Convert 16:9 Anamorphic to 4:3 Letterbox for YouTube

[BristolBigAl]

Thanks in advance for any help with this. I am using VideoStudio 9.0.

I have some video clips that I would like to upload to YouTube. They have been shot in anamorphic 16:9 and I need to convert them to 4:3 letterbox. YouTube recommends uploading videos with the following specs:

MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format
320x240 resolution
MP3 audio
30 frames per second

I've downloaded and installed the xvid codec. The project properties are set up to match the YouTube requirements above. However, when I drop the 16:9 clips into the timeline, they get stretched vertically to fit the 4:3 preview frame. Is there any way I can keep the aspect ratio of the clips intact and render them with black bars top and bottom?

[Ron P.]

You might be interested in this article:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/video-format.htm

[BristolBigAl]

You might be interested in this article:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/video-format.htm

Thanks for that, but it doesn't really help me with the specific problem I'm having with Videostudio 9.0. Even if what I'm trying to do can't be achieved in Videostudio 9.0, I'd like someone to tell me as much so I can find another way of doing it.

[Ron P.]

Member Trevor Andrew has an article explaining this. Since VS10 was released he has redone it using VS10, but it is the same with VS9.

http://uk.geocities.com/trevor.andrew@b ... 9/16_9.htm

Basically you need to make sure you have Keep Aspect Ratio checked, and Fit to Screen.

[BristolBigAl]

Member Trevor Andrew has an article explaining this. Since VS10 was released he has redone it using VS10, but it is the same with VS9.

http://uk.geocities.com/trevor.andrew@b ... 9/16_9.htm

Basically you need to make sure you have Keep Aspect Ratio checked, and Fit to Screen.

Thanks.

This procedure looks to be doing the opposite of what I am doing. It describes how to fit a 4:3 clip into a 16:9 frame whereas I'm trying to fit a 16:9 clip into a 4:3 frame. I've followed it anyway, making the appropriate adjustments for the aspect ratios I'm using.

There is a problem. When I move the clip to the overlay track, it appears in the middle of the preview frame (not filling the frame) and it stretched to a 4:3 ratio. I right-click on it and make it fill the frame, which it does but it is still stretched vertically. If I right-click and select 'Keep Aspect Ratio', nothing changes. The clip still fills the preview frame and is stretched vertically.

The only thing I can think of to explain this is that although the avi clip must carry some kind of 16:9 'flag', the clip size is still 720x576 (PAL), 4:3 ratio. Is this right?

[NoM.O]

I have no experience with anamorphic video, but if I were having this much trouble, I would consider rendering a standard 16:9 video first. A standard 16:9 video placed into a 4:3 project should behave the way you want.

peace.

[Queeg]

You can always crop the video, setting the width to around 85%. Then use the fit to screen option, this cuts off a little from the sides and allows it to be displayed correctly in the 4:3 resolution.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi BristolBigAl

Start a new project
Place the Avi in the main top video track, the project settings should change to match the video files properties.
Your video should be in proportion and not stretched.

If Stretched try File-Project Properties-Ulead Tab-uncheck Perform non-square pixel rendering.

Now

File Project Properties-Edit-Avi tab change the Compressor to Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec. ( there are two options V1 and V2 I am unsure of the difference)

General Tab Change the Frame Size to 320 x 240.

Render using same as project settings (Share Create video file)

I do not use this option and cannot comment on quality.

Hope this helps

Trevor