Black sidebars are added when I export my file

[Tero Ahlfors]

Also is there a reason your sequence is set to interlaced lower fields?

[Bram Van dam]

Looks like you are using the wrong pixel aspect ratio. Try using square pixels. You have to use almost always square pixels unless your footage demands otherwise!

Bram van Dam
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Video Editor and Media Manager
by Posh Productions in the Netherlands

[Jeff Pulera]

To build on the good advice others have posted, the core of the issue is that the original Sequence Settings that you are editing with are just not correct. Seems that perhaps you started with a PAL DV Widescreen preset, then manually changed the dimensions to those of 720p (1280×720) however the pixel aspect ratio for 720p ought to be square (1.0) but you have retained the 1.2 PAR from the DV widescreen, and also 720p is always Progressive yet Lower Fields are specified. In short, the whole works is off and the results will not be good.

Here’s what I would recommend – use File > New > Sequence to create a new 720p sequence. I’m assuming you may be in Europe due to the frame rate of 25fps? From the available presets, choose AVCHD > 720p > 720p25 (or choose 720p30 in the US).

Next, go back to the original sequence, and hit CTRL + A (Select All) then CTRL + C (Copy) to copy entire contents of timeline, then open the new 720p Sequence and CTRL + V (Paste) and that will place everything from first timeline into the new 720p timeline sequence that has proper settings for 720p video.

That being done will eliminate weird issues. However, any stills that are not 1280×720 may have some black around them since they may not completely fill the frame, that is normal. You can right-click said images and choose “Set to Frame” and that will size them to best fit the screen.

Now when you export, choose a 720p25 preset, such as H.264 > YouTube or whatever your needs are, and being 720p25 the output settings will match the source (Sequence) settings and no more weirdness with black edges!

Just keep in mind that the Sequence Settings are the foundation for what you are building. If the foundation is not good, the end result cannot be good either.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers