Macworld Forums

I am a recent convert from Premiere Pro to the joys (so far) of FCP5. In order to get to know the system I thought I would try a simple project, just to get the hang of it. Anyway, I have produced a three-minute promo that I am quite pleased with and want to use - didn't expect to manage anything worth having at this stage, shows how easy FCP is to get into even for a PC hack like me!

The footage was shot in 16:9 PAL SD (on a Sony Z1) and captured using FCP. It all looks great, displays fine and so on, but when I export it the image comes out squashed into 4:3. Looking at the settings it seems I have set the project up to be anamorphic rather than native 16:9, but there doesn't seem to be a PAL 16:9 preset (that's my excuse). I think I undertsand the Easy Setup thing now (better late than never), but what I need to know is how to sort the project I have already started. I've tried changing settings but it doesn't seem to have any effect, although new projects seem ok. Is there a simple method, or do I have to export and re-import or something?

Thanks in advance.

graemebrown,

it only matters about the 16:9 when you come to export the project. I mainly use Compressor for exporting, which has choices for widescreen amongst others.

I only use the DV Pal easy setup, or the HDV one, then export using Quicktime and a custom setup (if not using Compressor).

graemebrown,

this bugged me so I've been playing. If you copy the DV Pal easy set up, and keep everything the same except change the project size to 1024 x 576 - just name it DV Pal 16:9 or something and you have a ready made easy setup to work with in future.

graemebrown,

Leave the setups as they should be.... This is perfectly correct. If you tell FCP you are working with 16:9 footage, then it will display the stretched video in the viewer and canvas windows.... However, on disc, the actual QT files are 4:3. This is exactl as they should be for SD 16:9.

If you are exporting via Compressor, easiest thing to do is to select a widescreen preset, then when you drop it into a track in Studio Pro, SP will automatically set it to playback correctly (presuming the DVD player is set correct too of course).

If you want to have the classic VHS "Letterboxed effect", this is easy to achieve in FCP.... Simply create a new sequence, but make sure you have Anamorphic unchecked int he Sequence settings, giving you a 4:3 sequence. The simply drop your 16:9 master edit from the browser straight into this new sequence.... FCP will automatically apply a -33.33 distort to the nested clip giving you the black lines top and bottom.

Render and export. But this way reduces the overall quality of the video.... To retain the best quality, keep to the anamorphic video, at least for your Master TApe.

HTH

Chris

www.chrisroberts.info