Widescreen output

[simonheffer]

Hi,
I'm using PRE 10 on Windows 7 64bit to post-process some movie clips from an animation program, Muvizu.
The clips are AVI, 1280x720. The project settings are also 1280x720 and the output settings for Share are 1280x720.
The preview window looks fine but the rendered video is wrong: it has a squashed square of video surrounded by black panels.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Simon

[Bob]

To sort this out, we need more information.

First, the video. You said the file format is avi and the frame pixel dimensions are 1280x720. But, what codec did you use and what is the pixel aspect ratio? You can get this information using GSpot (http://www.headbands.com/gspot/) if you don't know.

Next, we need to know what you selected for the project preset when you created the project. And, we need to know exactly what you selected when you exported the movie using Share. Did you use interpret footage or do anything that would affect the scale of a clip? Again, simply listing the frame dimensions is not sufficient.

Thanks!

[simonheffer]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the quick reply. I figured you'd need more info but didn't know which bits were relevant. I'll have to get back to you on some of this when I I'm at home again. I think the CODEC was in Intel IYUV. As far as I recall for the Share I chose the Microfosft AVI setting and hit advanced to change the frame settings. Is there an easy way to dump this info from PRE?
Anyway I'll get the rest for you after work.
Ta,
Simon

[simonheffer]

Hi again,
Yes ,the codec is confirmed by GSpot. Pixel aspect ratio is 1.0.

Share has 1280x720 @ 29.97 fps. Aspect D1/DV PAL Widescreen 16:9 (1.4587).

Project settings :
AVCHD 720p square pixel
Frame size 1280 x 720
Pixel Aspect ratio: Square
No Fields
25fps timecode
title safe area 20% x 20%
Action safe area 10% x10%
Video render previews I-frame only MPEG.

I've been nowhere near Interpret Footage as far as I know.
Let me know if there's anything else I can tell you.

Thanks,
Simon

[Bob]

What are you trying to do with the footage after you export through Share? Are you trying to match some specific target format? You are going from 24fps source to 25fps (PAL standard) project to 29.97fps (NTSC standard). At the very least, that's going to introduce some judder. And then, you have a PAL DV Widescreen aspect ratio, but your video isn't DV. That alone can cause your video to be squished. Try changing it back to square 1:1 like your source and project. Let me know what happens.

[simonheffer]

Aha, those square pixels seemed to do the trick! Many thanks.

After Share, it was just upload to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAMxhRTBzKE
Hope you like it.