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16:9 export converts to 4:3 in DVD Creator

Please help! I've run out of options.


I have created a 1-hour home video using the latest version of Final Cut Pro X ( Version 10.0.7). All of the video was shot in 720 X 480 and I used the 16:9 format when I created my project. I used the H264 codec selection when exporting my video to a .m4v format because otherwise I get a file that is close to 50 GB in size. I saved the file to my desktop and it plays perfectly inside of Quicktime (Version 10.2) in a 16:9 format.


What I want to do is import that video into some type of DVD creator so that I can create menus and chapter selections with backgroud music etc. Unfortunately, each time I try to do this the DVD creation software puts the video into a 4:3 format. I have tried using iDVD (my old standby with iMovie) and DVD Creator for Mac by Aimerisoft with the same results. Since I am getting the same results from different DVD burning programs, I must be exporting the file incorrectly or it is some type of FCPX issue.


I have read on other forums that the exported file may not contain the metadata that these DVD creation programs need to display the video properly. I have tried going through the instructions at this link (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2179), but this workflow does not work.


I am using a 15" MacBook Pro running OSX Version 10.8.2. I have a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3.


Any help is greatly appreciated!

Final Cut Pro X, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 9, 2013 3:19 PM

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Posted on Feb 9, 2013 9:10 PM

"I used the H264 codec selection when exporting my video to a .m4v format because otherwise I get a file that is close to 50 GB in size."


This is wrong. You export your original format. Fir SD that's probably DV. You need to export DV anamorphic. Unfortunately iDVD has never supported SD anamorphic properly.

18 replies

Feb 10, 2013 12:44 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Hi Tom,


Thanks for the quick reply.


I'm sorry, but I do not understand what you mean by "Fir SD that's probably DV."


I interpreted what you said by exporting the movie using Share>Master File (default)>Settings and selected the following:


  • Format: Video and Audio
  • Video Codec: DV


Resolution is automatically set at 720 X 480, Audio File Format is automatically set at Quicktime Movie (Linear PCM), Chapter Markers are marked "included," Open With is set at "Quictime Player," and Role As is set for "Quicktime Movie."


Exporting using DV solved the 16:9/4:3 formatting issue using iDVD; however, the .mov file it exported is 14 GB in size and the video quality is very poor. Is there something I'm missing?


Thanks again!


Mark

Feb 12, 2013 6:58 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hi Luis,


Just for some background information, I was given a 16 GB SD card with video files in a .mpg format. Here is the original file information:


User uploaded file


I converted these clips to a .m4v format using VidConvert and deinterlaced them at the same time. Here is the information for the files that I imported in FCPX:


User uploaded file

Here are the settings for my project:


User uploaded file

I have blacked out certain portions to protect people's names.


Any solutions to the loss of quality by exporting from FCPX using the DV codec is greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

Feb 13, 2013 2:04 AM in response to BPABuckeye

You are going through a lot of conversions: mpeg2 --> h264 --> DV --> mpeg2.

Some conversions are inevitable, since you can't use the mpeg2 files directly in FCP X, and you need/want output to dvd. Since the quality you are getting is very poor, it looks like you need to streamline the process, but something has got to give. In this case, disk space.


Try exporting as ProRes instead of DV. Even if your project is set to DV, FCP X will do all its rendering in ProRes.

Exporting as ProRes is will create a larger file, but incur in much less recompressing, and is likely to lose a lot less quality.

Feb 13, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I have come to this conversation late, but have no responses to the quality output that haven't already been addressed. However, I will address the 16:9 = 4:3 thing, since this (as noted by Mr. Wolsky) is a headache for DV-anamorphic in iDVD.


Pre-FCPX, using FCE, I needed to run my exported DV-anamorphic thru QTPro where I would manually set the frame size to 853x480 so iDVD would maintain the widescreen desired.


Pre-FCPX 10.0.6 which added chapter markers, I needed to export from FCPX to FCE in order to add chapter markers, anyway, so still used QTPro to maintain 853x480.


