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HDV aspect ratio
Hello, I have captured HDV 1080i60 footage in Final Cut 6, and my clips both in the Viewer and in the Timeline/Canvas appear stretched out, like 2:1.
I have chosen an Easy Setup, Format: HDV, Use: HDV 1080i60. The “anamorphic” setting in my Sequence Settings is NOT checked.
When I go into the Motion tab and go to Distort > Aspect Ratio, and enter + 33, it looks 16:9.
If I go into the Canvas window, and to the percent settings that make the clip “Fit to Window” – at the bottom of these choices I can deselect “Correct for Aspect Ratio” and the image appears correct, as 16:9. However, when I export this video as a QuickTime, it appears as 2:1 – stretched out.
If I go into my sequence settings and change my Pixel Aspect Ratio to SQUARE – then the image looks correct as 16:9. To me, this is confusing because HDV has rectangular pixels. However, when I export this it remains correct.
This footage was shot on a Sony HVR-Z1U, with a 1080i60 setting. Like I said, I choose an Easy Setup for HDV 1080i60. What is going on? Which settings should I use to maintain a 16:9 ratio in FCP and upon export for QT?
Please help, Everyone we interviewed looks like they have wide heads! I have been troubleshooting this problem for days, and posting to numerous boards with no luck… Thanks.
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11 Replies
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Sounds like you didn’t capture the material with the correct settings.
The sequence settings sound correct. The canvas should look 16:9 before you put a clip into it. Does it?
You said you went to the Motion tab and changed the aspect ratio. You shouldn’t have to do that. Check item properties for the clip and check them in the QuickTime player as well.
All the best,
Tom
Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP6,” “Basic Training for FCS2” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 3.5 HD Editing Workshop” -
Thanks! If you could help me troubleshoot I would really appreciate it!! Here is more info:
I am using the HDV capture pre-set. The only other choices are HDV AIC, HDV ProRes, or HDV ProResHQ (all bigger file sizes, I want to capture NATIVE HDV).
What else could I choose? Is there some hidden setting for aspect ratio that I don’t know about in some menu?
The Canvas window, before I put anything into the timeline, looks like a black rectangle that is about 2:1. When I put my clip into the timeline, the clip fills out this 2:1 frame, making the image look stretched out.
Item properties for clip are:
frame sixe: 1440×1080
PAR: HD(1440×1080)BUT in QT:
Normal Size: 1888×1062hmmm.
I realize that I am not supposed to change the Aspect Ratio in the Motion tab, I am just on the hunt for something that can rectify the image’s distortion.
I am capturing off a Sony HVR-M15U deck, and I have searched the menu to see if there is some setting incorrect, but all appears fine. The camera has only a setting for shooting regular DV, or HDV 1080i60, and all appears correct there as well.
I am at a loss, frustration mounting. If you or anyone else could help, thanks so much!
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Johanna- . I just looked at a Sony HDV file in quicktime.
It says:
Format: Apple HDV 1080i60, 1440 x 1080 (1888 x 1062), Millions
16-bit Integer (Big Endian), Stereo, 48.000 kHzNormal Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels
The same file in an HDV sequence in FCP under the sequence settings reads:
HD (1440×1080) (16:9), Pixel Aspect Ratio: (1440×1080), Anamorphic: (unchecked)
It is important to understand that FCP flags native HDV footage so that it imports, edits and exports in the proper 16×9 aspect ratio. You don’t need to adjust the footage once it has been captured. Is there a possibility that the footage was shot with a Canon or JVC camera which has a different aspect ratio then you are attempting to import via a Sony deck?
HTH,
JerryG5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1 -
Hi – Thanks for replying! If we could continue to trouble shoot I would very much appreciate it…
I have the same info under “Format” when I look at my clips in QuickTime. BUT – “Normal Size” tells me 1888×1062. (This is the 2:1 looking stretche dout frame I keep describing.) Not 1920×1080.
All my sequence settings match yours. In fact, again and again I choose the HDV 1080i60 Easy Setup and create NEW sequences, with still the same problem.
The footage was shot with the Sony HVR Z1U, which seems to have very simple settings… and was set to HDV 1080i 60.
I understand that I shouldn’t have to adjust my footage. That is why this problem is so bizarre, and frustrating. Here is perhaps another helpful clue to diagnose the problem:
When I open the Log and Capture Window, this frame also appears as a 2:1 stretched out frame, not 16:9. You would think this would be the sure sign that the Capture settings are wrong, but I promise, promise, promise you – my Capture Preset is simply – HDV.
Any ideas? many, many thanks.
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Johanna- I think I found your problem. Put your browser and clips in list view. Add the ‘anamorphic’ column. Is there a check mark there? Uncheck it. I believe this may solve your problem. Somehow your already 16×9 clips became checked as anamorphic.
Hope this solves it.
Jerry
G5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1 -
No, no checks when I go through the List view, Anamorphic column. Thanks for trying! If you have any more ideas, please send them my way.
Why would the image look correct when I change the Pixel Aspect ratio to SQUARE? even upon export it remains 16:9.
So far, this is the only solution to getting a 16:9 frame, and people with proper head shapes (no fat heads).
If I discover more clues, I will pass them on. Many thanks!! Jo
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Johanna- It looks correct because HDV1080i ARE square pixels!
FCP automatically set my canvas window to correct for aspect ratio.
Don’t override FCP’s easy setups! As said previously FCP flags HDV footage as 16×9! You not need to change aspect ratios of your already flagged footage. It will be 16×9 in your viewer window and, if your sequence settings are correct, it will be 16×9 in the canvas window.
HTH,
JerryG5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1 -
Johanna- One more thing. Check the sequence in the Browser. Is anamorphic checked there?
Jerry
G5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1 -
[Jerry Alto] “Johanna- It looks correct because HDV1080i ARE square pixels! “
HDV 1080 uses UNsquare pixels (1440×1080 as opposed to 1920×1080). HDV 720 uses square pixels though.
-A
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Andrew- HDV in FCP displays as 1920×1080 which is square pixel. Where the confusion sets in is when people look at the HDVs 1440×1080 subsample rate. Sony uses that rate to more efficiently record an HD signal on mini-dv tape. You can ignore that rate when working in FCP with native HDV footage because FCP automatically re-scales the footage to 1920×1080. I don’t know if you noticed but 1440 x 1080 is 4×3 not 16×9. HD is 16×9.
Jerry
G5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1
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