I believe VLC defaults to a certain height determined by the width of a video. Just resize the VLC window until the top and bottom are to the edges of the video. .
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Thanks Myk....

But that's exactly what I was noticing: Increased width (by using Custom screen capture size) does NOT change the exact/consistent size of black bars top and bottom. I get a wider end result (which is good) but black bars top and bottom remain exactly the same.

This represents what I'm going to see via ANY default player, IMO -- YouTube, embedded website video, etc.

It's not the viewing on VLC that matters in particular, but the viewer's experience on whatever player ends up playing this thing. It's to be a walk-through instructional video embedded on a website.

Hi CyberBilly77 -

I'm struggling to see what the issue is. CL Screen Recorder caaptures the screen according to your settings.

If you have a 1920x1080 16:9 screen & that's how you set Screen Recorder, that's what you'll get. If you change the resolution to only record part of the screen, that's what you get. If you unlock aspect ratio and record, you're likely to get odd results in playback because of how players may be set up. Many media players I use can be set to playback a variety of common aspect ratios.

The bottom line is that your final production of the walk-through instructional video will need to meet the requirements of the video player on the website in question. If it has a 16:9 player, which is typical, that's how you should record your screen capture. e.g. because most of my screen captures end up on YouTube, which has a 16:9 player, that's how I record.

Maybe if you give a bit more information or post some screenshots, the problem would be clearer.

Cheers - Tony
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Hi Tony!

Of course you're right... ultimately the finished video has to meet site player requirements (I don't know what those are yet). But in the meantime -- while I'm learning -- screen capture tests (whatever aspect ratio or resolution I try) play on my VLC player with 1/3 inch black bars top and bottom. Other vids played with VLC fill the screen at least top to bottom. Don't they? All according to my recollection.

Attached is a brief screen capture just made (no sound). If you play it on your VLC you'll see what I mean with bars top and bottom. Does that seem normal to you? It's at highest res and 16:9 ratio.

Thanks for feedback!
~CyberBilly

Hi Tony!

Of course you're right... ultimately the finished video has to meet site player requirements (I don't know what those are yet). But in the meantime -- while I'm learning -- screen capture tests (whatever aspect ratio or resolution I try) play on my VLC player with 1/3 inch black bars top and bottom. Other vids played with VLC fill the screen at least top to bottom. Don't they? All according to my recollection.

Attached is a brief screen capture just made (no sound). If you play it on your VLC you'll see what I mean with bars top and bottom. Does that seem normal to you? It's at highest res and 16:9 ratio.

Thanks for feedback!
~CyberBilly

Oops... it didn't appear to upload the first time. I shortened the capture and tried again.

You're right too. There's something amiss there.

With my browser maximised, & zoomed to 150%, I used CL Screen Recorder to capture the same page. I had it set on Full Screen on a 1920x1080 monitor.

Screenshots from your capture & mine are attached.

Can you post a screenshot of your settings?

Cheers - Tony
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Tony... Bingo!

It finally twigged when you asked about settings (my own computer Display settings, of course). These I usually keep altered to a 4:3 resolution to match my older 4:3-ish monitor. I hadn't thought that this would alter my VLC screen AND its relationship to playing vids captured in various resolutions. But of course it does.

And it IS called Screen Capture, after all. Duh! Which also means Display Capture (not to mention importance of what Display settings are used to playback with VLC, or whatever).

When I alter my screen res to mimick 16:9 ratio and play back likewise, I get no bars at top and bottom in VLC. It was all about my wacky 3:4 screen and display res.

Thanks so much for helping me figure it out!

Cheers and best wishes,
~CyberBilly