[Alexander Wolf]

So to answer my own question: I discovered that it is the data rate that causes the difference in file size. Data rate is not shown when you type Cmd+i on a file that’s not opened in QT. When you open it in Quicktime and then click Cmd+i, it shows the data rate, I accidentally found out.

I have no idea why the data rate changed but I’m sure it’s a user error ;-(

Now all I have to do is figure out how to get the data rate back to where it was…

[Alexander Wolf]

Thanks, Walter. I use a preset that I’ve been using for the last year! (Maybe I accidentally changed it?)

[Alexander Wolf]

Why not?

It’s what stock companies seem to like best.

And even though I’m all for a healthy dosis of madness, I’d rather have someone help me understand what’s going on!

[Alexander Wolf]

Thanks, Robin, but the difference is 90%!! And it’s not just one file!

Something has changed but I can’t pinpoint it. All the clips I have exported are incredibly small. As if they are HD as opposed to 4K…

Where else can I look?

[Alexander Wolf]

Thanks for all your answers.

I still don’t understand why I wasn’t able to see the lav and camera mic as 2 separate tracks but today I imported a master file and was able to change Stereo into Dual Mono and saw the separate tracks. I don’t know what happened yesterday but I wasn’t able to do it then…

So I guess problem solved.

[Alexander Wolf]

No, ofcourse I don’t want the two sources mixed on both tracks. Sorry I misused the terms, Brett. I am ignorant, that’s why I ask a question.

When in FCP X I want to edit the separate tracks, I change the setting from Stereo to Dual Mono. That’s why I assumed I needed to export it that way.

When I export a Master File, FCP X automatically exports the audio as stereo. I imported the file again to check if I was still able to hear the two different audio sources but they are mixed on both channels. So I’m annoyed.

Anyone know where I’m screwing up?

[Alexander Wolf]

It was PAL anamorphic, not HDV!! I forgot you could even shoot SD with the Z1… At some point I saw 1440 x 1080 and assumed I was working with HDV footage. That explains it. Sorry for the confusion!

[Alexander Wolf]

Thanks for opening the door, Bret. All the settings are as should be. In my definition ‘squeezed into’ is also a form of compression 😉 albeit not in the same manner as video compression nowadays… But, as you said, that’s all a matter of semantics.

I’m pretty happy with this result even though everything looks soft compared to the 4K files I’m now used to. It’s hard to judge!

[Alexander Wolf]

Thanks, Bret, for taking the time to answer my question. I have done everything as I described- which is the same as you suggested- but unfortunately it doesn’t fill the frame.

But because of your mentioning it, I just tried setting it to ‘fill’ as opposed to (standard) ‘fit’ and at least I am not cropping my image horizontally. So that’s one step up from upscaling! But I remember that the pixels in anamorphic were ‘decompressed’ – for lack of better word- to turn into a sort of 1920 x 1080. Now I’m just stretching.

[Alexander Wolf]

Thanks, guys. I’ve never been good at Photoshop but whatever I needed to learn, I usually did master. Albeit after a long learning curve…

Track X looks great but I can’t justify that price at this point..