Nele Heinemann

Q: Merging narrow iPhone and wide MacBook movie files

How do I merge narrow movie files that have been recorded with an IPhone with wider files that have been recorded using the laptop camera? When I merge them in QuickTimePlayer the parts left and right from the wieder files are being cut off.

Vice versa, when I enlarge the IPhone ones they become blurry and distorted.

 

Thank you!

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 7:18 AM

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Q: Merging narrow iPhone and wide MacBook movie files

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Sep 15, 2016 7:54 AM in response to Nele Heinemann
    Level 7 (21,810 points)
    Quicktime
    Sep 15, 2016 7:54 AM in response to Nele Heinemann

    My preference in that situation is to edit the wide clip to the timeline to automatically set the project properties to 16:9.

     

    Then layer a solid generator under the portrait clips – picking a suitable color for the generator.

     

    Others duplicate the portrait clips, scale up the bottom clip and apply a blur.

     

    Yet others use a plug-in like Karsten Schluter's free plug-in.

  • by Nele Heinemann,

    Nele Heinemann Nele Heinemann Sep 15, 2016 8:24 AM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Sep 15, 2016 8:24 AM in response to Russ H

    Hi Russ, thank you so much for getting back to me but I am afraid with my non-existing video editing knowledge I can't follow your instructions. Are you referring to Final Cut oder Quick Time? If you could explain it a bit more step-by-step that would be great. Thank you so much in advance!

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Sep 15, 2016 10:00 AM in response to Nele Heinemann
    Level 7 (21,810 points)
    Quicktime
    Sep 15, 2016 10:00 AM in response to Nele Heinemann

    Yes. This is the Final Cut forum so I thought you were looking for a Final Cut solution. Do you have the app?

     

    Russ

  • by Nele Heinemann,

    Nele Heinemann Nele Heinemann Sep 15, 2016 12:12 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Sep 15, 2016 12:12 PM in response to Russ H

    I do, both QuickTime and Final Cut Pro X, I am just not familiar with them and it's my first time using it.

    THank you for taking the time and replying.

  • by Russ H,Solvedanswer

    Russ H Russ H Sep 15, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Nele Heinemann
    Level 7 (21,810 points)
    Quicktime
    Sep 15, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Nele Heinemann

    Create a project (File > New > Project) and you'll get this dialog in the screen shot below. Note that Video Properties will

    set based on first video clip. If that clip is 16:9 (say 1280 x 720) then every clip subsequently added to the timeline will be displayed in a 720 frame size. As you know, the portrait shots can't fill a 16:9 frame without altering the size and framing f the portrait image.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-15 at 4.42.13 PM.png

    Assuming you have edited the first clip to the timeline, you now want to assemble your movie with the mix of clips. But you want to fill the frame. If you use the generator solution, add a solid generator from the effects browser. Select the right end of the generator clip and drag it to the right to at least as long as you think your movie will be. (Or select the generator clip, hit control–D and change the duration in the time field of the dashboard. Use the Overwrite edit to add wide aspect clips and the Connect edit to add portrait clips.

     

    Or use Karsten's plug-in.

     

    There are many fine sources of Final Cut instruction – depending on your preferences and budget – books, video tutorials, classroom. Post again if you are interested and we will be happy to suggest something.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Russ

  • by Nele Heinemann,

    Nele Heinemann Nele Heinemann Sep 15, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Sep 15, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Russ H

    It worked! Thank you so much!

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Sep 15, 2016 10:58 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 7 (32,703 points)
    Video
    Sep 15, 2016 10:58 PM in response to Russ H

    Russ H wrote:

    ... Or use Karsten's plug-in.

    ...

    Thanks, Russ, for recommending my lil' toy!

     

    Avail here, free to dl and to use:

    http://www.fcp.co/forum/film-looks-effects/24655-verticalvideofixer