Aspect Ratio/compression question

I have tried exporting an H.264 file out of FCP using both QT conversion and compressor. The native sequence is DVCPRO HD 720P (16:9 aspect ratio). Each time the file is exported no matter what I set the geometry settings to, it comes out as a 4:3 aspect ratio file. What am I doing wrong?

Hey Casey,
what is the file resolution of your compressed file?
your final file resolution should be 1280x720.
is your image being distorted?
what settings are you using for the export.
a little more information would be greatly appreciated and there are compression gurus that would gladly help you out.
Mikey M.

Similar Messages

  • FCP 7 Sequence Aspect Ratio Conflict Question

    Hello,
    I am working on a project that is DV/DVCPRO-NTSC, 29.97 fps, 720 x 480, Pixel aspect is NTSC-CCIR 601. I am trying to do two things with my project, one is to create a DVD for one to watch on the TV. The second is I am trying to create videos that I want to upload to youtube. I am having some issues with exporting for youtube which I am doing from FCP 7 and tried using compressor as well. The issue is that I am left with black bars on both sides of the video when I upload it at 720 x 480. When I add the tag yt:stretch=16:9 the bars go away but it looks like the top of my video is cut off as the persons head in the video shows from the nose down.
    Someone suggested that I should export it as 720x404 Squared pixels, and
    de-interlace it as well, in order for me to get rid of those black bars on both sides of the video that I am using on youtube.
    I tried this and uploaded the 720 x 404 video to youtube, and there were no more black bars but now it seems stretched. For example there is a person in the video dancing, so in the new 720 x 404 video he looks fatter. It is like those carnival mirrors that make you look short and fat is the best way I can describe it.
    Is there a way to have the video on youtube without black bars look the same as the video (720 x 480) with the black bars on the side? I am trying to upload a video on youtube that has no black bars and that is not stretched.
    I really appreciate any help I can get!
    Thank you,
    Brad

    Or you could scale up the video so it fills a 16:9 canvas, cropping the top and bottom, though this is not a very good solution for your image. You need to start shooting 16:9 if your delivery goal is going to be YouTube or pretty much anything these days.

  • Panasonic Aspect Ratio

    What is the best aspect ratio to use for regular 16:9 on a Panasonic plasma? What about 4:3? I am a little confused about how they name their aspect ratios.

    The question of aspect ratio applies to all modern TV's, not only Panasonic.
    The "aspect ratio" refers to the physical dimensions of the screen, the proportion of the width to the height, or depth if you want to call it that, of the screen. So a 4:3 is 4 units wide and 3 units deep, more or less square, whereas a 15:9 is 15 units wide and 9 units deep.
    So as an example the viewing area of the new HDTV might be 15 inches wide and 9 inches deep. I can't exactly do the math in my head but that TV would be about a 18 or 19 inch or so on the screen measured on the diagonal, which is how all TV's are classified and sold.
    When it comes to how the picture is "rendered", that is, displayed on the screen, all makes seem to offer the same options for when a program is broadcast as 4:3. There is usually "Zoom", "Just Fill", "Stretch", "H-Fill", and "Full".
    We have Sony, Sanyo and Panasonic TV's in our home, and they all have the same choices. Personally I find the "Just Fill" works best for me, but experiment and see what works best for you.

  • Question about aspect ratio...

    hey all,
    Just got my Apple TV last night and I'm loving it so far.
    My question is about aspect ratios and "filling up the screen". When I watched some documentaries and some episodes of "The Office" (from iTunes Store) - the rntire TV's screen was used and looked beautiful.
    However, when I watched the latest episode of "LOST" from iTunes, it was having big black areas to the left and right of the 4:3 content in the middle, and I was unable to choose any "stretching" or "panorama" effects using the TV's remote as I do with normal non-HD TV signal usually.
    a) Am I doing something wrong? and/or b) are the iTunes TV show sizes and aspect ratios different from different shows?
    Any help appreciated...
    /// martin

