Final Cut Express - Aspect Ratio

Where do I set the aspect ratio in Final Cut Express? I find that often I import 4:3 clips, and FCE wants me to work with them in a 16:9 Sequence, so I get letter boxing. Sometimes, FCE seems smart enough and says "hey should I fix this", but sometimes it doesn't, and I can't figure out how to tell it what aspect ratio my project is in.

Yeah, it took me a while to realize what to do about this. If you have your bowser window in column view, you scroll it to the right and find the check box column for anamorphic.

Similar Messages

Final Cut Express changes the video aspect

Hello.
I imported some videoes from m Sony-sr32 HandyCam with iMovie 08. The videos were captured in a wide screen format, and iMovie shows them in wide screen.
However, when I import the movie files to Final Cut Express it plays them in a normal 4:3 aspect. The video seems o be distorted (narrowed).
Why is that, and how can i Change that?
Thanks!

You have to check the anamorphic column in the Browser or in item properties to tell FCE the material is anamorphic.

I'm running Final Cut Express 2. How can I move entire project and application from one internal hard drive to another? Ran out of space on one drive. Thanks.

I'm running Final Cut Express 2. My video project is 95% done and I've run out of space on my 500g internal hard drive. How can I (1) move the complete FCE program and video to my unused 250g internal hard drive and operate it from there and (2) how do I then purge all the FCE info from the 500g drive without losing anything from the 250 drive?
Also, is it possible to change the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9 when the project is finished? If so, how? I now know this all should have been done before I started. Thanks for the help.

1. You can't move the application. It must remain on the system drive. Move your capture scratch folder to the external FireWire drive and use the reconnect function in the project.
2. What's the media 16:9 or 4:3?

Pro Res in Final cut express How do i get a good quality SD DVD

I recently bought final cut express and have suffered getting a good quality SD DVD out through the workflow from my cannon XHA1.
On screen its fine but when i author through imovie to DVD the quality is poor.
So reading the various threads it would seem that i need to use Pro res and the ingress codec... But cant find this option in express ?
Question is. Is pro res codec available in express and if not can someone suggest the optimum set up for HD capture to SD DVD output
Many thanks

Use either of these techniques to get good quality DVDs from AIC.
1. Edit your HDV/AIC in the timeline. Then create a new DV-PAL (NTSC) Anamorphic sequence. Copy your edited HDV/AIC to the new sequence. Do not alter anything. Render the sequence ..... this will take a long time - up to twice the length of the project. Then File>Export>QuickTime Movie (Not Self-contained).
However, if you use the QT Movie in iDVD you will get a squashed 4:3 movie, so first of all you must make QT stretch it out to its proper 16:9 dimensions like this:-
+a. Open the exported movie file in the QT Pro player.+
+b. Go to Window>Show Movie Properties.+
+c. Select the "Video Track" and in the "Visual Settings" panel uncheck "Preserve Aspect Ratio".+
+d. In the "Scaled Size" box set the width to 1024 pixels for PAL.+
+e. The "Video Track" will have turned grey, so click it to make it blue again.+
+f. The opened movie file will jump to 16:9.+
+g. Close it with the red button and click Save.+
2. This method is fast. Set your camera to "Locked DV" which means that FCE/FCP will capture it as anamorphic DV and edit it as standard definition anamorphic DV. (Use Easy Setup ... DV-PAL (NTSC) Anamorphic).
You can then Export>QuickTime Movie to be used in iDVD and use the stretching technique mentioned above.

Anamorphic Footage on DVD...Final Cut Express 2.0.3 & iDVD 4.0.1

Hello again everyone,
My latest project involves 5 short QuickTime Movies edited together in one sequence in Final Cut Express 2.0.3. I am trying to now burn that sequence to DVD but I am having some "issues"...
Three of these QuickTIme Movies are DV PAL Anamorphic and the other two are DV PAL (not anamorphic) and all five have been edited into a DV PAL Anamorphic Sequence in Final Cut Express 2.0.3. This works great when viewed in the canvas.
What I have been trying to do next is export the whole sequence using File/Export/QuickTime Movie so I end up with one whole exported QuickTime Movie, containing the five other QuickTime Movies, that I can then import into iDVD 4.0.1.
The export works fine and I can import the new QuickTime Movie into a PAL iDVD 4.0.1 project but the footage looks 4:3 and not anamorphic.
When exported the QuickTime Movie does not seem to have preserved the pixel aspect ratio of my sequence (anamorphic)...
Can anyone please offer some advice here? What is the best way to export Anamorphic PAL sequences out of Final Cut Express 2.0.3 as QuickTime Movies that can then be imported into iDVD 4.0.1 (or DVD Studio Pro and other apps) with the correct pixel aspect ratio (Anamorphic PAL)?
Is this something that iDVD can't handle and needs to be done in DVD Studio Pro or do I need to change my export settings in Final Cut Express 2.0.3......or do I need to export it from Final Cut Pro instead?
Regards,
Justin Pamenter

