Aspect Ratio setting on FCPX

If I have video that was shot 1080p 16:9 that I want to use in a 4:3 (1440x1080) project, and I have framed the subject within the 16:9 frame accordingly:

I modify the project so that the project aspect ratio is 4:3:

Which results in the 16:9 frame squeezed into the 4:3 aspect ratio:

UNTIL I change the Spatial Conform of the clip to None:

MtD

What I’m seeing is if you use Custom 1440x1080 it creates a 4:3 project. When you put content it in the project remains 4:3. When you set the widescreen to Fill or None the project remains 4:3. If you look at the project properties it’s gone to 1080HD but it’s still 4:3. At least that’s the behavior I’m seeing. It’s obviously not HD because there is technically no HD 4:3. It’s a made up large format SD.

You want the project to center cut the 16:9 source?

Set the project frame size as described and set Spatial Conform to None.

MTD

Did you using the Custom setting 1440x1080?

What are the exact specs of your media? 1920x1080 or 1440x1080, which is the anamorphic HD format? If the former set the Spatial Conform for the clips to Fill. The default is Fit.

What 4:3? 1440x1080? No, that won't work, because FCP will see the 1440x1080 as anamorphic HD and change the project. If you put 4:3 of a different dimension or 4:3 SD into the project it will work. With the 1440x1080 resolution you have to set the project to 1439 or 1441x1080. That has worked in the past.

The same thing happens with still images in that resolution. You have trim off a pixel to get FCP to accept it as 4:3.

Make a new project and use the Custom setting to match your frame resolution.

Have just been testing this on my system, and FCP seems unwilling to let me set and then maintain a Project with 1440x1080 px dimensions/square px. It switches the Project to anamorphic.

MtD

Did you make the project choosing "Custom", instead of HD?

Please post screenshots that show your project properties and the Viewer. Does the Viewer look 4:3 or 16:9?

For an excellent introduction to FCP start with Steve Martin’s 60 minute intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqUP7Zgeuck. For a more in depth introduction use the IzzyVideo tutorials. The version is a bit dated but the principles are the same. 

Yes, you are correct. I assumed from the OP's first post that the footage was square pixel and not anamorphic.

• Actually, I just noticed a problem on my system. If I set the Project to Custom 1440x1080 square, and say OK, I get the correct display. As soon as I click on the project in the browser again, FCP resets the project to Anamorphic.

MtD

Yes, I switch it to Custom and set the px dimensions, click OK.

The display looks correct,

If I select the project in the browser, the display then switches to non-square and if I click Modify, the Project settings come up reset to 1080p instead of Custom.

Not sure if this is a local system problem or in the app itself.

MtD

I guess FCP is using the Video Format drop down in the Project Settings to set the aspect of the pixels - as opposed to having a separate setting for pixel aspect - and FCP prefers standardized format.

As opposed to Premiere where you can set the Frame Dimension and Pixel aspect separately:

MtD

Ah. I didn’t select it in the browser. When making it the project opens in the timeline, and I went from there.

It’s probably in the software. What I was going to suggest originally was to make the project 1439x1080, but then I was surprised to see the project working at 1440x1080.

I just tested a with real 4x3 material and the 1440 by 1080 - and it's not working.

So finally a really serious bug for those who need that 1440 by 1080 square pix format.

You can do any other 4 by 3 format 🤪