Render down to 720x480

[david_winters]

Project shot and framed for 4x3 center cut.

Need to generate Pro Res HQ files in SD 4x3 720x480. In Red Rushes / Resize / Scale. I set W=720, H=480, Fit Stretch= Fit Height .9x. Correct? If I simply choose "Fit Height" I'll get a square pixel output at 720x480, which is not desirable for TV. Correct?

"Fit Height" would work for 640x480 clips, if one were to do the pixel aspect change later in the post pipeline, correct?

Thanks

 

[Greg Huson]

In Photoshop, which defaults to square pixel, we do 720x540, which resamples with the correct aspect ration when imported into NTSC- FCP or ^vl> (Avid, just making fun of the new logo...)

Not exactly what you were asking, but hope that helps.

gh

 

[david_winters]

Yep, I know those tricks all too well. I've clocked way too many years in dark edit bays. And 854x480 is the 16x9 SD anamorphic number.

Discovered an interesting bug, Red Rushes rendered as 640x480 Pro Res HQ, audio works in FCP but not AE.

Thanks

 

[Chris Parker]

David,

Did you ever get this figured out? I have a similar need now...

 

[david_winters]

Yes, several projects now for 4x3 SD finish. In Red Rushes resize to 640x480 (square pixels) fit height Lanzcos Sharp. Exporting to Pro Res HQ. FCP handles the clips just fine, in AE the audio doesn't carry over. Looks like a Pro Res issue with 640x480 w audio in AE.

 

[Chris Parker]

thanks david. i will try that, although this editor wants 16:9 framing in the 4:3 window, so i will go with 'fit width'.

also, this editor wants "720 X 486 ProRes".....is there any way to achieve this with proper 16:9 framing (letterbox), or do i HAVE to go 640 X 480?

 

[david_winters]

I was unable to get any non-square pixel sizes to work in Red Rushes (720x480, 720x486). If they want SD 16x9 best approach is 720x48x as anamorphic squeeze, then the editor can letterbox or keep it 16x9 ana (for something like a DV DVD release).

For the SD 16x9 jobs we export as 1280x720 or 1920x1080 Pro Res, then the editor scales down to SD in FCP (we are an FCP shop).

Another option is export out as 1920x1080 then use another app to scale the QT files down to 720x486 with the pixel aspect change. Another generation but workable.

 

[Chris Parker]

thanks david. what third party app would you use in your last suggestion there?

i have to do this tonight and get it done for tomorrow, so any more help is appreciated. thanks.

 

[Hans von Sonntag]

Right now I use Shake to scale down 1080P25 down to 720x576p anamorph (PAL16:9). I use Shake for this task and set the scaling algorithm to gauss. A sharper algorithm can introduce jitter on the lines when using a CRT.

Hans

 

[david_winters]

I don't know Shake, but I have a few guys here that use it because it has several scale options like Hans suggests. I've been using AE, but it's a hassle as you can't batch a series of takes. Also using FCP / Batch Export to scale, for some of the lower budget fast turn around projects.

You may be able to set something up in Compressor using QT, but needs to be tested.

 

[Michael P. Schmidt]

use "mpeg streamclip" to convert the 1080 ProRes to PAL or NTSC Quicktimes

http://www.squared5.com/

we use this a lot to convert HD to SD(PAL) for final DVD-Video

and it has an "batchlist" too ... and it's free

 

[Chris Parker]

Thanks for all of the info.
I have been asked by the editor to deliver 720 X 486 ProRes clips.....square pixels. In Red Rushes I have exported out tests using 720x486 fit width (in square) AND .9 pixel aspect ratios.
Both work fine in my Final Cut timeline depending on what my aspect ratio is set to within the timeline. Although, my question is that for some reason from my
Kona3 output, regardless of the settings I change in my "View, Video Playback" I can only see the .9 aspect ratio timeline properly. The square seems to look squished within my SD preview monitor.
If anyone has any ideas, if I am missing some sort of settings or something to change the output ratio from within Final Cut that would be great.

 

[Chris Parker]

basically, i processed two clips....

1. 720 X 486....fit width
2. 720 X 486...fit width 0.9X

The first one plays fine in a Final Cut Sequence with the 'square settings'.
The second one plays fine in a Final Cut Sequence with the 'DV pixel aspect ratio'.

But output from my Kona3 card, the 0.9X one plays properly, while the regular fit width 'square' one looks squished when output via Kona 3 to SD preview monitor.

Any help is appreciated....

 

[david_winters]

720x486 square pixels is not a correct ratio for NTSC SD, which I'm assuming is why the Kona would not send it to a monitor. I'm happy to hear you were able to get 720x486 pixels .9 from Red Rushes, I couldn't figure it out when I started this thread.

Good luck