Tech question: MPEG Streamclip, aspect ratio, and converting

[tassosss]

I'm having issues with converting to DV files in MPEG streamclip and retaining super widescreen aspect ratio, and my google fu is failing me.

I'm on mac OSX 10.9.5, using MPEG Streamclip version 1.9.3b8. I'm trying to clip Captain America The First Avenger which I have as an .mp4 file. The aspect ratio is super widescreen 2.36:1 (1280x542). I'm editing in FCPX. This is the first time I've tried clipping a movie with this aspect ratio.

Usually I use MPEG Streamclip to convert to .dv for editing, but the only options it gives for aspect ratio are 4:3 and 16:9, which obviously are no good. The video gets squished.

Is there a way to preserve the super widescreen aspect ratio to get .dv files? Or will I need to edit in another format? And if so, any recommendations? In the Export as QuickTime window, the dropdown list of compressions is intimidating.

Comments

[elipie]

Hi there! I'm not sure how useful this will be, but if I'm set on using dv clips, the way I've worked around this is by exporting the clips to the weird squished aspect ratio, making the vid, and then exporting the final version as the same size/AR as the source files (using do not preserve aspect ratio and custom sizing, if the original source is an unusual size).

Unfortunately, this only works if all your source files are exactly the same aspect ratio, but since you're vidding a movie, this should work for you! I would suggest playing around with the export settings with a few of your squishy AR clips to make sure you can get a final file in the correct AR before you make the entire vid, though. :)

[tassosss]

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that out.

[thingswithwings]

I hope elipie's workaround worked for you, but if it didn't, I'm here to rec some Quicktime compressors so it's no longer intimidating! Then you'll at least have the option if you need it.

My fave is h.264, because it's compatible with everything, takes up very little space, and gives great quality.

If you want higher quality (but it will take up a lot of space!) Apple Pro Res 422 HD is amazing. Beautiful quality. But for me this is less useful b/c I co-vid with a PC vidder sometimes, and her editor (Premiere) can't read the Apple Pro Res codecs (it loves the h.264s tho).

I think the settings on both are self-explanatory, but if you have any questions lmk! It's not so scary in the world of .mov clips, I promise. I used to use .dv all the time (they looked best with FCP 5) but I found that .mov with the right compressor looked WAY better after FCP7. I've never used FCPX so dunno what looks nicest, but you could play around.

The nice thing is that the Quicktime export screen will auto-detect and auto-preserve your aspect ratio, so you'll pretty much never export a squished picture again. This is especially nice given that (for example) Captain America and The Avengers are in two different aspect ratios (grrrr).

Good luck!

[tassosss]

Thank you for this! The scariest thing about learning to vid is all the available options.

I'm still experimenting but this helps relieve lots of anxiety :)