Workflow 4:3 letterboxed dvds

[John Pale]

Export Quicktime from MPEG Streamclip in Avid 1:1x codec.

In the export of MPEG Streamclip settings, select to crop off the letterbox.

63 off the top and bottom should do it, but you might have to experiment a little to get it just right.

Import the resulting files. Edit in a 16:9 sequence. Since you are blowing up the image, there will be some unavoidable degradation, but you knew that.

[Kris Anderson]

Or import it 4:3 letterboxed, cut it into your sequence and add an Avid pan and scan effect… 4:3—>16:9.

[Grinner Hester]

Just export a nice quicktime cropped at 720X360 for vimeo when done editing.

[Jesse Gordon]

Thank you – just to carry through:

1) “Edit in 16×9”: I can change the Composer windows to display 16×9 but is there such a thing as creating an inherently 16×9 timeline in a 30iNTSC project? I am in Avid 3.5

2) Avid import resolutions: I have a variety of MXF options available.
Should I be 1:1 MXF, or something like DV25 411 MXF or DV50 MXF given a 720 x 480 source?

3) Is the Avid 1:1x I made in MPEG streamclip the same as MXF? The Avid is creating new media. Want to make sure I’m not adding an unnecessary detour/stepping on the footage an extra time.

4) Thanks for your help! I want to get this right as its a ton of footage. My last few jobs I’ve been fortunate to have assistants & camera originated material, so no need to suss out this type of non-optimal work flow.

– Jesse

[John Pale]

The scaling in Streamclip is superior to within the Avid, to my eye anyway.

Avid 1:1x is the MXF version. The plain 1:1 is the old Meridien version. Either one will work fine in this instance