HD footage in 4:3 timeline project comes out stretched during playback!

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HD footage in 4:3 timeline project comes out stretched during playback!

Hello Fellow Final Cutters,

I am doing some projections for a theatre show, and need to project in 4:3 aspect to maximize screen area on an unusual shaped screen. I am using FCP6 and monitoring onto both my Apple 20" display and/or NEC (native 4:3) projector with display settings set to 1024x768. My sequence settings are Custom size 1024x768, square pixels or PAL ratio, field dominance none, compression Animation, Photo Jpeg, or ProRes422. I've tried all combinations of this but the problem is, I can monitor the correct aspect when the frame is STILL, but when PLAYING it squeezes into 16:9.
This will be a problem when doing test projections in rehearsals, as it won't fit the custom 4:3 screen in the set. Exporting a QT displays fine in 4:3 on the external displays, it is just when playing from the FCP timeline, the image becomes squeezed.
Does anyone have any suggestions on basically monitoring a custom 4:3 sequence during playback without 16:9 distortion?

Cheers, hope you're all well

Sam

Macbook Pro 2.16Ghz /MacPro Quadcore, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on May 9, 2010 10:14 PM

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Answer 1

NLEdit

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May 11, 2010 5:42 AM in response to sam james

Sam,
Did you get this figured out?

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Answer 2

sam james Author

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May 11, 2010 6:39 PM in response to NLEdit

No, still haven't worked it out. It seems like changing the display settingsto exact 4:3 ratio and setting the sequence to square pixels or PAL pixels should display playback in 4:3, but it doesn't.... hmmm.
Someone must know?

Sam

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Answer 3

NLEdit

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May 11, 2010 6:42 PM in response to sam james

The regular tv 4:3 doesn't use square pixels.
And what are you using to project?
If the 4x3 goes to 16:9 it's being stretched not squeezed.

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Answer 4

sam james Author

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May 11, 2010 6:46 PM in response to NLEdit

I am using an NEC NP61 projector (Native 4:3) set to 'native' or '4:3' input and my Apple monitor 20" I've tried all the display ratios and it still 'stretches' to 16:9.
I thought maybe because I was compressing with ProRes might be causing the stretch, but using Animation, Graphics and h.264 does the same...

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Answer 5

NLEdit

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May 11, 2010 6:48 PM in response to sam james

ah, but what are you playing from? a mac laptop?

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Answer 6

sam james Author

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May 11, 2010 6:51 PM in response to NLEdit

Yes the Macbook Pro.. could that be the issue?

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Answer 7

NLEdit

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May 11, 2010 6:55 PM in response to sam james

tell me how you're creating your exported file. It should remain a 4:3 the entire time. Well, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve.

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Answer 8

sam james Author

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May 11, 2010 6:59 PM in response to NLEdit

I just do the standard export Quicktime Movie/Current Settings I open that QT on the external display and that plays the aspect ok. From FCP, when STILL on the timeline aspect is ok, on playback it is stretched.

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Answer 9

NLEdit

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May 11, 2010 7:08 PM in response to sam james

QT 7
go into the inspector
go to the video track and visual properties. You'll find some stuff there.
You really want a 640x480 output, which is video on a computer.

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Answer 10

sam james Author

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May 11, 2010 7:26 PM in response to NLEdit

Yes but isn't that only relevant when playing back a QT? My problem is from FCP timeline to ext display..

/Users/studio/Desktop/Picture 9.png
Picture 9

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Answer 11

NLEdit

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May 11, 2010 7:31 PM in response to sam james

sam james wrote:
I just do the standard export Quicktime Movie/Current Settings I open that QT on the external display and that plays the aspect ok. From FCP, when STILL on the timeline aspect is ok, on playback it is stretched.

We're trying to get at the heart of this. You said above that you open the exported QT it's fine. Why not do that? The output from the FCP timeline will be varied based on several more factors.

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Answer 12

sam james Author

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May 11, 2010 7:44 PM in response to NLEdit

Oh, when I'm working in rehearsals its good to be able to update as fast as possible... watch a section of performance, project the images simultaneously, stop say after 30 secs, adjust image, re-render, playback from timeline, stop, adjust image, re-render, etc. Similar to editing with a client in studio, I need the display to show what the final outcome actually is on the fly.

Usually I am working in HD, projecting 16:9 or previously in SD projecting 4:3, but it seems in the crossover with FCP HD codecs there is some conflict trying to playback 4:3 using hi-res codecs (something better than SD PAL def). The included Film Academy setting (2048x1536) plays back without stretching, but this is REALLY hi res and is about double the rendering time. maybe I'll try downrezzing the Film Academy setting...

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Answer 13

NLEdit

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1,645 points

May 11, 2010 7:47 PM in response to sam james

Ok, it's getting pretty confusing. You're switching screen sizes and ratios.
If the image is 4:3 then you need to keep it that way. FCP wants to be connected to a video monitor for output. if you hook up an external device you'll have to make sure the second display setting, in the displays preference pane, is set correctly. Otherwise that's where your stretching is coming from.

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