aspect ratio for YouTube

Hi

This is a topic that's been up a lot and I've searched through most threads and cannot find what I need. Sorry to be repetitive.

We're working on a 16:9, DV-Pal clip that they want to post on YouTube, and following your guidelines all goes well, apart from the aspect ratio. I get a squeeze.

When Exporting (using QT Conversion or Compressor) in Size Settings, 320 x 240 QVGA, I choose to crop the aspect ratio, yet it comes out squeezed. I want to crop it.

And editor here told me to create a new sequence, drag my original sequence into the viewer, insert it into the new timeline with 320 x 240 settings and then scale it to 133. But this creates an extreme close up (which is squeezed).

I'm sure I'm doing some stupid mistake, I just can't figure out what it is.
I really can't get my head around these aspect ratios and it sucha basic issue.

Thanks

[www.kenstone.net]



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Thanks Ben, that was (a long read) very helpful.
I think I'll stick with the letterbox then.

Thank you!