    HDMI and DVI do have signal length limitations. it is digital, so should result in a perfect reception of any transmitted signals... if it works at all, including error checking / dropped packets. i generally choose component over HDMI / DVI for medium to long runs, just because it is the only real option without using very expensive cabling or active repeaters / transcoders. usually we are running lots of component video sources anyways, so just go with component all the way around. HDMI / DVI is used for local sources, right adjacent to the TV, only if it is very convenient.
    Here is my beef with HDMI:
    1) the HDMI consortium took a perfectly good format, DVI, and ruined it with DRM controls... it takes from 15 seconds or more for the handshake to arbitrate, leaving users with a black screen as they switch sources.
    2) unprofessional connector that easily falls out... up there with the people who designed the S-Video connector - acually worse.
    3) incomplete initial specs and now various emerging specifications and lackluster adherence to the specifications by different manufacturers...
    4) completely random and unexplicable incompatibilities between different sources, displays, cables, and switchers.
    5) the licensing arrangement that the HDMI consortium has for manufacturers to pay money for the right to use.... a revenue generating function that has sort of took over the reason for the consortiums existence versus advancements in consumer electronics technologies.
    i think that DVI/HDMI is better, but that has to be qualified. the current output thaty ou see on set top boxes and Apple TV is highly compressed. in the case of the ITMS, most of it is not even "DVD quality" yet, let alone "close to DVD quality". this is a limitation in the content, or ITMS selection of content, more so than the architecture of the store.
    asking whether HDMI/DVI is better than component with respect to Apple TV is like asking if it is better to use an Apogee Digital DAC versus a Radio Shack DAC when listening to MP3s at 64kbps. in other words, don't think about it too much.
    the 10% of people that are having problems with HDMI can probably eliminate most all problems by switching over to component and don't need to fret over image quality.

  • Aspect ratio question

    Hello all,
    this footage Im using imported into FCP as 720 x 480 regular ntsc footage. In final cut the video displayes with a letterbox. Unfortunately I went ahead and edited everything before asking questions about this letterbox. So now im running into problems, I know Im doing this after the fact, but I cannot recapture and re-edit (although my suspicion is that the black bars were generated in the camera and thus were captured as part of the footage). Im am trying to build a dvd with this edited sequence in DVDSP.
    I figured out that the actual footage (not including the black bars) is 720 x 360, which is very weird, I know. So to have my movie display correctly on a wide-screen and 4:3 tv, it would have to be at a 16:9 aspect ratio.
    OK, Ive tried so many things, but I cant get it right.
    1st, I made a new sequence in FCP changed this sequence to anamorphic. Then I copied my regualr sequence and pasted into new sequence, then I right click and choose remove all attributes/distort. It removes the letterbox but it sqeezes the footage vertically since my footage is 720 x 360, not 720 x 404... So this wont work...
    Then I exported from FCP directly into compressor and I chose a 16:9 NTSC preset and crop 38 of top and 38 of bottom. The footage is now not sqeezed in any way and only a small letterbox remains (which I can live with) but the problem is, no matter what setting I use: DVD 90 minute best quality or increase bit rate, change gop, the footage looks aweful. Any time there is just a slight movement it has horizontal bars through it. Now, Its not the cropping, because it does it without cropping as well.
    My questions are:
    Is compressor just not that good? because when I ue a reference quicktime and let DVDSP do the encoding it looks great.
    If I cant use compressot to crop how can I get a final m2v file that has a aspect ratio of 16:9 and doesnt get sqeezed...
    Im sorry for this long post, just wanted to be clear on everything, please help!
    Thank you! Danielle
    Im using FCP 5.1, compressor 2 and DVDSP 4, footage came from regular dv camera (obviously set to some weird widesreen format) and I captured it directly into FCP

    Thank you for your reply!
    It worked! thank you so much, ive been struggling with this for a while now! I defenitely have a loss of quality, I will have to watch it on my big plasma at home to make sure it is still ok.
    Can I ask you another question?
    When I export using compressor I get horizontal lines in the video, no matter the settings, Ive tried: dvd best quality 90 minutes 16:9 preset and customized a dvd 16:9 one with very high bit rates, and different GOP settings.
    when I export with quicktime reference and import into DVDSP, it looks much better with their build in encoder.. since I have this loss of quality now, any suggestions on my compressor settings?
    Ive already resigned to 2 DVD's with the main movie on one and the extras on the other, so we can go pretty high with bit rates.
    Thanks again!
    Danielle

