• AJA Video Systems

  Getting the correct aspect ratio on SD recordings from SD input

  Posted by Michael Moser on September 30, 2009 at 1:47 am

  I recorded footage from a Sony Z-1 from the component output to the Ki Pro.
  In testing, I found that the Ki Pro would sense whether I was sending it HD output or SD output and change the recording codec appropriately. However, I found that when I selected SD-wide record on the camera, the default aspect ratio of the resulting file was 4×3 squeezed (though monitoring to a 16×9 monitor through SDI on set showed the proper aspect ratio).
  On playback to FCP it needed to be stretched (by distorting the original file in FCP) to -33 aspect ratio or defining the sequence as a 16×9 sequence and rendering.

  Have I missed something in the original set up or is this what you get and any standard def DV signal defaults to 4×3 quicktime file. A search in the manual confuses me further.
  Thanks in advance
  Michael Moser

  Michael Moser replied 16 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Jeremy Garchow

  September 30, 2009 at 4:21 am

  It’s either anamorphic or not. If you look at the raw footage and everyone has skinny oblong heads or circles aren’t quite round then your footage is anamorphic. You have to check the anamorphic check box in FCP after you import. Then edit in an anamorphic timeline.
• 

  Michael Moser

  September 30, 2009 at 11:42 am

  Right, so it’s an issue to be dealt with in FCP, not the Ki Pro, correct?
• 

  Jeremy Garchow

  September 30, 2009 at 4:21 pm

  [Michael Moser] “Right, so it’s an issue to be dealt with in FCP, not the Ki Pro, correct? “

  All SD material is recorded 4×3. Now, it can be recorded with different aspect ratios, meaning 4×3 D1, or 4×3 D1 Widescreen. TO the KiPro, it’s just a matter of 4×3 video, and will record either. It’s your camera that will set the aspect ratio you send to the KiPro. So, make sure you have it set the way you want (4×3 ‘squeezed’ provides the most vertical resolution) and setup the KiPro to record SD (not sure if it flags the footage as anamorphic or not, I’ll have to see). If it doesn’t, then you simply flag it in FCP and edit on an anamorphic timeline.

  Your other option is to record the 4×3 image as letter-boxed, but that eats up a good amount of vertical resolution. I’d keep it squeezed.

  Hope all that makes sense, if not, post back.

  Jeremy
• 

  Michael Moser

  September 30, 2009 at 4:33 pm

  Thanks.
  This does make sense.
  -Mike

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