Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files at DVinfo.net

Jim Snow · February 22nd, 2011, 05:03 PM

When converting HD to SD files using HDLink, the aspect ratio is incorrect when the converted files are loaded into Vegas. I change the property on each file in 'Project Media' to the correct 1.221 aspect ratio. This gets a bit tedious when there are a large number clips. Is there a quicker and easier way to deal with this?

Jeff Harper · February 23rd, 2011, 12:14 PM

Jim as you know, I too am interested in this issue. With zillions of clips shot on a busy shoot, changing properties on them individually is, as you say, tedious at best.

Jim Snow · February 23rd, 2011, 12:36 PM

As I understand it, the aspect ratio isn't definable in these SD Cineform files so the editor assumes square pixels. I hope there is a way to somehow handle this issues in batches. It's one thing to change the file properties on a few files but a wedding shoot with several hundred clips is another thing entirely. There must be a way to handle this. This is a pretty standard production problem, not some theoretical quirk.

David Newman · February 23rd, 2011, 12:46 PM

Sounds like a question for Sony, as this is a simple operation in Premeire -- one step to batch all you clips.

Jim Snow · February 23rd, 2011, 12:53 PM

Jeff, it looks like Edward Troxel has the solution with his Excalibur product. That alone is enough of a reason to buy it. Edward is one of the most active and helpful members of DVInfo's forum.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/what-hap...ml#post1621279

Jim Snow · February 23rd, 2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

Sounds like a question for Sony, as this is a simple operation in Premeire -- one step to batch all you clips.

Thanks David but I get the feeling that Sony is up to their earlobes working on bug fixes in 10.0c. I wish they would adopt some of Adobe's support practices. They seem much more out of touch with their markets and customers than Adobe.

Jeff Harper · February 24th, 2011, 09:28 AM

Jim, the following is from Edward Troxel:

"Right-click the event and choose properties. Now change it to 1.2121, then to the right of the "stream" line there's a little "save" icon. Click on that icon.

Now add some more clips to the timeline. They should hopefully now automatically be set to that new value preventing you from needing to use a script in the future. Naturally it won't work for clips already on the timeline so the script was necessary this time anyway."

Works like a charm.

February 22nd, 2011, 05:03 PM	#1
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files When converting HD to SD files using HDLink, the aspect ratio is incorrect when the converted files are loaded into Vegas. I change the property on each file in 'Project Media' to the correct 1.221 aspect ratio. This gets a bit tedious when there are a large number clips. Is there a quicker and easier way to deal with this?

February 23rd, 2011, 12:14 PM	#2
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files Jim as you know, I too am interested in this issue. With zillions of clips shot on a busy shoot, changing properties on them individually is, as you say, tedious at best. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

February 23rd, 2011, 12:36 PM	#3
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	Re: Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files As I understand it, the aspect ratio isn't definable in these SD Cineform files so the editor assumes square pixels. I hope there is a way to somehow handle this issues in batches. It's one thing to change the file properties on a few files but a wedding shoot with several hundred clips is another thing entirely. There must be a way to handle this. This is a pretty standard production problem, not some theoretical quirk.

February 23rd, 2011, 12:46 PM	#4
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Re: Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files Sounds like a question for Sony, as this is a simple operation in Premeire -- one step to batch all you clips. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

February 23rd, 2011, 12:53 PM	#5
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	Re: Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files Jeff, it looks like Edward Troxel has the solution with his Excalibur product. That alone is enough of a reason to buy it. Edward is one of the most active and helpful members of DVInfo's forum. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/what-hap...ml#post1621279

February 24th, 2011, 09:28 AM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Aspect ratio problem with Cineform SD files Jim, the following is from Edward Troxel: "Right-click the event and choose properties. Now change it to 1.2121, then to the right of the "stream" line there's a little "save" icon. Click on that icon. Now add some more clips to the timeline. They should hopefully now automatically be set to that new value preventing you from needing to use a script in the future. Naturally it won't work for clips already on the timeline so the script was necessary this time anyway." Works like a charm. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."