Inserting clip into sequence: aspect ratio adjustments

I just made this page Aspect Ratio Adjustments available to whoever is curious to know what is the rational behind the values of +Aspect Ratio+ and Scale evaluated by FCE whenever it inserts a clip into a sequence.
This was inspired by Michael in his thread Still Photo Aspect Ratio Confusion: the topic is a bit complex to be handled with a Q&A approach. So I tried to summarize the results of various tests I made, with 3 examples showing step by step what logically happens in FCE in this process (what really happens... is a different matter). All results were tested in FCE 4, but this doesn't mean there are no errors or misinterpretations. So any comment is really welcome.
Piero

Thanks Martin,
if you have any suggestion to make it clearer or more complete, please...
BTW have you ever read the document Computer Industry Mass Confusion on Pixel Aspect Ratio?
From this document (that seems to me pretty complete and written by people that know what they are talking about...) and my experience on the FCE "aspect ratio adjustment" behavior, I would conclude that FCE does not use the "correct" pixel aspect ratio definition, whatever is, but the simplified one based on the 640/720 and 768/720 fractions (for 4:3 frames)...
What's your opinion ?
Piero

Similar Messages

  • 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.

  • Sequence Aspect Ratio for HD

    I am transferring HD video from AVCHD into FCP 6.0.4, and I need to know what the correct setting is for the aspect ratio (in the sequence preset editor). The footage is captured 1920x1080 at 30p. I plug that all in, but the only choice for plain HD at 16:9 is at 1440x1080. If I want to select 16:9 it's called HDTV 1080i???
    Can someone help me understand why there is not a setting for HD 1920x1080 in that window? Is it normal for me to have to select 1440x1080? Even though all the other settings are at 1920x1080???
    Also, do i have to check anamorphic 16:9?
    Thanks in advance!

    I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused.
    this time I set up my session/sequence to be for 1440x1080, transferred the media into the session. When I drag my first clip into the Canvas - the FCP pops up a window saying that the clip and the sequence don't match. I tell it to correct it - and it puts it back to the 1920x1080 - HDTV 1080i setting.
    What am I doing wrong? Should I be converting it differently?
    And which is correct - anamorphic or no???
    Thanks

  • Aspect ratio adjustments

    Does anyone know if there's some kind of hardware device that can take an anamorphic signal through firewire and squash it down to a 16:9 letterbox on a CRT preview monitor?
    I have an old CRT preview monitor that doesn't do 16:9, but I hate editing timelines with anamorphic clips distorted to letterbox. Don't want to buy a new monitor yet because I suspect I'll be buying an HD monitor in the next 6-12 months anyway which will definitely do 16:9 switching.

    You need a monitor designed to display 16:9
    As a stopgap measure, drop the 16:9 sequence in a 4:3 sequence. This will add the letterboxing and will play on your std TV in the proper aspect ratio.
    x

  • Changing sequence aspect ratio in FCP

    My Video/Audio settings were NTSC DV 48k
    I had wide screen SD clips in bins of my project
    When creating a new sequence and dropping 16X9 SD clip FCP would open a dialogue box asking me:
    "For best performance your sequence and external video should be set to the format of the clips you are editing" Change sequence settings to match the clip settings? NO / YES"
    I would choose "NO" and have my wide clips letter boxed in 4:3 sequence (I figured it would play on 4:3 TVs with no issues)
    However, now I want to change the edited sequence settings from letter boxed 4:3 to wide 16:9, so that the sequence would match the wide native size of the original footage. Any attempt to change sequence setting results in stretched image inside 16X9 canvas window (or the wide screen sequence)
    what should I do to have the image conform to sequence's change setting from 4:3 letter boxed to native 16X9

    Captain or Michael,
    I am stuck with how to pick sequence attributes best suited to mixing standard DV in 4:3 and assets from a SD camcorder in 16:9. Is there a sequence attribute for this? I want the result to vertically letterbox (may not be the right term) the brief bit of 4:3 clips, but have the QT export be 16:9. I am sure I must have a mental block about this, but I have only thus far edited HD 16:9 clips within a single project, and 4:3 exclusively in others.
    By the way, I imported the 16:9 clips into an iMovie 09 project, and then added the 4:3 clips, and iMovie 09 seems to crop the tops and bottoms of the 4:3 clips to fill the screen -- not what I really want by preference, but might do on this little quickie project.
    Ernie