I think iDVD 5 is the first version of iDVD to support anamophic. Sounds like you did the right stuff in FCE. You had the Easy Setup on anamorphic when you captured and when you created the anamorphic sequence.
Take a look at the iDVD forum or Google "iDVD Anamorphic".

What are the best data and bit rate setting for uploading from final cut express to Youtube?

Can anyone suggest the best data rate and bit rate presets for uploading footage from final cut express 4 to Youtube? What settings will provide the best resolution, quality, and match the current youtube requirements?
Thank you in advance for your help,
Susan Kayne

It depends on whether you are using aspect ratios of 4:3 or 16:9.
Below is some simple guidance that will provide good quality with reasonably small file sizes.
The first part is for 4:3 video:-
1. File>Export Using QT Conversion.
2. The "Format" window should say, "QT Movie".
3. In "Use" select "LAN/Intranet" from the dropdown menu.
4. Click "Save" and when it has finished encoding, upload it to YouTube.
If you are making 16:9 video (Standard or High Definition) do steps 1 to 3 above.
Then when you have selected "LAN/Intranet" press the "Options" button and in the new
window that opens press the "Size" button and change the "640x480" to "853x480"
To do this you will have to click on the 640x480 and a dropdown menu appears.
Select "Custom" from the bottom of the menu and in the window that opens
you will see 2 boxes.
Put 853 in the first box and 480 in the second.
Click OK.
Then Save it.

How do I export a Final Cut Express 4 movie using quick time conversion without stretching the image?

I have created a movie in Final Cut Express 4 using videos and still photos of various aspect ratios and resolutions. Some of the photos are verticals. When I try to use File>Export>Using Quick Time Conversion, my images end up being stretched horizontally when the video is finally processed. I have tried preserving the aspect ratio but the video still ends up stretched horizontally. What should my settings be in Quick time conversion? I just want to make a video for YouTube.
Thanks. -Bob

If you shoot in one of the following modes you should be able to Log & Transfer directly into FCE:
HD: 1920x1080/60i (FX or FH mode)
HD: 1440x1080/60i (HQ or LP mode)
SD: 720x480/60i
1080/60p (PS mode) seems to be the default mode in your camcorder. FCE only supports progressive video in 720p50 or 720p60. That's probably why you have had to import via iMovie.
It would be better to upgrade to Final Cut Pro X, the version currently supported. FCE was discontinued over 18 months ago and is not supported on Lion or Mountain Lion.

Final Cut Express 4 or Final Cut Studio??

I am currently having to burn DVDs for a new company named Astramedia.
We are getting our Videos from suppliers in the HDV format as a .mov file. (More details at the end) These files were exported using Apples Final Cut Studio. Now we want to use these Video files for DVD burning. The DVDs should be in high quality, in 16:9, and with Intro and Menu. My question is do I need to by Apple Final Cut Studio for the Compressor and the DVD Studio Pro programm or is it sufficient enough to use Final Cut Express 4 to export the HDV files and use iDVD to burn the DVDs?
Thanks for all your help & answers!! Nik
More Details about the Video File:
General
Complete name : /Users/Nikolas/Downloads/AME0051_CentroMedicoyEsteticoDoctoraArados.mov
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt
File size : 294 MiB
Duration : 1mn 31s
Overall bit rate : 27.0 Mbps
Encoded date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:10:20
Tagged date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:18:15
Writing library : Apple QuickTime
com.apple.finalcutstudio.media.u : 917CB11F-52A0-4C5F-A5C1-16ED4E6CEB93
Video
ID : 1
Format : Digital Video
Codec ID : hdv3
Codec ID/Hint : DVCPRO HD
Duration : 1mn 31s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 25.5 Mbps
Width : 1 440 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.656
Stream size : 277 MiB (94%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:10:20
Tagged date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:18:15
Audio
ID : 2
Format : PCM
Format settings, Endianness : Little
Format settings, Sign : Signed
Codec ID : sowt
Duration : 1mn 31s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 536 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 16.7 MiB (6%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:10:20
Tagged date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:18:15
Menu
ID : 3
Encoded date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:18:15
Tagged date : UTC 2010-02-08 13:18:15
Message was edited by: AstramediaES

