Aspect Ratio Issue Going from FCP to DVD Studio Pro or iDVD

[JEUBEDA]

I'm using an HPX170 and exporting using P2CMS. Afterwards, I edit in FCP (Final Cut Studio 3). After I was finished I exported using "Share" and chose Quicktime H.264.

I took that file and inserted into DVD Studio Pro but instead of being 16X9, it shows the video squashed in 4:3. The same goes with iDVD... This is really frustrated and am wondering if anyone here has a solution or even the same problem.

Thank you.

[puredrifting]

Try a 16x9 preset in iDVD, works like a charm for me. I hate complex and busy DVD menus so to me DVDSP is close to useless. I did an HD project a few months ago and used iDVD to deliver screeners to the clients. We shot HD with my 170 and delivered anamorphic SD DVD. Plays in widescreen anamorphic on plasmas and LCDs and plays 4x3 LB on CRT sets. Looked pretty good too, the compression was decent.

Dan

[DGW]

I took that file and inserted into DVD Studio Pro but instead of being 16X9, it shows the video squashed in 4:3. The same goes with iDVD...

If you confirm the file was properly encoded as 16:9 then it sounds like DVDSP setting needs to be changed to 16:9. As I recall, the project settings allow you to specify aspect for sd and hd separately.

EDIT additional: also I assume you're positive your recorded footage was 16:9? It would be if you shot HD, but not necessarily if you shot SD depending on camera settings.

[David Saraceno]

There is no reason to convert or share to h.274 when authoring a DVD. That will cause a huge compression to go to h.264 and then a second compression when going to m2v.

Export QuickTime (not conversion), Current Settings, self contained.

Use that as your encode source. The settings should be 16:9 letterbox in DVD SP.

But no conversion out of FCP at all.