  • FCP 7 Sequence Aspect Ratio Issue

    I apologize in advance if I'm using to incorrect terminology.
    I've upgraded to FCP 7 and my questions concerns aspect ratio. I've just finished two sequences which are ready for export. When I first started capturing video from my Sony DCR-HC-30. I did notice a warning that came up, something to do with a conflict between the imported video and FCP settings - I selected to have FCP modify the preset to match and imported the video.
    My sequence summary is: 720 X 480 frame size, 29.97 fps, pixel aspect ration is NTSC-CCIR601/DV. Under my Sequence setting menu, the sequence is identified as NTSC 720 X 480 NTSC DV (3:2).
    My "easy setup" shows the Seq. and Capture preset as DV NTSC 48Khz and the device control as DVCPRO HD Firewire.
    All I want is a standard NTSC format to view on a standard NTSC TV, shouldn't the aspect ratio be 4:3?
    Thank You

    Mr. Holmes,
    Thanks for your prompt reply - the information was most valuable. I've been playing around with FCP and Express since version 1 (strictly amateur home stuff, and I can't remember seeing the 3:2 ratio displayed before - probably not paying attention. Good, I'll started the finishing touches and export.
    The final product will be going to DVDS Pro, would you recommend using Compressor or Quicktime Conversion? I've always used Compressor in the past, but just read something about (perhaps) just using QT Conversion. If I could bother you with one more question - under the Easy Setup option, sub option "use" shouldn't my setting reflect/show DV-NTSC? Right now it's showing "custom setup."
    Thanks again for your response, very much appreciated. Regards.

  • Clips lose pixel aspect ratio setting after relinking

    hi there,
    after reopening a project from a backup drive I had to relink all my media.
    no problem with that...
    but after relinking all aspect ratios were lost. files are 2048x1536 anamorph (manually) set to an aspect of 1.33 and then scaled down to 1920x1080.
    generally all settings were intact - the aspect ratio setting however was not. all clips had a square pixel setup after relinking.
    is this a bug?
    thanks!

    hi there,
    after reopening a project from a backup drive I had to relink all my media.
    no problem with that...
    but after relinking all aspect ratios were lost. files are 2048x1536 anamorph (manually) set to an aspect of 1.33 and then scaled down to 1920x1080.
    generally all settings were intact - the aspect ratio setting however was not. all clips had a square pixel setup after relinking.
    is this a bug?
    thanks!

  • Premiere Pro shutting down every time I add clip into sequence.

    "Sorry, a serious error has occurred that requires Adobe Premiere Pro to shut down. We will attempt to save your current project."
    I've tried over 15 times, different clips, new projects. Every time I drag a clip into a sequence or even create a sequence from a clip Premiere is shutting down.
    How can I resolve this?
    Thank you for your time.

    More information needed for someone to help... please click below and provide the requested information
    -PPro Information FAQ http://forums.adobe.com/message/4200840
    What is your exact brand/model graphics adapter (ATI or nVidia or ???)
    What is your exact graphics adapter driver version?
    Have you gone to the vendor web site to check for a newer driver?
    For Windows, do NOT rely on Windows Update to have current driver information
    -you need to go direct to the vendor web site and check updates for yourself
    ATI Driver Autodetect http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/auto-detect-tool
    nVidia Driver Downloads http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

  • Clips gets distorted (aspect ratio gets changed) when I move them

    I am trying to move some clip froms one iMovie project to another. I have copied a bunch of other clips and have had no problems but for some reason I am having a problem with a certain set of clips. When I copy these clips to the other project they are coming out stretched out, as if iMovie is tweaking the aspect ratio.
    Any idea what is going on here? I couldn't find anything in Preferences to address this problem.
    Thanks,
    Chris

    When you create a new project you get a window asking you what you want to to call it and where you want to save it.
    At the bottom of that window is a small arrow pointing to the words Video Format. Click on that small arrow and you get a drop down menu offering you DV, DV Widescreen, and a few others incl. iSight.
    You only get the opportunity to select the video format when you first create, and name, a new project.

  • Final Cut Error when moving .mp4 clip into sequence

    I attempted to move an .mp4 clip into the sequence and it says "General Error" before Final Cut Pro Force closes itself.  In the error details it says something about a thread error whatever that means.  It will play fine in the Quicktime Player but will not open in Final Cut or allow itself to be moved into the timeline.  Anyone know why this is happening? 
    The .mp4 is in H-264 format and I have Final Cut Pro 7.0.3

    Editing h.264 without conversion is not supported in FCP. You need to convert your clip(s) to an FCP edit friendly codec. What codec is appropriate is a function of what the properties of the source h.264 clip are.
    You can find the properties for your clip by clicking on the clip in the FCP browser so that it is selected, then typing Command + 9. Either report what the item properties are for the clip, or take a screen shot and post the screen shot here if it is easier.
    The reason that the clip plays back in Quicktime is that quicktime is a player, not an editor.
    MtD

  • Trouble inserting audio clip into sequence (CS5)

    I'm running Premiere Pro CS5 on Win7 x64.  I have an MP3 audio clip that I've selected a sub-clip from, as you can see here:
    When I click on the insert button, everything to the right of the insertion point on the timeline is pushed to the right, as if the clip were inserted, but the clip doesn't show up anywhere (I've scrolled up and down through both the audio and video tracks), as you can see here:
    I've done this many times beofre without any problem.  What am I doing wrong now?
    Thanks for your help.

    Glad I could help.
    http://blogs.adobe.com/kevinmonahan/2013/09/11/marking-posts-as-correct-or-helpful-on-the- adobe-forums/

  • Quicktime into iMovie Aspect ratio issue

    Hello
    I am trying to edit a project in iMovie 08. When I view the clips in Quicktime Pro they are in the right aspect. When I view edit and publish in iMovie everything elongates like the credits of a 60s spaghetti western. Help! Have tried importing in different aspect, nothing worked.

    You might try to use MPEG Streamclip to onvert 4:3<->16:9:
    http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/~shmhav/SVCDon_aMacintosh.html#43-169

  • Premiere pro 2014 freezes when I try to "insert" clip into timeline

    I just upgraded to 2014, 1 out of 4 times, when I try to insert a clip onto the timeline the program freezes and I have to force quit. I thought it might be some sort of conflict with the previous version premiere, so I uninstalled. Still happens. Makes the program completely unusable.
    System:
    osx 10.8.5
    Macbook Pro 2012
    15gb ram
    nvidia Geforce gt 650M

    More information needed for someone to help... please click below and provide the requested information
    -Premiere Pro Video Editing Information FAQ http://forums.adobe.com/message/4200840
    MP4 is a wrapper, what is inside YOUR wrapper - Exactly what is INSIDE the video you are editing?
    Codec & Format information, with 2 links inside for you to read http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1270588
    Report back with the codec details of your file, use the programs below... A screen shot works well to SHOW people what you are doing
    https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1070933 for screen shot instructions
    Free programs to get file information for PC/Mac http://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download
    Does your video use a VARIABLE Frame Rate or a Constant Frame Rate?

  • Inserting image with correct aspect ratio?

    Hi, just adding an image to my project, but the aspect does not seem right? I have to stretch my image to fit and it doesn't look right?
    I assume I have 2 options, stretch the image and let it look wring, or adjust my image in Lightroom or Photoshop to fit the dimensions of premiere? (I don't want to shrink image to leave black boarder on project.
    Do I have to resixe image to 16:9 as to what it is in Premiere?

    Here is screen grab from PS. Can you help me understand? 

  • Recapturing and replacing edited clips with incorrect aspect ratio

    My camera settings were wrong when I captured the video. I edited the clips and discovered my mistake later. I changed the settings and my video looks correct now. The timecode runs perfect on the tape without a break in time. I tried renaming the clip after recapture but the scenes did not match up right. How can I match the timecode during capture. Hope this makes sense.

    My sony hdr-hc1 outputs video with black bars when I record in HD but capture with a 4:3 setting in the TV type setting within the menu. I had changed the setting to SD 4:3 for a different project and forgot to change it back to 16:9 when I captured and edited it. I couldn't find out what was wrong until later. I changed the TV type to 16:9 and it fills the screen now. Even though I recorded in HD which is native 16:9 the TV type setting must match. I think it's pretty crazy myself. Any help on changing the clip out would be great.

Maybe you are looking for