  • Export Self-Contained / Sequence / Aspect Ratio Question

    Hello all,
    I have source clips, that look like this, with a command+I in quicktime:
    Format: 24-bit Integer (Little Endian), Stereo (L R), 48.000 kHz
    DVCPRO HD 1080i60, 1280 x 1080 (1888 x 1062), Millions
    FPS: 23.98
    Normal Size: 1888 x 1062 pixels
    Current Size: 1888 x 1062 pixels (Actual)
    Now, in FCP, I have to chop this source up into smaller clips, so as I set in and out points, I drag to my sequence, and let FCP adjust the sequence settings to match the clip. It auto-adjusts to:
    Frame Size: 1280x1080
    Aspect Ratio: HD (1280x1080) (16:9)
    Pixel Aspect Ratio: HD (1280x1080)
    Compressor: DVCPRO HD 1080i60
    Audio: 48khz, 24-bit, Channel Grouped
    When I export my clip, I want little/no processing of the source file, and want the aspect ratio to be locked at the highest quality possible, with no funky pixel aspects ratios, etc. So, I export a Quicktime Movie (no Quicktime conversion) with "Current Settings", and I make the clip self contained.
    The output ends up as follows:
    Format: DVCPRO HD 1080i60, 1280 x 1080 (1888 x 1062), Millions
    24-bit Integer (Little Endian), Stereo, 48.000 kHz
    FPS: 23.98
    Normal Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels
    Current Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels (Actual)
    So, obviously the pixel aspect ratio has done something in the export, as the original size was 1888 x 1062 and is now 1920 x 1080.
    Is there a way to process these clips on export from FCP, where the pixel is a normal 1:1 conversion, be it at 1280x1080, 1888x1062 or 1920x1080 with DVCPRO HD 1080i60, in FCP? Or is this something I have to achieve in Compressor? I'm looking for the Quicktime info on the resulting clip to return the same size for: Format, Normal Size, Current Size.
    Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

    I have read this post over and over and there are some strange things going on with analyzing media now. I am absolutely sure that my HD footage (from a Z1U) used to be read by QT at 1440x1080 (1920x1080). Actual pixels were 1440x1080, a 4x3 aspect ratio, but displayed at 1920x1080. Used to be, like I said. I recently upgraded to OS 10.6.4, and QT 10 is quite a bit different. (In fact, other that the new skin, I haven't found any new features I like. Beside the point.) Now I get a QT readout like yours: 1440x1080 (1888x1062). A 4x3 capture aspect ratio and a 16x9 display aspect ratio, but not the same numbers. This can't be right--by law one of them has to be incorrect. I suspect the new version of QT. The same clip in FCP is read as as 1440x1080 with the HDV pixel aspect ratio (Edit --> Item Properties --> Format.) Furthermore, the readout from MediInfo Mac (endorsed by Apple) is even stranger: 1416x1062, a 4x3 aspect ratio, betraying yet another suspect data output. May be MediaInfo is correct, maybe not. I suspect no--my gut says FCP is correct, since it was once matched by QT. So, three analyzations and three results. The only conclusion is one or more of the analyzers is incorrect.
    I suspect that the data readout in QT 10 is questionable. According to the Z1U manual, the camera records at 1440x1080, QT and FCP have this correct, but MediaInfo Mac does not. But the display raster information, as read by QT 10, has changed from 1920x1080 to 1888x1062.
    So, I did a test. I followed the same procedure you did, including letting FCP set the Sequence Settings (it was correct). The QT 10 data readout from the exported movie was, like yours, 1440 x 1080 (1888 x 1062). Same results when I forced the Sequence Settings to HDV 1060i first. [FCP 6.0.6, QT 10.0 (114) ]. This was consistent with the QT 10 readout for the original, raw media.
    My conclusion? Your movie is fine, there was no Pixel Aspect Ratio manipulation. The data readout in QT 10 is wrong. Sounds like a bug to me. I'd say MediaInfo Mac also has a problem--maybe they are both "drinking from the same poisoned well" somewhere deep inside the code.
    Last resort: if you have access to an older version of QT, try getting the readout from that. I'm going to. If you'd like to know the results, let me know.
    One thing you must do: check the Pixel Aspect Ratio in your edited sequence:
    [Sequence --> Settings --> General --> Pixel Aspect Ratio]
    Make sure yours is set to HD (1280x1080). Actually, check your camera manual to determine what it should be and make sure FCP is matching it. If not, force it.

