export of HD footage results in 4:3 ratio instead of 16:9

[Bill Dewald]

Its not a matter of codec, its a matter of aspect ratio/ frame size.

How are you exporting your timeline? Compressor? Quicktime Conversion?

Quicktime Conversion defaults to a 4:3 frame. Use a custom size such as 320×180 in order to get a 16:9 frame.

[Arturo Marroquin]

Thanks for the quick reply Bill–I’ve been using quicktime conversion. Do you recommend Compressor instead?

-Arturo

[Bill Dewald]

Compressor will give you better control over your export settings, and has the added bonus of not tying up your Final Cut app while it works…

I often use Quicktime Conversion for small, quick things – but if this is going out to the public, you may want to check out Compressor, and see what it can do.

[Arturo Marroquin]

Okay, thanks Bill–just one more thing: which Compressor settings would you suggest to export for webcast? (I’d like to offer both high and medium quality trailers on the site.)

–Arturo

[Bill Dewald]

K, here’s what you do:

go to –

https://www.apple.com/trailers/

Pick a fave, find a size/format that you like, and then download it. Open it in Quicktime Player, and note the frame size and bit rate.

Then do that… Or something close to it. Compression is an art as well as a science, so it make take a few tries. Good luck!

[Arturo Marroquin]

thanks!