FCE cannot use native HDV files.
You would have to convert them first to one of the FCE friendly codecs then edit and pipe into iDVD.
You will get a pretty good result.
Compressor and DVDSPro will raise the bar of course but a lot more knowledge is involved in proper use of these programs.
Al

Final Cut Express 4 & iDVD

When I export using QuickTime movie and import into iDVD I loose the aspect ratio i.e. it is no longer 16:9. I purchased Final cut express because iMovie 08 would not allow CHAPTER MARKS? I produced a 2 hour 25 minute movie in iMovie 08 (a mistake) exported to GarageBand to put chapter marks on and then tried to send it to iDVD and was told File to Large. I have a Double Layer DVD Burner and have created larger movies than this. I thus transfered the movie from iMovie 08 into Final Cut Express 4 to put Chapter Marks on which worked but the aspect ratio was lost. Doing a QuickTime Conversion Aspect Ratio is OK but NO CHAPTER MARKS. (GOOD WAY OF SELLING MORE PROGRAMS BECAUSE NONE SEEM TO DO WHAT YOU EXPECT OR WHAT YOU WANT). iMovie 08 was purchased as an UPGRADE to iMovie HD because of the extra features added, but they forgot to make it work with iDVD?

You may try my instructions in http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6025796&#6025796. They worked with me in the past.
I used myDVDEdit on a G5 iMac without any trouble.
About chapter markers. If you want iDVD to recognize them:
- in FCE make sure the markers are set in the timeline (not in the clips) and are marked "Chapter Marker" (open each marker dialog to set this option)
- from FCE Export/Quicktime Movie (NOT Using Quicktime conversion: this doesn't export markers) and make sure you select "Chapter Markers" (NOT "All markers" or any other choice for this option) in the export dialog
- then you should be able to import to iDVD the movie with chapter markers (iDVD Preferences must be set to create submenus for chapters)
Piero

Final Cut Express won't transfer widescreen to iDVD!

I edited a movie in Final Cut Express, and it plays fine in widescreen in that program. When I export it as a Quicktime, however, it then will only play in 4:3 ratio. I import it to iDVD & it wont play in widescreen either.
(Also... when in Final Cut Exp, how to I change the aspect ratios from anamorphic to 4:3 & vice versa. Just for future reference & to make sure everything is right.)

Yer post has been here a couple days, so I'll take a whack. While researching a similar but different problem (tacked on at the end), I have come upon repeated references to this solution for importing Final Cut anamorphic files into iDVD. They all reference back to Apple support article 75079. Despite the long list of instructions, it only amounts to changing one setting.
First and foremost, you need Quicktime Pro for this to work, because you open the file in QT and then save it with a minor change. You fit the bill because your files are "squished" in QT. If they weren't, then even attempting this would be pointless.
Open the file in QT Pro
Choose "Window>Show Movie Properties"
In the Property window, click the "Video track" in the "Name" column
Click the "Visual Settings" Button
Deselect the "Preserve Aspect Ration" checkbox
Change the "Scaled Size" (NTSC=853 x 480, PAL=1024 x 576)
You will see the immediate change in the QT window.
Choose "File>Save" to save the movie.
If I recall, this saves it as a .mov file. If that's what you started with, then read no further.
If you started with a .dv file and are partial to retaining a .dv file, this other technique I ran across may work just as well:
Open the file in QT Pro
Choose "File>Export"
In the "Export" drop-down menu, choose "Movie to DV Stream"
Click the "Options" button
In the "DV Export Settings" window change the aspect ratio to 16:9
Might want to double-check the audio setting to be sure it is what you want it to be.
(The file I tried this on had no audio and was defaulted to 32)
Click "Okay"
Change the name if you are nervous
Save the file.
This second method was actually to address a problem when 16:9 QT files import to iMovie as 4:3. For all I know, it won't work on files exported from Final Cut, but I figured I'd toss it in.
As for switching aspect ratios in FC, in my research I have run across references to it just being a button-click.
My own problem has to do with importing (into iDVD) 16:9 QT files saved from iMovie 6. Unlike your Final Cut files that play 4:3 in QT, these guys play 16:9 just fine in QT, so neither of the above techniques changes anything. So far, I have only found a reference to two 3-party programs ("mydvdedit" and "anamorphicizer") as solutions.
Naturally, sharing iMovie->iDVD maintains 16:9 in iDVD, but if I ever get stupid and move to iMovie 08, I understand iMovie no longer shares with iDVD, so then what? I'm just hoping there is some other solution than yet another 3-party program to make an Apple product work right.
Technically, I don't think I highjacked your thread, but if I did, someone can tell me so and I'll copy and past to a new thread.
Clyde

I'm trying to make "Stop motion videos" in Final Cut EXPRESS by using 100's of still photos and setting them to music. They are coming out blurry if viewed larger than 4x6 in size

I'm trying to make "Stop motion videos" in Final Cut EXPRESS by using 100's of still photos and setting them to music. They are coming out blurry if viewed larger than 4x6 in size.
I don't understand why this is happening.

Quick follow up, since I was on my phone earlier and am back to a real keyboard.
To access Easy Setup, hit Control Q.
If you click on the blue discosure triangles, a dropdown menu with about a dozen different presets will be displayed. Select the one you want, (Here, I've selected 720P.)
Whatever you select for a preset will not be applied until you make a new sequence. (I don't like to have sequences with different properties in the same project so I prefer to make a new project if I change the Easy Setup.)
Because photo aspect ratios are different than video, I typically put a solid generator of some compatible color on the first track (v1) and put my photos on the track above (v2). Looks better, IMO, than black bars. There are other creative ways to display them. And of course, you could scale them up to fill the frame…but then you probably would have to re-position them.
Good luck.
Russ

What video formats does Final Cut Express support?

I have Final Cut Express HD 3.5. What video formats are compatible with this program? Also, what frame rate and aspect ratio do my videos have to be in for Express to accept the video file?

Good of you to have read the manual. It helps us answer the question now that you've included that information.
Your material must be converted to either DV, HDV or AIC (FCE Native formats). As you have discovered, while FCE will accept a number of non-standard or native formats, it will not play happily with them.
DV and HDV are anamorphic formats. That is, they use non-square pixels. Standard DV is 720x480 (a 3:2 ratio) that FCE will do the conversion magic and have is display in a 4:3 format. Widescreen DV (aka 16:9) is ALSO 720x480 but the narrow dimension of the pixel is oriented the other way. When you tell FCE that the file is 16:9 anamorphic, it will do the magic and display the material properly. If you do not, it will display as though it is standard definition 4:3 and the people will be much skinnier but not taller.
HDV is 1440x720 but displays in 16:9.
AIC can be 1280x720 or 1980x1080.
All other dimensions are not supported and you may have very unreliable results when using them. This very limited abiltiy to deal with more than a couple of formats was one of the main differentiation points between Express and Final Cut Pro. There were a great number of other differences but this was one of the biggest limitations for most consumer level users.
If you want to edit a lot of non-standard, non-native formats, look into Final Cut Pro X or Adobe Premiere Pro. Premiere Pro is within the editing paradigm of Final Cut Pro/Express. Final Cut Pro X has gone in a different direction which involves a new learning curve. Don't be fooled by the name, it is a very different animal than Express.
x

Poor quality when exporting HD project directly from Final cut Express

I am doing some HD projects in Final Cut Express HD. I filmed with the Sony HRD-HC1 in 1080i. I import into FCE using the 1080i 60 preset from Easy setup. I completed the project and it looks great from FCE full screen. I export as Quicktime (not Using Quicktime conversion), and I get a perfect looking output file using the Apple intermediate codec, 1440x1080. The problem is that the client needs to play back the video on windows machine using Quicktime. The windows Quicktime does not support the AIC apple intermediate codec, so I have to export to another format. I tried everything exporting from FCE, MP2, H.264, DivX, everyone option. They all look terrible. Blurry, especially parts that have quick motion. Really terrible. I called Apple support, no love. I then tried taking the AIC version of the file and used compressor. It took forever, but came up with am OK MP2 HD file. It still doesn't look that great, but it is way better. So, is their something broken with the FCE exports using Quicktime conversion? Anyone have similar experiences or workarounds? I don't want to use compressor as I don't have it on my Mac Book pro, I had to move it to another machine to do that.

