Exporting to QuickTime - 4:3 being stretched to 16:9

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Level 1

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Exporting to QuickTime - 4:3 being stretched to 16:9

Hey everyone,

I do a lot of video work. Recently when exporting a 4:3 video FinalCut Express started stretching it to 16:9. I have checked all of the setting and threw away the preference files. It is still doing it.

The problem is that when I do the other export option it takes 3 to 4 times longer to get it done, which I don't have to time for. It can be up to 11 hours for a 2 hour video.

Is there a way to fix this and have the export using QuickTime keep the aspect ratio?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 29, 2009 5:19 PM

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Answer 1

frenchjr25 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 29, 2009 5:51 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

The media tends to be mixed. Some of it I have captured and other is mp4. Either way the same thing happens. The ones that I capture are exactly 4:3 with the 48hz and 16 bit. The mp4 are all different.

The sequence is always set up the same, with 720x480 ratio and the 48hz and 16 bit. I always double check the settings before I export.

When I export the files I am then taking some of them into iSquint, which puts them back at the right ratio. Of course I only do this if the quality of the video does not matter.

And this happens no matter where I export to. I export to my desktop or one of my 5 external hard drives.

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Jun 29, 2009 6:00 PM in response to frenchjr25

Did you check the item properties for the sequence? What are they? Please give the exact item properties of the sequence.

One more time: How EXACTLY are you exporting? Where are you trying to export to?

Please provide this information or there's no way any one can help you.

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Answer 3

frenchjr25 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2009 6:19 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

My training is in Final Cut pro so I know how the sequences are supposed to be set up. And I already gave you that info in my last post so I am a bit confused. And I described how I was exporting.

FCE is doing this no matter what the sequence settings are. And I am exporting using the simple QuickTime export option. The settings are already applied and I have no control over them.

I really want to be nice here but I am a bit offended by your response. I gave you the information you asked for and you still came across as rude.

Everything is set up exactly as it is supposed to be for the type of exported file that I want. The problem is not in the sequence settings. Something else is going on and I need to know if there is a way to fix it.

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Answer 4

frenchjr25 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2009 6:24 AM in response to frenchjr25

And I would like to add that I am only using FCE because I am not able to afford FCP. I'd much rather being using the full version. And I've been using FinalCut for the past 2 years so I am not new to this.

Aspect Ratio issues have been causing problems for some time. Every once in a while when I go to create a DVD with iDVD a 4:3 will be converted into a 16:9 in the finished DVD.

With the aspect ratio issues something is going on and I need to know if it is possible to fix it.

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Jun 30, 2009 6:39 AM in response to frenchjr25

There are two QuickTime export functions, QuickTime Movie and QuickTime Conversion. You can't even be bothered to say which one you're using. QuickTime Movie is the correct export function for iDVD. Is that what you're using?

I'm sorry I can't help you if you can't be bothered to give the item properties of the sequence other than to say they're correct. If they're correct and the export is correct, then the problem really isn't in FCE. Your problem is in iDVD. There's a separate forum for that.

If you are using the correct sequence settings in FCE, they will not change, unless you put anamorphic material in the sequence and allow the application to conform the sequence to that in the dialog.

I don't think I'm rude, but I am annoyed. I'm asking you simple questions for precise information to list what's in your project. You just say the settings are right 720x480 48K. All DV NTSC is 720x480, regardless of the display aspect ratio; both 4:3 and 16:9 are in the same frame, always, as is DVD NTSC media.

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Answer 6

frenchjr25 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2009 7:41 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I want to use the QuickTime movie export, which is where the problem occurs. If I use the conversion export then there is no problem. I thought I made this extremely clear (check my second post).

And like I have said three times this happens no matter what the sequence settings are.

When I set up the sequence I use the DV NTSC 48khz. The automatically set compressor is DV/DVCPRO - NTSC and the Pixel Aspect is NTSC - CCIR 601. The frame size is 720x480. Easy setup is set at DV-NTSC.

I want to use the QuickTime Movie export because it saves me a lot of time. But when I do the QuickTime conversion I end up having to use:

Video -
Settings: MPEG-4 Video
Size: NTSC 720x480 4:3

When I use the NONE conversion setting it takes forever to convert and the file size is huge.

The only good thing is that the aspect ratio comes out how I want it at 4:3.

