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.