MPEG2 640x480 ?

Question

MPEG2 640x480 ?

When I export to MPEG2 via QuickTime Pro it says the target size is 720x480 and I keep getting an end result of 640x480. Is 640x480 the correct aspect ratio for MPEG2 DVD? Basically I have an internet music video show. I plan on compressing all the music videos to MPEG2 so they are ready for dvd and I can also built the show in FCP. This method will save me a ton of hard drive space but I'm concerened about having that annoying black border all around my video space when I export to a web format.

Thanks,

John

PowerMac G5, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Nov 29, 2005 5:00 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 29, 2005 6:06 AM in response to John C. Giambrone

The DVD format (MPEG-2) is sized 720X480 (NTSC).
You must be using a very old set of apps to have QT Pro export to MPEG-2. All modern Mac's use Compressor for MPEG-2 exports.
640X480 would be correct for any other format (4:3 aspect).
You should try an export to DV Stream (a one minute sample is enough). QT Pro should make a file sized 720X480. You do not want an MPEG-2 file sized at 640X480! Those dimensions are incorrect and will either "stretch" the width to fill the screen (ugly) or leave a border on the sides.
Buy an external Firewire drive and export as DV Stream. Much bigger files but you'll be able to edit them prior to burning to DVD.
What version of QT Pro and what other "Pro" apps are you using (DVD Studio?).

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Answer 2

Nov 29, 2005 6:34 AM in response to John C. Giambrone

QT Player reports wrong MPEG resolutions so don't trust it! Typically it reports 720x480 as (4:3) 640x480 or 720x576 as 720x540 (which badly distorts the interlacing in PAL!).

Instead, check the resolution with apps like MPEG Streamclip.

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Answer 3

Nov 29, 2005 6:41 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Matti, check the posters profile for a clue to his troubles.
He claims to be exporting to MPEG-2 via QT Pro.
QT 7 Pro does convert DV files (720X480) to .mov (640X480) and that would be correct 4:3 aspect.
Some are having trouble with some files when they "Export to iPod" using MPEG-2 source.

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Answer 4

Nov 29, 2005 6:46 AM in response to John C. Giambrone

The behaviour is very strange. I'm checking the ratio in Final Cut Pro HD and it says it's 640x480. I exported the original DV file from FCP HD usinging export with QuickTime Conversion. Then I select "MPEG2." It's actually exporting using QuickTime PRO 6.whatever. It's the latest version before 7.

When I drag the MPEG2 file into the preview window in FCP there is no border. Once I drag it down to the timeline you see the border. I usally don't have any problems with this...when I make a DVD and watch it on a NTSC TV it looks perfect. Any other ideas?

Thanks!

PowerMac G5 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

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Answer 5

Nov 29, 2005 6:50 AM in response to John C. Giambrone

I just read QuickTime Kirk's post...I was thinking maybe deselect "4:3 aspect" and that could do the trick? Do we not want 4:3 aspect for TV??? I thought that's the norm for a TV. Unfortunatly I'm not at home in front of my mac to give it a try 😟 I can try to remote to it when I get back to the office 🙂

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Answer 6

Nov 29, 2005 6:53 AM in response to John C. Giambrone

"Any other ideas?"
Yes. Don't use QuickTime to export to MPEG-2. If you own FCP HD you've got Compressor. You should use it instead of QT Pro.

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Answer 7

Nov 29, 2005 7:47 PM in response to John C. Giambrone

I've been using QTP for years to export to MPEG2 and have never had a problem. I just ran a test with compressor using the "mpeg2 high quality 120 min" setting and it came out like crap. I still have to run more tests though.

I imported the same mpeg2 that FCP reads as 640x480 into DVD Studio Pro and it says that it is indeed 720x480. The problem is that I'm still getting the black border around the video when I edit the MPEG2's in FCP.

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Answer 8

Nov 29, 2005 8:27 PM in response to John C. Giambrone

I don't know what to tell you. A 120X90 .mov file exported to MPEG-2 would also become 720X480. Everything is supposed to be 720X480 if it's .dv or MPEG-2 and not HD.
How QT is getting square pixel dimensions instead of rectangular pixels is beyond me.
As long as the black borders are outside of the "TV Safe" area it may not be such a big deal. But somehow your file is getting "squished".

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