As far as I can tell the settings have not changed in the past year and a half since I purchased FCE.

And this problem has nothing to do with iDVD. That is another problem all together that happens with other people I work with as well.

And I know the problem people usually have is the opposite of this.

And like I have said, this happens no matter what the settings are.

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Answer 7

DonRx

Level 1

0 points

Jun 30, 2009 11:14 AM in response to frenchjr25

I assume that you are noting the stretched video on input to iDVD. If so, I recently encountered this same problem. It seems to have been related to upgrades that recently occurred in both iDVD and QuickTime. After working with an Apple Care expert, it was acknowledged that an incompatiblity has occurred. It appears that the easiest remedy if you have QuickTime Pro is to take the saved video from FCE and Open in QuickTime. Then File -> Save As ... and check Save as a self-contained movie. Although all of the parameters appear to be identical between the original and the new Saved As video, the latter appears to correctly display in iDVD as a Standard (4:3 ratio) aspect. This still adds some time to the project, but I found it to be less than other conversions.

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Answer 8

frenchjr25 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2009 2:03 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

The students I work with are having the same issue using QuickTime and iDVD. I've had this happen before. And all the setting are set up for 4:3. Confusing!

I'll check and see about the upgrades. I am using FCE 4.0.1 and the last time it was modified was back in August of 08.

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Answer 9

Alchroma

Level 7

23,918 points

Jun 30, 2009 4:53 PM in response to frenchjr25

If you are using a DVD player and TV to watch the final product: Is the DVD players setup correct for 4:3 playback?

Also the TV needs to setup to display the correct aspect ratio if it's one of the newer LCDs or Plasmas.

Editing app, DVD player and TV all need to match or a tangle will end up somewhere.

Al

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Answer 10

DonRx

Level 1

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Jul 1, 2009 7:07 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, I was experiencing the recent stretched video in iDVD only, both in its display as well as when a disk was actually burned. The video that was produced from FCE as a File -> Export ...QuickTime Movie looked normal when opened in QT Player. FCE has not changed but I noticed the effect after simultaneously upgrading iDVD and QT. Examining the Movie Properties in QT of the FCE generated QT movie and the subsequent movie generated via QT Save As did not indicate any differences, except for the stretched effect when brought into iDVD.

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Answer 11

frenchjr25 Author

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10 points

Jul 1, 2009 7:43 AM in response to DonRx

I have had the same problem in the past.

My current issue recently started. All of the QT movie files are coming out as 16:9 when they are done as 4:3. And all of the settings are set up for them to be 4:3. And I don't have QuickTime Pro so I can't go in and change them there. I use iSquint and they come out with really poor quality but with the right aspect ratio.

I really need to find a solution to this. I am working on an archive project for actress Diane Baker and it needs to be completed soon.

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Answer 12

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Jul 1, 2009 7:55 AM in response to DonRx

You may have upgraded iDVD, but iDVD has not been changed for a few years.

So finally someone has confirmed that it does look correct in the QuickTime player. It sounds like the problem is in iDVD. Have you taken the question to that forum? You will find more iDVD users there than you may find here. I'm assuming you're putting your video into a 4:3 iDVD project and not a widescreen one.

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Answer 13

DonRx

Level 1

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Jul 1, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, yes, there has been discussion in the iDVD forum. And yes, the video is being placed in a 4:3 iDVD project. I concede that this is not an FCE issue, but I was only offering a possible solution to the user in this forum who may have experienced the same problem.

And while iDVD packaged with iLife '09 may not have been updated recently, iDVD within iLife '08 (which is what I am using) was updated on or about Jun 4, 2009.

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Answer 14

frenchjr25 Author

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10 points

Jul 1, 2009 12:49 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

We seem to have gotten off track

My problem is NOT in iDVD. The problem shows up in the QuickTime player. FCE is taking my 4:3 project and turning it into a 16:9 when exporting to a QuickTime movie.

The iDVD issue is a totally different subject.

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Answer 15

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Jul 1, 2009 12:56 PM in response to frenchjr25

You seem to have a unique problem, and I really don't see how it's possible when exporting to QuickTime Movie for the application or QuickTime to change the aspect ratio of the clip. If the sequence is 4:3 it will always export a 4:3 sequence. I've tried doing this a number of times with different sequences of standard definition media and it always exports correctly. Perhaps you could post somewhere or email me one of your project files that does this.

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