XHA Downconvert Size Isse

M

mymarch

New member
As I downconvert from my XHA1 using FCP, my footage comes out larger than NTSC size. The actual size of the downconverted footage, as seen in my capture folder, is 853 x 480 !!!!

Why is my HD downconvert not coming out 720-480 directly off the camera?

Can anyone help with this issue as I have not found any other topics or explanation anywhere on the net.

Thanks,
 
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You are keeping the pixel aspect ratio at 1:1. NTSC widescreen uses non square pixels (720x480 is not 16:9 DAR, if the pixels are square).
 
Rob, what is your suggestion on fixing this? Should I change my capture settings in FCP?
I do not see any other settings I can change in my XHA1.
Thanks,
 
I don't use a Mac. I'm sure somebody else here could help you a lot better than I could, with FCP. You could set the camera to output DV, but downsizing of HD on the computer can work better.
 
Set your pixel aspect ratio to NTSC CCIR 601 DV, click anamorphic to ON, set Field Dominance to none if shot in PROGRESSIVE, set aspect ratio to NTSC 3:2. This should give you a widescreen downconvert.

if not... manually set your aspect ratio to CUSTOM and enter 720x404.
 
New FCP user here. I need to lay off this week from A1 HDV edited piece and make a SD DVD. I did a quick test through compressor and I thought they had a preset for SD DVD (might have said 16x9, can't remember), I ran with it and everything looks fine. Am I missing something or is Compressor doing all the work of getting it right behind the scenes?

Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Rob, thanks for the help. It seems that you are the only one that understood my original question.
>So, after much research, and reading, I don't think there is a way do downconvert HD footage from the Canon XHA1 to NTSC 4:3, which is 720-480, directly off the camera.
>The easiest way to do it, as I have tried, is to down-convert the footage, and then, use the original raw capture size, which is 853 x 480, and CROP it to 720-480.
 
So you wanted to capture in 16:9 HD (which is your only choice for HD on the A1)...then have a 4:3 aspect on your footage for a fullscreen DVD later? The A1 has guides that can overlay on the LCD to show you a 4:3 guide so next time you shoot you know you can crop it properly.

No need to down convert then crop, just do it first...that way there is no extra conversion. Capture your HD footage, make a 4:3 NTSC timeline in FCP (just like you would if you had normal 4:3 NTSC footage)...and scale the 1080HD to 75%...it'll fit perfectly. Then export to compressor, and bingo!

Of course if you have to edit it heavily I would say go with the way you were talking, downconvert to 16:9 DV then place that in a 4:3 DV timeline...less computer power needed for that and no scaling required.

Either way...there ya go.
 
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