Compressor Size/Frame Rates

I'm a bit confused.

I'm taking 720x486 @24fps quicktimes and converting them into, what should be, 720x480 m2vs with Compressor.

If I look at the output in QT Pro, it tells me that the Quicktimes are 640x480 @ 23.98fps. When I import them into DVDSP, the inspector tells me that they are 720x480 @29.97fps ... A 3 second slug run through this process says it's 2.1 seconds long.

My platform is OS X 10.4.3 running DVDSP 4.0.2 and Compressor 2.0.1

Any thoughts as to the different size/rates?

This is one of the most common question in web forums.
Nothing to worry about. Quicktime is just switching the view aspect ratio, so that NTSC video doesn't look squeezed. It's just a viewing thing. The video is still 720x480.

As for the 24P thing, 23.98 fps is the actual frame rate for NTSC compatible progressive video. The players repeats frames (adds pull down) so it is compatible with 29.97 fps NTSC screens. If your player is connected to a truly progressive display, you can change player preferences so it doesn't do that. Not a big deal.



Adolfo Rozenfeld
Buenos Aires - Argentina
www.adolforozenfeld.com