FCPX 16:9 Export settings that will prevent iDVD from playing back at 4:3

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Level 1

17 points

FCPX 16:9 Export settings that will prevent iDVD from playing back at 4:3

HI, I’ve been searching high and wide for a FCPX export setting that will preserve 16:9 in iDVD and not play back as 4:3.

When previewing files that were exported in FCP 10.0.8 using the “Master File” option preserving its default setting of "H.264 1441x1080" I get a file that Quicktime that is

“H.264, 1,440 x 1,080 (1,920 x 1,080)”

16x9 files imported from other sources such as iMovie preview fine in the same project. iDVD project is of course set at 16X9 and its menus are displaying correct.

Rather than adding extra steps and making adjustment in QT Pro, Compressor or Wondershare, I would prefer finding a way I can change export setting in FCPX to preserve my chapter markers and keep my workflow streamlined

Let me know if you would like extra setting info. Thx in advance!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), 2x3 Ghz duel core, (24 GB Mem)

Posted on May 14, 2013 4:45 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,022 points

May 14, 2013 4:52 PM in response to KidVid

Try exporting using ProRes rather than H.264.

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Answer 2

KidVid Author

Level 1

17 points

May 14, 2013 5:31 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes, i did try exporting as ProRes per your suggestion but same issue.

I also tried adding this new ProRes test file into a new iDVD 16x9 project and same issue.

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,022 points

May 14, 2013 6:49 PM in response to KidVid

OK. iDVD doesn't recognize ProRes in 1440. I think one option is to use MPEG Streamclip to convert the 1440 to the Apple Intermediate Codec, which iDVD will recognize. The other option that might work is to make a 1920x1080 project and copy and paste your existing project into it and export that as ProRes.

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Answer 4

KidVid Author

Level 1

17 points

May 14, 2013 11:20 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I think I've finally cracked it. I opend the properties of the project in FCPX and found that the video properties were set to 1440 x 1080!!. I changed them to 1920 x 1080. I've exported a small segment and dragged it into iDVD whereupon it now plays in 16:9 - at last!

The annoying thing is the way Quicktime reported the earlier videos I'd exported as being “1,440 x 1,080 (1,920 x 1,080)”

Apparently iDVD likes its video to have square pixels.

Im glad this worked without having to convert every video I export from FCPX.

Tom: I usually export everything as H.264 since I capture all my footage at its original size. I thought that since I don’t capture as optimized Pro-Res, then my exported video couldn’t benefit from selecting Pro Res. Am I incorrect?

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,022 points

May 15, 2013 1:23 AM in response to KidVid

That's incorrect. H.264 is a heavily compressed codec. It's better to avoid recompressing to this degrading codec, especially when the media is going to be recompressed yet again. It's better to compress the master file to a codec that will do the least amount of damage to the media. ProRes is a good codec for that.

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Answer 6

KidVid Author

Level 1

17 points

May 15, 2013 1:35 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

In addition to exporting the master file as ProRes.. would you also encourage users to capture all footage as Optimized/ ProRes? If i had to pick between one or the other id much rather export the footage as ProRes than have to create the space to capture all my footage as ProRes. In my case, im exporting to a regular DVD, not Blu-Ray. Do you know of any good resources that address this subject (Pro Res/ Optimized vs. Orignial H.264)?

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,022 points

May 15, 2013 2:13 AM in response to KidVid

The real benefits of ProRes is that it requires little processor power, hence good for multicam editing, and allows fir greater control in color correction without adding noise. If those around important to you and your system can handle your needs in H.264 then there is no need to optimize.

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