*** Do I choose "squeeze" or "letterbox" when down-converting HDV footage

I'm not sure which setting to choose here so I'm hoping somone can help. I have printed my HDV footage to tape and would like to bring it back into FCP down-converted. I'm working from the Sony HDV deck. I know to go to iLink and change the settings there, but do I change them to "squeeze" or "letterbox"?

What are you hoping to do with the downconverted footage?
If you'll need to make Anamorphic DVDs - or fill any type of 16:9 display, for that matter (even if it is from tape, projector or computer) - you're best off choosing "Squeeze."
You can then drop that footage into an Anamorphic timeline and be good to go.
If you choose letterbox, you'll have a 4:3 image with black bars as part of the image. I suppose that's not an issue if you're only producing material for 4:3 masters but considering how many 'how do I make my 4:3 material fit a 16:9 TV' threads we've had here in the last month, I'd personally avoid that.

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*** Settings for importing down-converted HDV footage

Working with a Sony Z1U with HDV footage. Have printed HDV footage to tape and now want to import it as SD footage in order to go to DVD. In the settings on the Z1U, do I choose the "squeeze" or "letterbox" option? I think squeeze, but I want to double check. I want this to fill widescreen tv's and appear letterboxed on tubes.
Thanks in advance!

you will probably get better help on this topic at the creativecow.net forums

Letterboxing when using 16:9 footage in 4:3 project...

Hi,
I have a project here that is DV-NTSC-720x480-4x3.
Now when I import footage that is 720x480 / 4x3 it is displayed properly e.g. this file:
Codec : MPEG-2 Video
Codec profile : Main@Main
Codec settings/Matri : Standard
Bit rate : 9800 Kbps
Bit rate mode : CBR
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display Aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Chroma : 4:2:0
Interlacement : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.946
When I try to import footage that is 720x480 / 16x9, PP Pro automatically does a Pan & Scan on the footage e.g. on this file:
Codec : MPEG-2 Video
Codec profile : Main@Main
Codec settings/Matri : Standard
Bit rate : 8000 Kbps
Bit rate mode : CBR
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display Aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Chroma : 4:2:0
Interlacement : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.772
Regarding this automatic Pan & Scan for 16:9 footage (in a 4:3 project) I have a few questions...
1. Am I right assuming that the pixels are "stretched" when doing a Pan & Scan on imported 16:9 footage (in a 4:3 project) ?
--> meaning: the quality is worse than using letterboxing ?
2. How can I apply letterboxing on 16:9 footage imported into a 4:3 project ?
--> I read the manual and it states that u can adjust that with the Motion properties Scale & Position but is there an automatic solution in PP Pro ?
--> I've adjusted the Scale to 75.5 % (which looks okay) but what is the correct percentage ?
3. Where can I change settings in PP Pro to put all 16:9 footage (in a 4:3 project) automatically in letterbox format ?
As always, thanx for your help in advance !
Mike

This is what I would do...
First my question is: are you working in HD or SD?
Second, make a new sequence. (make sure it prompts you to select what sequence you want). If you're working in SD (standard definition) select DV NTSC 48khz Anamorphic. This basically means, that you're working in 720x480 SD but with 16:9 ratio.
If you're working in HD. make a new sequence selecting: HDV - 1080 60i. HDV aspect ratio, by default, is already 16:9.
Thats all you should have to do. Don't distort each clip one by one. You'd be wasting time.
Oh, i just realized another thing. How you Captured the footage! This is crucial. If the footage is 16:9...how did you capture it?
let me know...
mo

Overscanning issue when down converting from 720p to PAL SD DVD

Hi, I recently made a SD DVD in DVDSP, to be shown at an upcoming festival. Test screening the DVD, I noticed that the edges of the frame had been cropped on both top and bottom and sides - but not by very much. After checking the DVD on another computer as well as adjustimg the projector settings, the problem seems to have been at least in part inherent to the DVD itself and I am wondering why?
The workflow I used was to edit in AIC in FCP, then write an uncompressed HD master (1280x720)- which was then run through After Effects to put the title sequence on (with the same settings), and then I used compressor to make a MPEG2 - tweaking the settings slightly from default. The end result was then imported to DVDSP, and written - with the resulting cropping problem.
Any thoughts where I went wrong, and how I might get the rest of my picture back for screening purposes?
Much obliged for any and all input,
-Tom