  • Aspect ratio isn't adapted after exporting/compressing

    Working with final cut express I usually export my projects (some of them 16:9, some of them 4:3, allways PAL) into an uncompressed QuickTime file; from this QT-file I then export/compress the file into whatever format I need it to be in, with target screen size set to either PAL 720x576 4:3 or PAL 720x576 16:9. After updating to QT 7.2 two days ago, the target files (i.e. the ones I get by exporting/compressing from the initial uncompressed QT file) no longer have the correct aspect ratio (wich would be 16:9 for projects in 16:9 and 4:3 for projects in 4:3 respectively) but retain the aspect ratio of the initial QT file (which is slightly less wide than true 4:3 due to the difference between pixel sizes on computer and tv screens I guess). I have re-installed QT, have tweaked around with all the settings in the pulldown menue (checking and unchecking the "retain aspect ratio" box in the "visual settings" menue for instance), all to no avail. Any suggestions?

    you say... 'I used to export my sequences...' and... 'I'm now trying to export another HDV project..." Does that mean that the 'old' sequences were also HDV? or is this the first HDV export you've done for iPod?
    Yes, the old sequences were HDV. This isn't the first HDV export I've done for iPod. I've done them all the same way in the past.
    Also, you say that in the past the exports would maintain the correct 16:9 ratio, but iPod is 4:3 right? so was it letterboxed on the iPod?
    Yes it would play letterboxed on the iPod and in iTunes.
    In which case, you might want to try dropping your HDV sequence, which is 16:9 native, onto a 4:3 sequence to force it to be letterboxed, then export this for your Ipod.
    I've not had to do this in the past, why should I have to do it this way now???

  • Urgent MPEG2 question (pixel aspect ratio)

    Is a composition that is set as a D1/DV NTSC Pixel Aspect Ratio (0.91) able to be exported as a MPEG2 file?
    I have a very large, very complicated project file with a D1/DV NTSC Pixel Aspect Ratio and I'm trying to save it as a MPEG2 file type because it has the best compression for the quality and need the file sizes to be small.  However when I go to the MPEG2 Format Options when exporting, it only has Standard 4:3 (0.80), Square Pixel (1.00), Widescreen 16:9 (1.067), and Widescreen 2.21:1 (1.326).
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    Thank you,

    What version of AE are you using?
    What are your composition's dimensions? Did you use the NTSC DV composition preset?
    First off, if file size is your only concern, then you should encode to h.264, not mpeg2.
    Mpeg2 is mainly used for DVD production. H.264 is a much more advanced codec for the sake of making a good-looking & small file.
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    That being said, and if you are going to mpeg2 for DVD, then how are you going about encoding the file out of AE?
    You should be selecting the "MPEG2 DVD" output module.
    Keep in mind, that, if you are going to DVD, a better procedure (to provide maximum quality) would be to render to the Animation codec first, and then compress (2-pass VBR encode) that prerenderd movie to mpeg2.

  • What aspect ratio to use for slideshow dvd?  (earlier question rephrased)

    Slideshow created in iDVD, the ultimate product (DVDs) to be given as keepsakes to the surviving family members of a friend who passed away; also to be played at a celebration of life for my late friend.
    Photos are old and many - span 83 years - and are all different sizes & shapes.
    All I need to decide is what aspect ratio to use - this slideshow may be viewed on computer, TV (regular or H) - I have no idea what people will use.
    What's my best choice? Thanks!

    iDVD uses the 4:3 aspect ratio. Most digital cameras create images with this ratio. However, scanned photo can be a variety of ratios and will have to be cropped to the 4:3 ratio in iPhoto before sending on to iDVD.
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    FWIW I find I get the best final image quality when I create the slideshow in iDVD from still photos in iPhoto. The downside to that is the Ken Burns effect is not available and you can have only one transition.
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    If you do create the slideshow in iPhoto be aware that users have had problem with using multiple audio tracks in the export process. Many have found that each track seems to fade out way to soon leaving dead air between tracks. You can add multiple tracks in iDVD and that problem is not present.
    When you're ready to burn the iDVD project first save it as a disk image (File->Save as Disk Image) and check it with DVD Player. This separates out the encoding process from the burn process. If it plays as you expect with DVD Player it's ready to burn. Burn to disc with Disk Utility at the slowest speed available to assure the best burn quality. Always use top quality media: Verbatium, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden DVD-R are the most recommended in these forums.
    Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions.

