Aspect Ratio kookiness

sbryan

Well-known member
I have a problem with aspect ratios, but I can't figure out whether the problem lies in Adobe Premiere 2.0 or my DVX100a. I was under the impression that the DVX100a shoots in 4:3 natively, or so the settings indicate. I go to import that into Adobe Premiere in a DV 4:3 project, and the source monitor brings up an image of 1.85:1, but the project monitor pulls up a 4:3 image.

Here's where things get sticky. The source monitor is showing more of the image, and the project monitor has cropped off the sides of the original image. I reset the workspace, and that didn't resolve the problem. I started working in a widescreen project, and nothing looks distorted, so far. I guess I'm just bothered by the fact that my camera was shooting in 4:3.

Here's a theory of mine: When I first plugged the DVX into my computer, I told Windows this was a widescreen device. It's been so long since I got the camera . . . I don't remember if I told Windows anything . . .
 
Start a new project and decide if your project is wide screen or not, this is set up when you first open a project.

The next thing you need to do is tell PPro what PAR (.9 or 1.2 assuming NTSC) that you shot. This can be done with the conform footage option.

Assuming that you are working on a project that is destine to DVD or back to DV then there are only 4 combinations to consider. Widescreen project with footage shot with a PAR of .9 or 1.2 or a standard project (4:3) shot with a PAR of .9 or 1.2
 
New Developments:

1. I must have set my Scene File dial F5 to shoot in squeeze mode. No real biggie there, I just work in a widescreen project.

2. My computer recognizes my camera at 23.976fps, and it looks like it captures at the same frame rate. However, when I interpret footage, the "Use frame rate from file" dialog box list 30fps -- which is not accurate.

3. Things really get confusing from here, as when I export as an AVI file in the correct aspect ratio After Effects Squeezes the image into what looks like 1.33:1 or something close to it. When interpreting this footage, I get some unrecognizable output -- Full Frame, 19fps . . . it's pretty bad.

It seems like the Adobe Suite changes for every project I work on.

Still frustrated,
SB
 
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