web export dimensions from HDV

I am trying to export an FCP project for the web and I am hoping someone can help me overcome a problem. The footage for the project is HDV and in the viewer it is in its native dimension. When I add it to the canvas, it appears in more of a 4:3 format with black bars at top and bottom. So when I export to web using various 16x9 dimensions, I get the proper dimensions in quicktime, but the video retains the black bars at top and bottom that were in the canvas. I would like to achieve (by my calculations, so could be off) a 400x225 pixel dimensions from the HDV. I have played around with various settings in FCP Studio 5.1 but nothing I do seems to matter. I know it is some setting I am overlooking related to the canvas, maybe, so I would appreciate someone enlightening me and pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks Doug

Choose easy setup and set the project to the HDV resolution you are using

then create a new sequence - this should then have the correct settings.

Alternatively you could adjust your current Canvas (Sequence/timeline) to match the 1440x1080 of HDV60i or HDV50i





Ben



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

You need to check your sequence settings against your clip settings. If it looks wrong in the canvas, your sequence settings are wrong. Got o Sequence > Settings, or use apple 0.

If the letterbox bars are in your Canvas, that means your sequence was probably not set to 16:9, and whatever movie file you export from the Canvas will also have those bars.

Try this. Export from your editing timeline at full quality. Now create a custom timeline, with codec matching the editing timeline, but go into Sequence Settings (APPLE-0) for the new custom timeline and set the Aspect Ratio to Custom. Change the frame size to 400x225. Put the full-quality movie file into this sequence and resize it using the Motion tab. Now export from this timeline. This should achieve the dimensions you want while preventing QuickTime exports from distorting your picture.


www.derekmok.com

Ahh .. snap.

Wow. I appreciate all the responses, complete with visuals! I will try these out and if I run into any problems I will follow up. I am not in front of my system at the moment, but from what I see from the response, I think the easy setup is probably where I went wrong maybe I can change the sequence settings and get things back on track.

Thanks again,

Doug

Just to report back, the suggestions worked just as you said. Imagine that! So anyone else seeking this solution will do well to follow the instructions. I created some test clips and ran through them after adjusting the sequence setting. All is good. However, on the clip I had already completed, when I changed the canvas settings, it shrunk the picture. I guess I need to follow the complete instructions from Derek to get the already completed clip to play nice. Minor thing though. Figuring out how to keep it from happening again. Big. Thanks so much to all!

Doug