Working with Anamorphic 16:9 adapter at DVinfo.net

Bob Thieda · October 13th, 2007, 06:55 AM

I "think" I'm doing this correctly, but want to check with the experts...

I've a big project shot with a GL2 using a Century Anamorphic Widescreen adapter, which Vegas captures as 4:3.
I've been leaving my project settings as 4:3, (0.9091 pixel), and doing all my editing, levels, etc., as a 4:3 project.
Then, I render it out as DV Widescreen, (1.2121 pixel).
I also check the "Stretch video to fill output frame size, (do not letterbox)" option when redering.

This seems to be the only way to get a widescreen DVD that plays correctly on both wide and standard tvs....

Is this correct? Is there an easier way?
I originally tried to find a way to make all the clips 16:9 at the start of the project and couldn't. Did I miss something?

Thanks,
Bob T.

Theodore McNeil · October 13th, 2007, 06:00 PM

The first rule is: if it ain't broke don't fix it.

However, if you want more control over what your final output use the Pan/Crop window. Start with just one clip. Turn off the "Maintain Aspect Ration" option and adjust until it looks right. Then copy and paste attributes to the rest of your anamorphic clips.

Another (and I think better) way is to do your edit first, then nest the veg file on a new timeline, open the pan/crop on the veg clip and do the above. The advantage of this way is that you can do it to all your clips at once.

If you do it the nested way, make sure you put all your titles on the second timeline or you'll end up with the stretched titles.

Hope this helps.

Gian Pablo Villamil · October 14th, 2007, 03:22 AM

I am also using a Century Optics anamorphic adapter. Here is best way to use that I have found:

1) Set up a 16:9 project
2) Capture your footage (it will be read as 4:3)
3) Add your media to timeline (or select in the media pool)
4) Right-click the media to get the *media* properties dialog (not the project)
5) Manually enter aspect ratio (I think about 1.21 will convert 4:3 anamorphic footage to 16:9, there is a menu item for it)
6) Edit/render etc to 16:9 as usual.

This way your preview is shown correctly, you can add media with other aspect ratios, etc.

I have also used a the Century optics adapter on a 16:9 HD camera, it stretches 16:9 to 1:2.35, I defined a custom aspect ratio in Vegas for this.

Sample output from that is here: http://www.villamil.org/vj/anamorphic/anamorphic-v2.mov

Peter Jefferson · October 14th, 2007, 04:33 AM

What Gian Pablo Villamil said is the correct method, however there is an easier method.

Import your footage into a 16:9 project. There is a script (change aspect) which affects all media within the media pool. Edit as per normal

There is no need to pan and crop anything, there is also no need to change anything manually.
Worst case scenario if your script doesn't work, is to right click on the clips properties, and select media, where you'll find a drop down list of selectable aspect ratios... just pick 16:9 and you'll be right.

Bob Thieda · October 14th, 2007, 06:37 AM

Thanks for the replies...

Gian.....I've done it the way you suggest, but when faced with more than a few clips, it not only takes a while, but it's easy to miss one.

The current project I'm working on has a couple of hundred clips....
Do you, or anyone else, know of a way to change the media properties in batch mode?

Bob T.

Bob Thieda · October 15th, 2007, 03:40 PM

Gian....Ed Troxel just put up a script for me at his site that will change the Pixel Aspect Ratio of all selected clips at once.
Worked great. Only thing I changed in the script was the aspect ratio...changed it from 1.21 to 1.2121 just so it jived with Vegas.

Its near the end of this thread:
Media change script thread

That's going to make my life easier...

Bob T.

October 13th, 2007, 06:55 AM	#1
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	Working with Anamorphic 16:9 adapter I "think" I'm doing this correctly, but want to check with the experts... I've a big project shot with a GL2 using a Century Anamorphic Widescreen adapter, which Vegas captures as 4:3. I've been leaving my project settings as 4:3, (0.9091 pixel), and doing all my editing, levels, etc., as a 4:3 project. Then, I render it out as DV Widescreen, (1.2121 pixel). I also check the "Stretch video to fill output frame size, (do not letterbox)" option when redering. This seems to be the only way to get a widescreen DVD that plays correctly on both wide and standard tvs.... Is this correct? Is there an easier way? I originally tried to find a way to make all the clips 16:9 at the start of the project and couldn't. Did I miss something? Thanks, Bob T. __________________ Bob T.

October 13th, 2007, 06:00 PM	#2
Theodore McNeil Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Centreville, Maryland Posts: 258	The first rule is: if it ain't broke don't fix it. However, if you want more control over what your final output use the Pan/Crop window. Start with just one clip. Turn off the "Maintain Aspect Ration" option and adjust until it looks right. Then copy and paste attributes to the rest of your anamorphic clips. Another (and I think better) way is to do your edit first, then nest the veg file on a new timeline, open the pan/crop on the veg clip and do the above. The advantage of this way is that you can do it to all your clips at once. If you do it the nested way, make sure you put all your titles on the second timeline or you'll end up with the stretched titles. Hope this helps. __________________ http://twitter.com/tedmcneil

October 14th, 2007, 06:37 AM	#5
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	Thanks for the replies... Gian.....I've done it the way you suggest, but when faced with more than a few clips, it not only takes a while, but it's easy to miss one. The current project I'm working on has a couple of hundred clips.... Do you, or anyone else, know of a way to change the media properties in batch mode? Bob T. __________________ Bob T.

October 15th, 2007, 03:40 PM	#6
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	Gian....Ed Troxel just put up a script for me at his site that will change the Pixel Aspect Ratio of all selected clips at once. Worked great. Only thing I changed in the script was the aspect ratio...changed it from 1.21 to 1.2121 just so it jived with Vegas. Its near the end of this thread: Media change script thread That's going to make my life easier... Bob T. __________________ Bob T.

October 14th, 2007, 03:22 AM	#3
Gian Pablo Villamil Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 138	I am also using a Century Optics anamorphic adapter. Here is best way to use that I have found: 1) Set up a 16:9 project 2) Capture your footage (it will be read as 4:3) 3) Add your media to timeline (or select in the media pool) 4) Right-click the media to get the media properties dialog (not the project) 5) Manually enter aspect ratio (I think about 1.21 will convert 4:3 anamorphic footage to 16:9, there is a menu item for it) 6) Edit/render etc to 16:9 as usual. This way your preview is shown correctly, you can add media with other aspect ratios, etc. I have also used a the Century optics adapter on a 16:9 HD camera, it stretches 16:9 to 1:2.35, I defined a custom aspect ratio in Vegas for this. Sample output from that is here: http://www.villamil.org/vj/anamorphic/anamorphic-v2.mov

October 14th, 2007, 04:33 AM	#4
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	What Gian Pablo Villamil said is the correct method, however there is an easier method. Import your footage into a 16:9 project. There is a script (change aspect) which affects all media within the media pool. Edit as per normal There is no need to pan and crop anything, there is also no need to change anything manually. Worst case scenario if your script doesn't work, is to right click on the clips properties, and select media, where you'll find a drop down list of selectable aspect ratios... just pick 16:9 and you'll be right.