Squished DV footage (DVX100A 24pA)

[Howard Ferguson]

Hi Rudolf,

I’m sorry to say I don’t have an answer for you.

I think I’m having the same problem right now.
Except I’m in 24p.

There doesn’t appear to be a setting that does not Warp the aspect ratio.
In attempt to fix this, I created a 4:3 custom Capture Preset setting, but it has the same result as the others.

Also, my Preset sets Anamorphic to OFF, but the generated QT file it is ON.
My Preset Frame Size 640×480, but the generated QT file is 720×480.
My Preset sets Pixel Aspect to Square, but the generated QT file is NTSC-CCIR 601.

(And here is no Video Playback setting that is 4:3 ratio.)

I’ve tried an array of Capture Preset settings but-All footage Captured from the DVX100A results in a stretched out image in the Quicktime movie the Capture generates.

What was originally a Letterbox image (4:3) is stretched out to a 720×480 Quicktime movie.
Stretched out wider than the image appears in the Log and Capture monitor, or the camera monitor.

I can change various settings in Final Cut to put those QT movie clips back in the proper aspect for use in Final Cut, but-

I’m still trying to discover how to generate a proper QT movie created from the Capture function, coming in from the DVX100A-

A generated Quicktime movie that is the proper aspect ratio from the start, in the Capture generated Quicktime files.

Any help with this would be wonderful !
I’d greatly appreciate learning what I’m doing wrong.

Howard Ferguson

[Rudolf Mcclain]

Thanks for posting. Sounds like what I’ve gone through.

I have been able to export a proper 4:3 quicktime movie despite the stretched image in FCP.

I’ll post if when I get answers. I thought since it is such a popular camera it would be easy to manage in FCP 7

cheers

Rudy

[Bret Williams]

DV is 720×480. You can’t change that on capture. The pixels of DV, like most SD sources are not square, they are rectangular. The computer displays them pixel for pixel, and since the pixels on the computer are square, you see a squashed image. If you wish the QT to playback as 4:3 , change it’s playback setting in QT Player to 640×480 , or export it as 640×480 as something else like h.264. DV files have to be 720x480z.

[Howard Ferguson]

Hi Bret,

Thank you very much for this information !

DV files have to be 720x480z.

And here is why.
The pixels of DV, like most SD sources are not square, they are rectangular.

My approach to fixing this situation with the QT files has been to:
Make a Setting in Compressor to adjust the Aspect/Size, and some other stuff-
And running them through it.

What is the highest resolution solution to this situation ?

Thanks very much for all this help !

Howard Ferguson

[Howard Ferguson]

Hi Rudy,

That’s very interesting.

When you say-
I have been able to export a proper 4:3 quicktime movie despite the stretched image in FCP.

What do you mean by Export ?

I’m guessing you mean an Export a movie from Final Cut ?
Not a Capture from the DVX100A ?

Are your QT movies created at Capture not “Squished” ?
The QT movies in your Capture Scratch Folder ?

I’m really glad you’ve asked these questions !

Cheers !

Howard Fergusion

[Rudolf Mcclain]

Great.

Thank you Howard. Much appreciated.

The captured clip is 720×480. So that means that everything is fine.

But… how can I change the view in FCP7 to view it as the 4:3 while editing.

Thanks.

[Howard Ferguson]

Hi Rudolf,

I’d suggest looking under the Edit menu, at:
Edit > Item Properties > Format

There is an option for Anamorphic there.

Unlike most of the properties, you can change the Anamorphic setting in this window. If it’s checked, it’s ON. Click that check to Uncheck, and turn it OFF.

I find that every Capture from my DVX100A requires turning OFF the Anamorphic in this way.

It seems like a very odd default setting, and I haven’t found a way to set the Default to OFF yet. I’d like to know how to do that.

The Capture Preset does not have an option for Anamorphic

It’s very odd that the Anamorphic setting does not appear in the Browser window.

Great to discuss this stuff !

Howard

[Howard Ferguson]

Hi Rudolf,

I have been able to export a proper 4:3 quicktime movie despite the stretched image in FCP.

I’m very interested in precisely what your Capture Settings are.

My QT movies always come into Final Cut with their Anamorphic errantly turned ON. And I haven’t found a way to keep that from happening with the QT files.

Quicktime v10.0 (51) doesn’t have an Anamorphic control.

Thanks !

Howard

[Rudolf Mcclain]

Thanks all.

Capture is fine.

I uncheck ANAMORPHIC for my sequence and drop the clip in. I get the error saying my clip differs from the sequence settings, accept adjustment. go back into the sequence settings and uncheck ANAMORPHIC again and the sequence plays just fine.

two things. The LEFT viewer window doesn’t match the aspect ratio of the sequence window. The clip in the left (the same clip that is in the sequence) is squished flatter than 720×480.

second. When i drag a new sub clip (mark in and out) of the original clip to add a second clip to the sequence, the second clip (wich is a subclip of the first clip) is squished the same as the viewer (more squished than 720×480)

help.

Thanks!!!

Best,

Rudy

[Rudolf Mcclain]

ok. maybe if I lay it all out I’ll see what I’m missing….

I shot DVX100a 24pA and used letterbox crop (not squeeze) so it just adds black bars to top and bottom of the 4:3 image.

Captured DV NTSC 48 KHz Advanced pulldown removal

The captured clip is 720×400 (found information from the captured file using finder) and that’s fine.

Created a new sequence: DV NTSC 48 KHz – 23.98

Drop clip in and receive error: “attention this clip does not match this sequence’s settings…. Change sequence settings to match the clip settings?” I choose yes.

It looks squished in the sequence window (squish matches the viewer (LEFT) window)

I say hmmmm…. I’d like to work with this sequence in a not so squished way.

so I go into the sequence’s settings and uncheck ANAMORPHIC and the sequence window looks fine.

now the left window view doesn’t match the right. Left squished, right not.

I make a subclip of the original clip and drop that in after the first clip in the sequence.

the sequence plays the first clip fine and the second clip squished.

Thanks.