Problem, shots seem out of proportion


Im filming in High Def, 1080i, 16:9 perspective.

I run the MXF files through the DVCPRO HD Converter program so its useable as AVI in premiere


I create a STANDARD NTSC project, so non-high def, non wide screen.

I import the wide screen high def video.

The video is still in 16:9 format in appearance, and it goes outside the frame on the sides. I move the video so the desired portion is on screen, and assume it will be fine. However, it comes out looking slightly out of proportion.


Any ideas as to what I did wrong?

Sounds like possibly a pixel aspect ratio issue. Note that NTSC DV is 0.9 (non-square pixels). I'm not sure about your source footage or what the output from the conversion is, but it's worth checking.

Yeah, I'm not too sure what the issue is, but I was also going to suggest looking at the pixel aspect ratio. If you have a program like After Effects, you could always composite your footage there first, and then import it into your Premiere project in the format you need. A quick, dirty fix, would be just to drag the handles of the clip in the Program Sequence window in Premiere until the footage looks normal. Not an ideal solution by any stretch of the imagination, I know.

Im just getting started with everything, so im pretty clueless about a lot...

High Def, 1080i 16:9 Video has a pixel aspect ratio of 1.333

Where as NTSC Standard has a pixel aspect ratio of .9

Is there any way to convert pixel aspect ratio without horribly skewing the video?

Do you have After Effects?

Yes, but im not particularly good at it.

In Premiere, if you right-click the footage clip in the bin, you can choose to interpret it with an arbitrary pixel aspect ratio.

okay, its working, at least alot better than it was..

Thanks for your help and patience.

-Steve

You may not be interested in this solution but....
Why not capture/edit in HD then export to your desired format?
I use the Aspect HD and PPro2 on a 4 year old P4 system, works fine.
Jon

Thanks Jon,

Im gonna have to experiment quite a bit before its perfect, but another thing to try, even if it doesn't help me immediately, may be just what I need down the road.