Thanks Harm...
1. Don't uprez SD material.
Not optional here...this is NTSC SD 4:3 legacy footage that is integral to the content...however there are many stills and animation of stills that can be created HD rez, then incorporate the SD footage at full rez as a scaled/vignette at 720x480/1440x1080i?
2. Instead shoot HD, so get another camera.
See above
3. Second, lose the Matrox.
Matrox seems to do a fairly descent job or down rezzing from 16:9 to 4:3 ...with Pan & Scan I could keyframe the scan and pan...any specific reason you have not to use RT.X2?
4. Third, maybe forget about NTSC if you shot PAL. The time it takes and the inherent quality hit are not worth it, IMO
All acquistion done in NTSC 4:3 DVCAM
5. BR PAL does not support P.
Ahhhh...thanks for that....I was not aware of this...i(interlaced only) in UK... eh? I'll research this further...both for UK broadcast and DVD home video
Again...many thanks for taking the time to respond...anyone else?
Best,
Mick

Audio lag when exporting 90min HDV footage as QT movie via FCP6

Hy Guys I desperately need your help!
Ive exported a 90min QT movie from an 1080i50 HDV project in FCP6 & found that the audio progressively "lags" as the clip plays.
At the start of the clip the sound is in sync with the video but by the end it lags nearly 15 seconds behind the video!
The footage had captured perfectly & everything works fine in the timeline & is rendered properly.
I've checked everything I can think of (settings on timeline are the same as the export settings - audio rate is 48KH, 25fps in both etc (I'm based in the UK)but getting no joy at all.
Initially I exported the footage using the "export quicktime movie" option, set to "use current settings", as a "self contained movie", & un-checked "re-compress all frames" option.
(The intention ultimately being to import the file into Compressor 3 to produce M2v/Ac3 files & then import them into DVD studio pro to produce a PAL anamorphic 16:9 SD-DVD.)
Since that didnt work however, Ive tried all sorts of different settings for both timeline & QT export - the only thing I havent tried is exporting it totally uncompressed (should I use 8bit or 10 bit??).
I'm a bit wary of that as It will take 12-14hrs to do so & use up an awfal lot of space.
The footage itself is of an action horror feature - so LOTS of quick cuts, whip pans & transitions.
I'm using a brand-new rented Mac G5 so I have no idea what drivers of service packs have been added - but i think its pretty well serviced (its VERY stable).
I'd be really grateful If you can get back to me with a solution on this as - no joke - my Job relies on this getting solved PDQ !!!!
Many thanks
Mike

Exporting a self contained Quicktime movie does not cause any compression to the actual images.
When using QT movie export FCP copies each frame of your finished movie and create new ones out of any transition between original media.
Editing HDV can require extra time indeed as it needs to be conformed after you finish. I would try to send the movie straight from the timeline once rendered. If you want to check out the result why not copy a portion of the edit on a second identical sequence and send it to Compressor.
Testing is always a crucial part of the process.
G.

When exporting my HDV footage the titles get squished (pic) - Why?

Hereos a screen:
I'm using FCP 5.1.4.
Sequence Settings:
1440x1080 16:9 (I really need to make this smaller, any suggestions?)
Pixel Aspect Ratio: HD 1440x1080
Anamorphic 16:9 box is NOT checked (not sure if that's correct or not)
Editing timebase: 29.97
Field Dominance: Upper Odd
QTV Settings: HDV 1080i60
I exported using Compresor with the following custom settings:
.mov
Format: QT
Width 960
Height 540
Pixel Aspect Ratio: defualt
Crop: none
frame rate: 100% of source
codec: h.264
Multi-pass: on
If you need any other info, please tell me.
And by the way, I'm using the Canon HV20 set at 24p.

