Getting HD 16X9 aspect ratio into an Ipod

[Gary Adcock]

[James Mulryan] “Does anyone have suggestions on how to ensure a proper 16X9 frame on an ipod screen. I think my image is getting squeezed”

Activate the wide screen setting ON your ipod.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL
gary@studio37.com

[James Mulryan]

Hi Gary:

Is there anyway to “letterbox” the image rather than doing a setting on the Ipod?
Thanks,
Jim

[Martin Baker]

The widescreen setting in the iPod either adds letterbox (widescreen option enabled) or crops the sides (disabled) but it only does something useful if the aspect ratio of the movie is correct, which in this case it isn’t.

The problem is that the “Export to iPod (320×240)” function doesn’t understand the non-square pixels that you’re using in your DVCPROHD sequence. What you need to do is to export a 16:9 aspect ratio movie with square pixels from FCP. You can do this either by setting a custom size in the QuickTime export setting or by using Compressor. If the file is only destined for iPod only use, you’d be looking at making a 320×180 movie but also remember that iPods will automatically scale down a larger size created for a web audience (say you wanted to make a 480×270 movie for both web and iPod playback).

Martin
Digital Heaven, London UK
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