No bars for 16:9 footage shots using XL2

Question

I'm using FCS 2 (FCP 6), recently have completed my shooting using XL2 (Cine Gamma, Cine Matrix) 25p, 16:9.
Now, when imported footage and placed in the timeline (settings: PAL 48 kzh) I don't see top and bottom bars.
Even tried with PAL 48 kzh Anamorphic.
Its quite urgent to complete the project, hence I look forward to see your valued inputs and suggestions.
Regards
Roy

Answer 1

Santu Roy wrote:
You mean it does not show bars in the Canvas? then why I see gray bars sometime?
Hi Roy,
Yes I mean you are not supposed to see black bars in the Canvas!!
My guess is that the grey bars you are seeing are part of the Viewer or Canvas because you have changed the aspect ratio of your footage as you described above. They are not part of your footage! so you can ignore them. They are part of the FCP User Interface.
Here is a way to verify this...
Create a project in FCP Make sure that it is DV PAL 48 KHz with a 4:3 aspect ratio, i.e. Anamorphic is off.
Create a sequence in the project and make sure the Sequence settings are the same as the project settings.
Reset the View in FCP by selecting Window> Arrange> Standard.
You should now have 4:3 aspect Viewer and Canvas.
Now import some footage into the project. Doesn't matter what it is.
In the Bin Ctrl>Click on the imported footage and choose Item Properties> Format... from the Menu.
Scroll through the format properties until you see Anamorphic and make sure it is NOT ticked. This indicates that the footage will display as 4:3 which is what we want for the purpose of this test.
Click OK to exit the format properties.
In the BIn double click on the footage to load it into the viewer. The footage should fill the Viewer with no bars on top bottom or sides.
Drag the footage to the Canvas to insert it into the sequence. The footage should fill the Canvas with no bars on top bottom or sides.
Now go back to the bin. Ctrl>Click on the footage again and choose Item Properties> Format... again.
Scroll to the Anamorphic field again but this time turn on Anamorphic by clicking in the Clip column. A tick should appear next to Anamorphic and...
Grey bars will appear above and below the footage in the Viewer.
The same thing will happen in the Canvas if you select Sequence> Settings and click the Anamorphic check box in the General Tab.
Now... If these are the grey bars you are referring to then as you can see they are nothing to do with your footage. They belong to FCP. So you can ignore them. If you want to get rid of them Here's how...
Resize the Viewer and Canvas windows so that the grey bars dissappear, (drag the windows from the bottom right corner to resize). This will also free up more workspace area for you which is a bonus.
If you want to avoid seeing the grey bars again then save a custom window layout in Window> Arrange> Save Window Layout...
I think that should solve that one... Happy days!
Now for the second part of your question...
Santu Roy wrote:
Else how do I get bars while exporting as MPEG2?
There is more confusion here...
Why do you want the Bars in your MPEG2?
The only reason reason to create an MPEG2 with black bars from your source footage, (which is 16:9 FHA) is if you intend your master to be viewed or displayed only on 4:3 devices or frames. i.e. 4:3 TV's, 4:3 Computer Monitors, 4:3 Studio Monitors, 4:3 Projecters, or on a website in a 4:3 frame such as YouTube. Most of those just mentioned are "old technology" now.
All 16:9 devices will automatically display the footage correctly if set to do so.
If you really need to do this then it is something that can be easily done in Compressor using the letterbox filter. However, be sure you need it to do it. Remember that you are basically reducing the size of your original footage and also, if people view it on a 16:9 display it will look strange.
I've always referred to this process as "Deep letterbox 16:9 for 4:3 output" but I'm sure it is called other things as well.
Whether you decide to add the bars to your MPEG or not, remember it is something you would do on your edit master so you can go ahead with the edit without the bars for now anyway.
Hope this helps you,
Best regards.