Being that the dimentions you suggested should be widescreen, I re-ran the conversion to your parameters, this time un-checking "Preserve aspsect ratio.. as letterbox" and this time it is widescreen. Not sure why, but it was putting the black bars on the left and right, not the top and bottom, scrunching to 4:3ish with that box checked. Strange.
Anyway, the quality is the best H.264 I have seen exporting directly from FCE. It still blurs quite a bit on the fast moving video parts, my MP2 version from compressor still looks lots better. Seems like there is some problem with exporting HD from FCE. It just is not coming out sharp, like the Apple intermediate codec version you get with Export - -> Quicktime movie or if you wait for compressor to do the work rather than FCE. Does compressor use a different engine, or does it use the same QT and just take more time to do a better job in the export? Something just isn't right.

Which camera to get for Final Cut Express 3.5HD/ upgrade to FCE 4?

Hello everyone!
I know this has been discussed frequently, but i am sort of looking for a costum made solution for me
Following situation: Macbook, 2.16Ghz, 2GB Ram, 320GB HDD @ 5400rpm.
I am running 10.5.3, have Final Cut Express 3.5 installed and am used to work in it,
mainly for editing video files not coming from a camcorder.
I have some experience in SD miniDV recording/editing though.
NOW I was thinking of getting a new camcorder in the 1500$ max range.
I want to edit video files, sometimes burn DVDs, at other times only to have them on the mac.
What i like about some of these new HD consumer models they can record AVCHD and mpeg2 SD in DVD quality. That should allow me to record in mpeg2 and have less hassle with importing/converting into Final Cut Express 3.5 if lower quality is fine (which it is as of now)
At the same time I could upgrade to Final Cut Express 4 and import the AVCHD files, but I still taken aback from how time and resource consuming it is. Plus it does not allow full HD 1920x1080 in FCE 4 does it?
So I was looking at the Sony HDR SR11 as a nice camcorder. Seen it live, seems decent.
On the other hand, is a camera which records in HDV a better solution for me?
I could keep Final Cut 3.5, no need to upgrade right?
Is it less hassle to transfer files to the mac and edit them?
I am very unsure which way to go right now...

Hi Flore
This a huge debate. There are very few advantages to the new AVCHD camera's and the vgery long list of negative aspects of AVCHD camera's outweighs any usefulness of them. They are designed for Grandad to pick up and shoot good quality pictures and not for editing.
I have posted below the wiki address for AVCHD, please read the page. It is very important you do read it. It explains in depth about AVCHD.
I feel the is no real place for the hard drive based AVCHD camera. There is a place for a mini-dv tape based camera.
Life will be very hard if you go the Hard-drive camera route. Stay with tape.
Tape is cheap, hardy and easy to move around. Hard drives not so!!!
Take some time to read the following wikipedia page...PLEASE READ THIS PAGE!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD
You will see that AVCHD is not all the bee's knee's.
I personally hope it dies an extremly painful agonising drawnout death.
AVCHD has no place in the professional domain.
Justin... Durban.. South Africa

Final Cut Express Tutorials

Before buying Final Cut Express I want to know how to use the program to see If it is worth it. I looked at it at the apple store and I was totally lost. Is there any free overlook at this application or any free tutorials. iMovie is fine for me until I want to use more than one camera angle and add cool titles, animations, and transitions.
Thanks

There is not nearly as much FCE learning material out there as there is for FCP. That being said, most of the the FCP relates directly to anything you will do in FCE and if you are just interested in the "look and feel" of non-linear editing at this level, anything Final Cut will probably help out.
Personally, while I was trying to get a handle on FCE I found the following resources invaluable:
Ken Stone's Final Cut Pro website has hundreds of free tutorials on all aspects of digital video;
http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/fcp_homepageindex.html
For a few dollars a month Lynda.com does about a good a job as anyone in explaining FCE. At least give the sample tutorials a look, they are free;
http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=371
While not all of us learn well from books, there are a few out there that by themselves or in concert with each other can answer most questions and guide a novice along. I have used all of these and can recommend same;
Final Cut Express For Dummies by Helmut Kobler
Final Cut Express HD 3.5 Editing Workshop, Third Edition by Tom Wolsky
Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express HD by Diana Weynand
A couple of commercial houses that create training for FCE have websites offering free tutorials that can give you a feel for non-linear editing;
DV Creators have some free tutorials as well as offering "Final Cut Express Foundations" for $50.
http://dvcreators.net/
Ripple Training offers some on-line tutorials for FCE as well as FCP that are well worth taking a look at.
http://www.rippletraining.com/
Despite all of the above I would suggest that FCE is not for everyone. There is a certain investment in time, energy and some money to use this program, but for those willing to make the investment it can generate some very rewarding results.

Final Cut Express - Aspect Ratio

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