, fills the entire screen and delivers optimum picture quality.
  • Pan and Scan - Fills the screen of traditional 4:3 television sets with an entire picture, much like watching network movies
  • Letterbox mode - provides horizontal bands at the top and bottom to, in essence, create a widescreen picture in a traditional television set.