How can I mix formats in my edit: HD, SD, 4:3, 16:9

magoo

magoo

Member
I have DVX100E.
a. I can shoot in letterbox but it not only cuts some top and bottom off , it also stretches it horozontally. This is my non-technical explaination anyway. So it is probably doing what it should.

b. I may be getting vid from a HD Sony that can do 16:9.

c. I also may be getting vid from a little Canon 840i that can do widescreen - which seems to mix nicely with the HD 16:9

What format size do you suggest I shoot to enable use of all 3 in the final edit.

To me it seems that the 4:3 can fade in and out of 16:9 sort of OK from a viewer perspective - as long as there is not too much back and forth. BUT I am having difficulty seeing how I can use DVX letterbox effectively if I will be getting true 16:9 or widescreen to mix it with since the letterbox seems very stretched when watching on TV in 16:9 mode (which is fine for the HD 16:9 and widescreen footage).

Again - the question is - what is the best way to combine these formats into a finished product? Should I just use 4:3 for everything in the first place? I have not visually successfully put the 16:9 footage alongside the letterbox so are there some suggestions on how to do this better?

I hope this makes sense.
 
without knowing a lot more, that's a bad idea to attempt mixing SD and HD along with different aspect ratios. Even if everything is 16:9 you will have issues with SD and HD on the same timeline. It depends, in part, on what you're trying to do, but I would recommend you keep everything in the same format for best results and less headaches. You should be able to setup all for decent DV in widescreen (16:9) format, if that is what you want.
 
DGW said:
without knowing a lot more, that's a bad idea to attempt mixing SD and HD along with different aspect ratios. Even if everything is 16:9 you will have issues with SD and HD on the same timeline. It depends, in part, on what you're trying to do, but I would recommend you keep everything in the same format for best results and less headaches. You should be able to setup all for decent DV in widescreen (16:9) format, if that is what you want.
Click to expand...
Hi DGW,

Except that the DVX100E does not record in 16:9. It does letterbox )which simply chops off the top and bottom forcing the cameraman to keep the subject within a narrower boundary then allowing the finished product to be viewed in a zoom mode to fill the screen. ... as far as I can figure).
 
The 100E doesn't shoot Squeeze?
Is it PAL? If so, is it the US equivalent of the 100, not 100A or 100B?

And what NLE do you use?
Perhaps some of your questions could be better answered in an editing forum for your editing system?
 
groveChuck said:
The 100E doesn't shoot Squeeze?
Is it PAL? If so, is it the US equivalent of the 100, not 100A or 100B?

And what NLE do you use?
Perhaps some of your questions could be better answered in an editing forum for your editing system?
Click to expand...
I have the DVX100E which I beleive is the European PAL version of the 100A. Letterbox seems to chop off top and bottom but not squeeze the image.

I use Pinnacle Studio V12.

Good point - may take to editing forum - after I look see if any answers there already.
 
Hi Magoo,

100E = 100 (european)

That means:
-PAL
-no 24p(a) but 'only' 25p
-no squeeze.
I have the same thing here.

With that, we end up in the same old discussion that allways ends up with:
-It depends on what you are going to do with the footage.
-If it gets blown up to bigger screens you would want the anamorphic lens adaptor to get 16:9 in good quality. If -like me- you can't afford that (nor rent it), go to the next line:
-Don't use letterboxed, but crop in post or keep it at 4:3 for the whole movie/clip/project.
-Detaillevel @ thin etc.
(...like in the DVX100 -native 16:9 indeed...)


Jasper
 
Letterbox mode records a 4:3 image but superimposes the black bars at the top and bottom. The problem with mixing HD and SD 16:9 on the same timeline is that if it set to the HD res, then the SD footage will be smaller, and you will have to scale up. If you set the timeline to SD, then it will scale up the HD footage. You might want to downres the HD footage or upres the SD footage.
 
Anomie said:
Hi Magoo,

100E = 100 (european)

That means:
-PAL
-no 24p(a) but 'only' 25p
-no squeeze.
I have the same thing here.

With that, we end up in the same old discussion that allways ends up with:
-It depends on what you are going to do with the footage.
-If it gets blown up to bigger screens you would want the anamorphic lens adaptor to get 16:9 in good quality. If -like me- you can't afford that (nor rent it), go to the next line:
-Don't use letterboxed, but crop in post or keep it at 4:3 for the whole movie/clip/project.
-Detaillevel @ thin etc.
(...like in the DVX100 -native 16:9 indeed...)


Jasper
Click to expand...
Thanks Jasper. Will do all of it in 4:3 - since it is a wedding and we cant ask them to do it again. ha!
 
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