extra widescreen footage in FCP

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pilgrimbeats

New member
I just started capturing some footage I shot with the widescreen matte. It seems as though the sides have extra footage in the logging window as well as the viewer and canvas. I framed everything to the sides of the LCD on my DVX but in FCP what I framed meets the edge of the tv safe overlay. Is this normal? It looks fine on my monitor but if I put on the web or something it's gonna have all this extra space on the sides. I don't know if I explained that very well but if anybody knows what I'm talking about and could help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
The LCD and view finder don't show 100% of what you capture. it's probably closer to safe action. When you show it as normal video to a monitor ortv it's probably close because a cetain amoutn of the edges get clipped in the process (hence safe action area).
When you output to the web though you're showing the full image.
 
Thanks Scott, so what would you recomend I do before exporting if the edges are less than desirable.

Also, is there a setting on the DVX to change how much you see on the LCD? I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to see the entire image being captured. Couldn't they have show the whole image and used and action safe overlay?

Thanks Again
 
Well, here's the scoop:

What you're referring to is called "overscan". There's area on standard television sets that does not get shown, outside of the "safe" area. Your DVX's LCD shows you what you would see if you were to watch your footage on a standard TV. (Since this is what the majority of the camera's function is for). This is how most home/consumer DV cams work. Unfortunately, there's no way to show the rest of the image in the LCD (referred to as "underscanning" the image). To see the rest on set, you have a few options.

1. Broadcast monitor. This has functions that are VERY important, such as seeing the entire frame, and getting accurate color. A TV will not work. These are EXPENSIVE! Try ebay.

2. A laptop. You can either leave the FCP log and capture window open and refer to it, since it will show you the entire image, or run an application like "DV Rack" (pc only...argh) to see this area. DV Rack also has color controls for setting up the screen to NTSC standards, as well as many options that are very handy (such as live recording to disk and pre-buffers). Makes me want a junk PC laptop... and that's the ONLY time you'll EVER hear me say that...

:)

In Post, if resolution isn't a concern (like when you're downsizing the final anyways) you could blow up the footage a little bit to essentially crop out the unwanted area. You will be most likely VERY unhappy with this unless you are shrinking it later.

Well, I hope you don't get too discouraged with the excess areas. You'll over time get used to that and your mind will kind of keep that in consious thought when you're composing your shots.

Just a few thoughts. Good luck to you man.

~MK
 
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