-
HELP digitzing 640×480…..
OK…here’s the problem I have. We have programs that were edited and mastered to beta ,via an old media 100 system, at 640×480. I need to make DVD projects using these 640×480 programs….I have tried to digitize at 640×480 using the AJA IO LA with zero luck. I have tripled check ALL my settings and the IO still digitizes at 720×486…WHY? Normally I don’t mind the wide look on the talking heads but this client will be ticked-off if he sees his head stretched wider than a football. Is the problem in FCP or IO? please help.
thnx in advanced
-
3 Replies
-
If they are on a Beta Tape they should be back to 720×480. Try just capturing them as normal and see if they look correct.
-
[mellogrfx] “I have tripled check ALL my settings and the IO still digitizes at 720×486…WHY?”
Because it’s supposed to. According to SMPTE, the NTSC, the ITU, etc, NTSC D1 video is 720X486, not 640X480. There’s an explination of anamorphic vs square pixels in your FCP manual.
IOW, your Io is acting correctly & conforming to industry standards & specs.
-
The pixel dimension subject can be very confusing. The thing to remember is that video content on analog Betacam tape is 4×3 aspect ratio, or anamorphic (for display on 16×9 screens, but let’s not discuss that can of worms here). In the digital world, 4×3 aspect ratio comes in many flavors. DV (non-square) pixel aspect ratio is 0.9 for a 4×3 image, and 1.2 for a 16×9 image, both 720×480. The difference is the pixel size itself, not the pixel dimensions. Uncompressed 4×3 video has a pixel dimension of 720x 486. If you capture analog Betacam at those pixel dimensions you’ll be OK. 640×480 is a square pixel flavor of 4×3 video, which was the world of the old Media 100 system. One thing to note, if you’re planning on making a DVD from 720×486 digital video you need to crop off 6 horizontal pixels in your compressor BEFORE making the DVD, because DVD pixel dimensions are 720×480 (0.9 or 1.2 pixel aspect, depending on whether the DVD is 4×3 or widescreen 16×9, respectively). Those 6 extra pixels will give you jittery video on the DVD if they’re not cropped off at the compressor. Apple’s Compressor application crops off 4 pixels and 2 pixels top and bottom, automatically, when you bring in 720×486 video. THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT…
Good luck!
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up