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how to convert 4×3 SD to 16 x 9 SD for best quality???
hey guys
i am working on a project thats DVCPRO50 16 x 9, and i have some legacy footage thats on beta at 4 x 3. I have captured into final cut at 10 bit via my kona LH, and am scaling it up on the timeline. Is this the best way to integrate this stuff??
I am curious waht others are doing , as no doubt we all have legacy video we need to mix into 16 x 9 programs
i guess its not as bad as taking 4×3 and up converting to 720p or 1080 HD, but i still want to know if i am doing the best i can to convert this footage
thanx in advance
bee eph
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7 Replies
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The best way, would be with Digital Anarchy’s Resize plugin.
It’s very cheap for what it does.A free way would be dropping the footage in a 16×9 comp in
after effects and scaling it to 133%. Though you may see some
aliasing. -
Don’t take my word for it because I’m not 100% sure, but I’ve been told (by people I trust)
that scaling (to 133% as suggested) in After Effects is better than FCP, so the previous suggestion might be the best.
You might do a search of this forum because I’m pretty sure it’s been covered before.
Ed -
Yeah I’ve found any kind of scaling up or down to be awful in FCP.
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Slightly OT, can probably NO USE to you at all, but over in the U of K, broadcasters often show 4:3 footage in 16:9 shows by adding ‘curtains’ either side – the analogy being the cinema curtains that sit there in the adverts and swing out for the main feature.
Now obviously, actual curtains are rarely used (!), but most people use a layer underneath the 4:3 footage made up of the same footage stretched out and heavily blurred. It can be suprisingly effective, and has the added advantage that if people are viewing the programme 4:3 (often the case over here) the blurred edges are cut off, and they are left with the original 4:3 frame. Over here, all programmes have to be shot and cut 4:3 safe, as most set-top boxes can output cropped 4:3 to older TVs, even when the majority here now have 16:9 tellies.
Still, it’s a way of using 4:3 footage in a 16:9 show that DOESN’T involve horribly blowing up your footage, which looks nasty by any means.
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.“The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
See you at IBC – we’re there with our FCP/replay truck…
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I thought you guys were shooting 16:9 with 14:9 safe, not 4:3. Not true? I know the BBC uses it.
Ed[Ben Holmes] “Slightly OT, can probably NO USE to you at all, but over in the U of K, broadcasters often show 4:3 footage in 16:9 shows by adding ‘curtains’ either side – the analogy being the cinema curtains that sit there in the adverts and swing out for the main feature.
Now obviously, actual curtains are rarely used (!), but most people use a layer underneath the 4:3 footage made up of the same footage stretched out and heavily blurred. It can be suprisingly effective, and has the added advantage that if people are viewing the programme 4:3 (often the case over here) the blurred edges are cut off, and they are left with the original 4:3 frame. Over here, all programmes have to be shot and cut 4:3 safe, as most set-top boxes can output cropped 4:3 to older TVs, even when the majority here now have 16:9 tellies.
Still, it’s a way of using 4:3 footage in a 16:9 show that DOESN’T involve horribly blowing up your footage, which looks nasty by any means.”
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Well, it varies certainly. The BBC’s spec is different to everyone else’s, obviously. They decided that the average widescreen TV actually only shows a 14:9 frame safely, so they work to 14:9. Our distributors insist on 14:9 LB safe, so…
Satellite broadcasters like Sky TV insist on 4:3 safe as their domestic set-top systems can be set up as 16:9 Anamorphic, 4:3 or 16:9 LB. As this platform is generally where most shows end up, we always run GFX to 4:3 safe. Saves remastering…
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.“The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
See you at IBC – we’re there with our FCP/replay truck…
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thanks to you all
I like the idea of putting the stuff over a bg instead of blowing it up, however for this project it would look weird (the stuff i am integrateiing is from a separate job, and i have to integrate it so it “matches”) I may wind up doing the whole show at 4×3 just to get around these issues, then we can charge the client more for additional shooting of real 16×9 footage!!!
“oh you want widescreen? sure, but it’ll cost ya!”
bee eph
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