aspect ratio question

[LeftWrite]

i've captured video into FCP 640x480 preset..... fine.

edit and export as .m2v (plus audio)..... fine.

create the DVD structure in DVD SP and burn it......fine.

but, when i play it in my RCA DVD player (connected to an RCA TV), the video and menus go off the screen. the image doesn't seem to be centered either. to me, it looks like it holds the upper left corner and goes from there.... i'm losing about a quarter of an inch on the bottom and right side (guesstimation when looking at the video on my Mac).

of course it plays fine on the computer...

could this be caused by square pixels??

has anyone else had this problem or know the fix??

[ZeroSix]

You need to leave a margin of about 2 inches on ALL sides. This is called a "tv safe" area.

All standard television sets will clip on some sides, some worse than others.

[tgpo]

640x480 isn't part of the DVD standard I don't believe. Basically you've burned a type of xDVD. I think you're gonna need to burn it at a resolution of 720x480.

[ZeroSix]

he said he capped at 640x480, which is fine. I assume that he used the Apple MPEG2 export, [as there is no other that can be used directly from FCP] which always sets the resolution to 720x480 for NTSC.

I know in iMovie it has the option to show you the "tv safe" area, but i cannot remember for Final Cut Pro.

[tgpo]

I know in iMovie it has the option to show you the "tv safe" area, but i cannot remember for Final Cut Pro.

There are. I'm at work now so I can't tell you exactly how to, but I do know that there are guides that show you that "safe" area.

[LeftWrite]

thanks for the speedy replies!!!!!

you are correct 06.

i heard of the "TV Safe" borders..... i looked in both the FCP Manual and and couldn't find anything about it.

so, the concept for the border is to have a frame for the capped video at 640x480 but the actual capture video will be say 600x420 (or whatever), so when i view it on my Mac, the video will have a black border around it.....??

i wonder why 720x480 is so "holy" if you have to have a TV Safe Border to correctly play the DVD on a TV......

again, thanks!!!!

[tgpo]

Under the view menu, click Title Safe.

[LeftWrite]

ahhhhh.... overscanning.... this site is soooooo helpful. thanks for all the info!!!!!!!!

after searching, here's what i found.... those PC guys are smart

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t164780.html