Hi guys, I have one last aspect ratio question, thanks in advance

[Bret Williams]

You should be making a 720×480 video with a anamorphic setting. The player will see the anamorphic flag and stretch it out to 853×480. There is no such thing as an 853×480 format. That is the dimensions that the player stretches it to.

If you were outputting for web use (not DVD, which is pretty much the only place the anamorphic is used except acquisition) you’d output 853×480 for an SD sized 16×9 video.

What you have is a mutant. And 853×480 video that is flagged anamorphic, so then it’s stretching it out to 1024×480 or something of that sort. A 20:9 video if you will.

[Ryan Holmes]

You’re dealing with PAR (Pixel Aspect Ratio) values here, not so much physical dimensions. You’re on the right track though.

Suffice it to say, the Bret is exactly right. Just encode in Compressor as 720×480 with a 16×9 Pixel Aspect box selected (NTSC CCIR 601). It’s located in the Geometry tab inside the Inspector in Compressor. Select that, recompress and enjoy!

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
vimeo.com/ryanholmes

[Rafael Amador]

Your client wants MP4, so I guess for a web site or to be played on a computer.
Then FORGET about NTSC, and ANAMORPHIC.
You are in SQUARED PIXELS-land.
Leave the ANAMORPHIC button UNCHECKED.

[jonathan young] “When I compress the 480 video I am using 853X480 with a 16:9 anamorphic NTSC setting (which should make 720X480),”
That’s very wrong.
Set 853x 480 Squared pixels and uncheck Anamorphic.
In fact, 852×480 would be better size for the compression.
rafael

[Bret Williams]

853×480 is more accurate ration at 1.77708333333333 vs 852×480 at 1.75 since 16×9 is 1.77777777777778.

[Ryan Holmes]

Jonathan – both Bret and Rafael are correct. It just depends on what you’re going to do with the output. So your two options to drop down to widescreen SD are really:
(1) 853×480 Square Pixel Aspect Ratio (good for web posting)
(2) 720×480 Anamorphic 16×9 (good if you’re burning a DVD or going to SD broadcast)

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
vimeo.com/ryanholmes

[Rafael Amador]

[Bret Williams] “853×480 is more accurate ration at 1.77708333333333 vs 852×480 at 1.75 since 16×9 is 1.77777777777778.”
853 is not a multiplier of “4”.
When making mp4/h264, is convenient that both sides are multipliers of “4”, in order of building the 4×4 pixels macroblocks.
rafael

[Bret Williams]

In that case, 854×480 would be a slightly better ration than 854. I’ve seen 854 used a bit. But not 852.