Final Cut - HD looks stretched

[cupaT]

I bought a new camera, EOS550D, and been filming video in 1920x1080. I imported to Final Cut. However when I export to QuickTime in 1920x1080 the video looks stretched? I tried using with aspect ratio (letterbox) and without and still doesn't work – it still looks stretched wide! any ideas?

[edDV]

Is the final cut project set to 1920x1080? Does the preview window show 16:9?

What do you mean "stretched"? Can you show a sample frame?

Give more details on your project and compressor settings.

[cupaT]

doh! you're right I didnt set FC to 1920x1080. Thanks so much for your help edDV

[cupaT]

oops! spoke too soon - it still doesn't look right. See attached image. The one at the top is in FCE, the one at the bottom is in quicktime.

[edDV]

Settings?

I can't replicate this here. My FCP box is being rebuilt.

It is a settings issue for project or Compressor. Or the source file is not flagged 16:9.

[cupaT]

The footage is capture in 1920x1080, and I'm trying to export in 1920x1080. Its weird, with the previous two cameras I had there were no problems like this.

[cupaT]

Ok, this is weird. I found that that I export in QT using 4:3 ratio it looks correct! How is this possible when the source video is 1920x1080?

[edDV]

Somewhere in the source properties, project or movie settings.

This thread should be moved to the Mac forum.

[cupaT]

Thnks for your help - would you think its the FC settings?

[edDV]

Without access to FCP

First FCP is very fussy about import formats. The source must be properly flagged as 16:9 preferably in the AVCHD or Quicktime h.264 format (latest version only). The project setting must be 16:9 1920x1080. Frame rate must be set to 24p progressive.

First clue is whether the preview pane shows what you want.

Then focus on encoder settings.

Four black borders normally result from 4:3 (assumed) video import to a 16:9 project. This results in pillarbox preview. If you haven't identified the source as 16:9, most edit software will assume 4:3.



Then encoding this to 16:9 causes the pillarbox to be letterboxed. Result is four black borders.

[johns0]

Thread moved to mac forum.

[cupaT]

worked out what I did....I didn't set the sequence settings to 1920x1080 before bringing in the video from my HDD!!! Thanks again for your help edDV!