How can i change the size of my exported video without compressing it?

[Ferret Lady]

hi. i am using final cut express. i have a video that is 16:9. the clips and sequence are both anamorphic. i need to retain this aspect ratio with the final exported product. so here is my problem.

if i simply go to export > quicktime move, which means no compressing of the file will be done and it's full quality, it ends up being 720 x 480, which is 4:3 aspect ratio. there are no options when doing it this way to change any settings. the final export is about 800 mbs.

if i go to export > using quicktime conversion, i can change the size to 853 x 480, which retains my aspect ratio of 16:9. however, while the first example resulted in a full quality video of about 800MB's, this way ends up with a file that's down to 500MB's, and the lost of quality is somewhat noticeable. not terrible, but it's certainly apparent to me.

how can i export a video at FULL quality, but retain my 16:9 aspect ratio?

your advice is greatly appreciate, thank you in advance.

alison

 

[Shooter]

From memory...(of my FCP /Mac days)

You can open the QT Inspector on the QT file and change the PAR.

(sorry my Mac is away with an editor so I can not step by step this for you)

TRY: open them in QT player, place the cursor over the player and hit command +I.

 

[Ferret Lady]

i'm guessing i need quicktime pro to do that.. i'm gonna check it out right now tho.. i'll report back asap, thanks for the tip!

 

[Ferret Lady]

k i couldnt figure out how to change the size in inspector. it tells me the size there, but i dont see an option to adjust it.

what i did try is once the file was opened in qt pro, using that to export the move again and adjust the size settings in there. its still processing this change now, and since the settings looked just like quicktime conversion settings in final cut, i'm sure it's actually compressing th efile to lower quality.

sigh. can't i set something up in final cut express to make it export all my movies using a different size than 720 x 480?

 

[Ferret Lady]

yeah, the file was compressed down to 296 mbs.

there has to be a way to export the movie from final cut that retains the aspect ratio it's edited in. what am i missing?

 

[Shooter]

I know it can be done and we did it a number of times.

try soemthing like this

Open file in qt player
Press Apple / "J"
Click on Video track
Button - Visual Settings
Un click Preserve Aspect Ratio
Change the dimension
Save

 

[Ferret Lady]

I know it can be done and we did it a number of times.

try soemthing like this

Open file in qt player
Press Apple / "J"
Click on Video track
Button - Visual Settings
Un click Preserve Aspect Ratio
Change the dimension
Save

OH YOU ARE A GENIUS!!!! THAT DID IT!!

thank you SO much Shooter!!! i feel a whole new world is opening up to me.. heh.. no really, this will be SO useful. thanks!

 

[Shooter]

You Mac guys are so needy.

Glad to help.

 

[007liron]

I know it can be done and we did it a number of times.

try soemthing like this

Open file in qt player
Press Apple / "J"
Click on Video track
Button - Visual Settings
Un click Preserve Aspect Ratio
Change the dimension
Save

Hi Shooter/Scratchpatchfilms,

I tried doing that same process but QT doesn't seem to save the new definitions- when I close QT (after saving...) and reopening it's still 4:3, and in 720X480.
How do I make it save the changes???

 

[Ferret Lady]

hmm i dunno what you could be doing wrong cuz it's pretty straight forward with shooter's instructions there. do you at least see the changed dimensions before you close quicktime? and you're saving after making the changes to the dimensions, right?

i had no problems so i just cant imagine what you're missing.. sorry

 

[Shooter]

Sorry mate. I cant help because I dont have my Mac anywhere near me and I am only working off my memory recall about the steps anyway.

Try again. You must have missed something.

 

[007liron]

ok, I solved it...just didn't pressed the 'enter' key before saving, so simple, so stupid, yet so overlooked...

I also figured out that the best way to probably go about it is to export as Custom- 853X480 at FCP. It doesn't seem to lose quality over the compressor native 720X480.

Thanks guys!