  • Aspect ratio and some other questions...

    I haven't purchased an Apple TV yet (emphasizing YET) but I'm very interested and may make the leap tomorrow. I've been reading a lot on the discussion boards but still had a few questions. I have a widescreen 46" Samsung LCD TV that I'm planning to use as my primary TV. The wife and I have rented a few movies from the iTunes store and noticed the aspect ratio leaves the picture fairly small. I wasn't expecting a full screen picture, but something a little more than barely half the screen. Will the Apple TV improve the picture size or is this what I'm going to expect going forward? Any pictures would be great!
    Second, as far as I've read, you cannot connect an external hard drive to the Apple TV itself, but if I hook it to my PowerBook and use my external HDD as my iTunes Library source, will everything work fairly seamlessly? I have an Airport Extreme base station so I'm hoping things work pretty well.
    Next, between the 40GB and 160GB Apple TV's -- is there an overwhelming reason to get one or another?
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    Thanks in advance for the help, I appreciate it! BTW, definitely a BIG fan of the iTunes rentals!
    Brad

    I don't know what monitor you have but there is a fair chance it has a resolution of at least 1600 x 1000 which is why your 640 x 480 rental doesn't fill it although itunes does have an option tto show movies full screen.
    Tv's typically have much lower resolutions than monitors and the output from the tv is matched to such resolutions. In short your rentals will fill the screen on your tv when played on the tv.
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  • Having trouble with aspect ratio when compressing DVCPRO HD footage to QT

    I have a 35mm film (1.85-1 aspect ratio) converted to 16/9 DVCPRO HD. When I compress it to Mpeg2 for DVD, it looks great, holds the correct aspect ratio. But when I choose a setting for the web, a small Quicktime file, it stretches the image ever so slightly. Not sure what the problem is. Thanks for the help.

    Hey Lodgeboy,
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  • A Little question about Pixel Aspect Ratio

    This doubt has been bugging me since I started edit HD formats.It's about pixel aspect ratio.
    Let's supose I have received some material in HD format,for instance.But I will deliver this material in another format, DV NTSC,for instance.
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    The software takes care of it for you.
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  • Changing Aspect Ratio Question?

    I have just unwrapped and installed my new apple TV. Setup was the usual Apple synch
    However I've found someting tat is rather iritating and wanted to ask if someone can help me.
    When looking at the apple TV menue's etc the aspect ratio looks perfect on my 55" wide screen TV. and on my normal TV the current aspect ratio setting of the TV seems to work OK. I think I have it set to 16:9
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    I dont see a menu setting in apple TV to change aspect raitio..
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    Thanks,
    Steve

    There isn't one.  Its output is designed purely for 16:9 widescreen TVs.  Any adjustments thereafter must be made on the TV.
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    AC

  • Question about aspect ratio/resizing images

    hi. i am currently working on a video project for a class, creating a presentation with iMovie and iPhoto. I simply need to display a logo, however, when i import it into iMovie from iPhoto, the picture is wide and pixelated, of low quality. when i change the aspect ratio to 16:9, the image is too large to fit. however, i cannot resize it via iPhoto to fit within the 16:9 ratio. i'm simply trying to get an individual photo from iPhoto to fit within a frame in iMovie. is there a quick way of converting it to fit or resizing it within iMovie?

    hi. i am currently working on a video project for a class, creating a presentation with iMovie and iPhoto. I simply need to display a logo, however, when i import it into iMovie from iPhoto, the picture is wide and pixelated, of low quality. when i change the aspect ratio to 16:9, the image is too large to fit. however, i cannot resize it via iPhoto to fit within the 16:9 ratio. i'm simply trying to get an individual photo from iPhoto to fit within a frame in iMovie. is there a quick way of converting it to fit or resizing it within iMovie?

  • An odd aspect ratio question

    Hi All,
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    thanks.
    g

    Yes, that is exactly what I would do. Create a graphic in Photoshop that is standard video size with a 786x280 hole in it. Bring that into FCP and place it on top of everything else. Then you can lower its opacity a bit to see what is being cut off. Then when you bring the finished video into Compressor or Squeeze or whatever you are using, crop it there to 786x280. You will be able to see where to crop.

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