Once chapter markers became available in FCPX I was able to bypass FCE, but still need QTPro to maintain 16:9 for any DV-anamorphic headed for iDVD.


I no longer shoot in DV (but do still have old projects I am working thru that do) and have happily discovered iDVD is perfectly willing to accept 1280x720 (HDV or Apple ProRes 442, for instance) with which 16:9 remains 16:9 while providing the illusion that the higher quality 720 perhaps provides just a little better quailty in the 480 end result.


This last niblet does nothing for a DV-anamorphic starting point, perhaps. However, DV-anamorphic is dropping into a 720 HDV slideshow from Photo2Movie quite nicely for a project I am finally getting around to completing, which will allow me to bypass QTPro on my way to iDVD.

Feb 13, 2013 3:22 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis and Clyde,


Thank you for the additional support. Unfortunately, I am back at square one. I exported the video using Apple ProRes 422 and got a .mov file that is 19GB in size. It displays perfectly (16:9) in QuickTime with a very high quality resolution; however, when I try to import the video to iDVD, it puts the video into a 4:3 format. And yes, I did make sure to create a 16:9 project in iDVD.


I have VidConvert and was wondering if any of these formats will allow my .mov file to display properly (16:9) in iDVD:


User uploaded file


Or is there another export setting in FCPX that I can use to keep the 16:9 in iDVD without the loss of video quality?


Thank you all for the help!


FCPX NOOB

Feb 13, 2013 3:50 PM in response to BPABuckeye

Just flailing in the dark, here, but have you tried DVCPRO or HDV settings (although HDV sez 18fps)?


Yes, there is a difference between the three, but not knowledgeable on what it is, other than decreasing levels of quality and file size. Btw, the file size DOES make a difference in how much detail it contains, but I'm sure you've made that connection.

Feb 13, 2013 5:38 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks again . . .


I exported the file using DVCPRO50 and got the same results as the DV export (16:9 format on iDVD with very low video quality). 😠


Tom - I followed the directions in the link you provided, but I ran into the following road blocks:

  • I opened the file in QT7 Pro and changed the "Scaled Size" block to 853. I saved the file and imported it into iDVD and still got the 4:3 aspect ratio. When I reopened the .mov file in QT7 Pro, I noticed that the "Preserve Aspect Ratio" box was checked again (after I unchecked it) and that it did not appear to save my settings. I tried this numerous times, but it just doesn't want to take. Am I doing something wrong?
  • I clicked on the link for the "Anamorphicizer" and received the message "Http/1.1 Service Unavailable." After considerable searching, I found a new link and downloaded the file. Originally it tried opening it using the most recent version of QT (non-pro version); however, I was able to get it to open the file with QT& Pro. It looked like it did something and I was very optimistic. Unfortunately, iDVD still put it in a 4:3 format.
  • I downloaded myDVDedit but that program appears to only work with actual DVD files (.vob, .ifo, .bup), not with self-contained video files.


I am almost ready to give up on this and just settle for the low video quality. Is there another DVD menu creator program that will work with FCPX? Will "Compressor" solve my problems? I don't want to pay the money unless I know it will work.


Thanks!

Feb 16, 2013 11:17 AM in response to BPABuckeye

Buckeye,


Did a little testing cuz using QTPro to convert SD to WS is so simple even i can do it.


Everything worked just fine. But then a lightbulb came on because I ran into this originally when it didn't work long long ago (using the same link Tom provided this time).


There is nothing wrong with the instructions, but... YOU HAVE TO PRESS ENTER (the QTP window will reflect the change immediately)


after you enter the 853 (with "Preserve Aspect Ratio" unchecked, of course), and then save the file.


Hope that helps.


When I figured that out, I got a headache from hitting my forehead so hard.


Edit: Oh, another thing. If you "save as", you have a choice of a referenced file, or a self-contained file. If you don't know that, you might save as referenced, and then move the original file into iDVD with disappointing results.


Message was edited by: Clyde Crocker

16:9 export converts to 4:3 in DVD Creator

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