Another YouTube Question! Is This My Camera Or My Settings?

Jul 16, 2011

Keren K.

Hey guys! So I'm sorry to post yet another question asking for YouTube advice, but this one is more of a technical question. :)

If you look at one of my videos, they all kind of appear with two black strips on either side of them (kind of the opposite of when you play things on widescreen -- you'll see what I mean when you click the link).

This happens every time I upload a video. I've tried saving the display size as both 640x480 and 960x720 but it doesn't help... is my camera just not good enough quality or is there a way that I can change the settings on my channel or when editing my videos to make them fill up the entire player?

Thanks guys!! I appreciate it!!

My channel is http://youtube.com/user/xoKeren . Just view any of the videos -- the default one is fine. :)

Jul 16, 2011

Yasmin K.

It's Youtube. The changed something recently - which also causes my browser to lock up and freeze. Mine has the same thing now.

http://www.youtube.com/user/zadidoll

Depending on your video settings, try saving your videos as 16:9 versus 4:3. I'm trying that myself now.

Jul 16, 2011

Kelsea M.

I've been having issues with that too! If I save my videos normally they'll end up like that but if I edit them in wide screen, it's fine. I just keep forgetting to change the screen size. I think youtube changed to widescreen because they're renting movies now.

Widescreen: http://youtu.be/Rr9NUoCKmNE
vs.
Normal: http://www.youtube.com/user/kcmbeauty#p/u/13/uucYsiu6MiQ

Jul 16, 2011

Heather H.

The YouTube player is in widescreen format, which is 16x9. Your camera records at 640x480 and 960x720, which is letterbox format (4:3). You will have to either record in 16x9, get a camera that records 16x9 or there is usually an option to stretch the video when compressing...but that results in a skewed video. What video editing program are you using?

Jul 17, 2011

Keren K.

@Heather -- I'm using Windows Movie Maker. Thanks so much for the responses guys! I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. 

Jul 17, 2011

Heather H.

Try these tags on your videos: http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=146402

Jul 17, 2011

Jasmine P.

I was going to give my input but Heather has seemed to give you all of the answers. The physical camera you use to record is a letterbox format. What kind of camera are you using specifically? I've noticed that most HD camcorders naturally record in widescreen format. I personally love them and really enjoy the quality when watching other videos.

Jul 17, 2011

Rai C.

You just have to edit/save your video in widescreen. :) 

Jul 17, 2011

Keren K.

My camera definitely isn't HD lol. I wish. :P But I tried the YouTube tabs and they worked!! Thank you SO much guys, especially Heather H. I really appreciate it!!! <3 <3 <3