I am looking for some video editing software. I have Divx avi movies in PAL Resolution (720x586). Sometimes the video is 16:9 though, and there are black bars in the top and bottom. Not only do these bars cost disc space, the video also looks rubbish on a widescreen monitor, as there is dead space on every side now. Can you even understand what I'm writing here... Anyway, I am looking for a software that can cut away those black bars, giving me a nice 16:9 file. It would be quite good if no quality would be lost. Obviously I am willing to pay for such a software. Can be Windows and Linux. If it can do more, like real video editing, fine.
Virtual Dub is the way forward in Windows... Have a look at the filters and there's a cropping option. You'll probably need to recode the video though, so unless you use crazy high bitrates you'll probably find a reduction in quality.