Okay, I've got more of a clue as to what's going on. While in compressor I clicked off "show as sq. pixels" and while the image was smushed horizontaly (giving off the impression that it's stretched vertically) the titles were also affected. So, when exporting with the usual settings I noticed that the video has the correct aspect ratio while the titles were still smashed horizontally as if "show as sq pixels" was unchecked.
So, there is definitely an issue with the titles being treated differently than the video. Now I just have to figure out how to get the titles to have the proper aspect ratio when exported...
2.33 MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Can motion 5 down convert 60Fps Footage

MY cinema tools does not work with new operating system
i do have Final Cut pro x and im using mpeg stream to turn my contour + footage to ProRes Lt
but i need something like cinema tools to convert the 60fps to 30fps to get the good smooth slow motion
any suggestions

PS - to answer your original quesion:
in Motion, import your clip and select it. In the Inspector, Properties tab, at the bottom, show Timing. Set the speed to 50% and select your Frame Blending option (Blending, Motion Blur, Optical Flow). Export. Basically the exact same thing in FCPX (although you can do some really cool stuff with Variable Speeds in motion that's a little easier to use than speed changes in FCPX.)

MPEG2 when compressing from HDV

Hi
I'm new to compressor and FCP and HDV. I'm coming over from the SD Avid world of editing and have a question aboutMPEG-2. IsMPEG-2 the best when it comes to finished quality when being compressed from HD to SD??? When I play a SD dvd that has down converted HDV footage on it, it looks real bad, just very pixelated??? I'm outputting HDV 1080i60 from FCP then opening Compressor and using the setting under DVD:Best Quality 90 minutes which is MPEG-2 6.2Mbps 2-pass. I was told to use this setting from a friend of mine. Or even the DV NTSC Anamorphic setting as well.
I hope I'm doing something wrong and using the wrong setting because I can't deliver this low HDV down converted product to my client:( If there is a much better quality setting out there, I would love to know about it:)
PLEASE HELP!!
Thanks, Jonathan

Hi
First a confession: I don't work with HDV ... but I found that [Bonsai’s HDV to DVD workflow|http://www3.telus.net/bonsai/Welcome.html] have helped others before in these forums.
Hope that helps !
Alberto

Down-Converting 1080p to 720p

I shoot AVCHD 1080p form a verity of different cameras - but 99% of all my final projects are for the Web or DVD - no big screen and no blue-ray. I want to shoot what I can in 1080p for future use or projects. My question is what is the best solution (free or nominal fee) for down-converting my footage to 720p for storage and editing?

Can I ask a related question here? (maybe in the "dumb question department) ...
I'm also shooting with a brand new NX5U -- which lets me shoot 1080 and 720 simultaneously (one to chip, the other to a flash drive). My projects also end up on the web and non-blueray DVDs.
So is the quality going to be better if I work in 1080 timelines and then import the final into a 720 timeline? Or is it going to look the same if I work in 720 right from the start?
I haven't run any tests to judge rendering time, etc. I'm assuming higher rez means longer processing time. But maybe it's worth it for better quality.
Anyone have any advice about this?
Thanks in advance!

How do you prevent the organizer from mixing the order of pictures when down loading off the memory card?

@How do you prevent the organizer from mixing the order of pictures when down loading off the memory card?

This sounds like you are using Photoshop Elements, and the Photoshop Elements forum would be best at answering that.
Photoshop Elements
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i use Firefox 22.0 on windows 7
it's about one week that it ask for "Network Connections" when i'm offline and disconnected from the internet even when i don't open a save page and just opening Firefox with a blank page
Image of the Error:
http://home.sums.ac.ir/~rowshansh/firefox.png
http://www.sums.ac.ir/~rowshansh/firefox.png

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How can I make invoice when down payment is bigger than item value ?

Dear all,
please, I need make invoice with bigger down payment than the item value.
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"Total of down payment to be billed too high. See billing document item XXXXX"
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Thank you
Peter

Hello,
I would like to underline that this is not a problem, but a standard, and in my opinion rightful behaviour of SAP: in a dowpayment process, when you create the invoice document, you should deduct only an amount less or equal to the invoice amount. And in the following invoices you will deduct the remaining downpayment amounts still open.
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Andrea

Choose Preserve Image Dimensions When Relinking

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When down loading updates, im ask what program to open it up with

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*** Do I choose "squeeze" or "letterbox" when down-converting HDV footage

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