Just went to X2 now it changes everything to 16:9

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:02 am

I have been poking around in the x2 version I just got. Today I took a small two minute vid and tweaked the colors with the color filter. Then I clicked on share and same as project settings and it renders the video. Problem is it makes it so that it is 740 480 but 16:9. It looks all squished. I have looked around for some sort of setting but can not find anything. What this means is if I place a video that is 740 480 4:3 in the time line and play with it then when it renders it, it makes it the same except 16:9. Why is this happening? It has done it every time.

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:22 am

Some ways to fix this...

After making sure your footage is indeed 4:3 (do this by right clicking on a video file whilst in the timeline)

to fix:

In the initial splash screen if you look down the bottom you can see a check box that toggles between 16:9 to 4:3

Alternatively...in File/Preferences/Project properties you can select aspect ratio there

The easiest I find is to check the box "change project properties to first clip" (or words to that effect). This way...the project properties will automatically change to the project properties to the first clip dropped into the timeline

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:20 am

Ok, I found the box on the splash screen. It was not checked for 16:9 so I checked it and tried it. It converted it to 16:9 So I unchecked it and it converted it to 16:9. Here is what I have, is this a bug or what. If I have a vid in the library and check its properties and they are 4:3. I put it in to the time line and the screen comes up to change project properties I click yes. I make any kind of change to the vid and then click share video. I click same as project settings. A box opens as to where to save and I see in the bottom of the box the project properties are 4:3. I click save and it saves it. It is squished down and now the properties are 16:9. So it seems that now matter what I have checked it is always going to convert it to 16:9. Doug

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:44 am

Something is definately strange.

The video you are playing around with...

can you place the original file in the timeline nd copy down the properties when you right click....

Then do the same for the new video file you created...they should match.

But it would be clearer if we can compare the files.

I cam assure you that VS X2 works perfectly on my PC and I have never heard of this sort of problem before.

Hopefully we can sort your issue out

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:45 pm

Hi Doug
Can you clarify the frame size of the video you are using.
You indicate 740 x 480
Is this correct or just a typo????????????
If it is 740 then your video is non-standard.
VS cannot set the project properties to this size.
You should be using 720 x 480

Doug
After inserting the video to the timeline you are prompted to change the project properties.
Select ¡¥details¡¦
Use your mouse to highlight the right panel (video properties) copy and paste to the forum.
OK
When you insert the wrong aspect video into the timeline (4:3 into a 16:9) the actual video should display ok, may be smaller but in proportion. If it is squashed then there is a problem in identifying the actual aspect.
This can occur during capture if say a 16:9 is captured as 4:3 or visa versa.
The resultant video will show as 4:3 although the footage was recorded as 16:9
Very confusing.
If this is the case you may be able to change the aspect by un-checking ¡¥perform non-square pixel rendering¡¦ from the project properties. Setting the project to use square pixels.

So where did you get the video from? Downloaded or captured?

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:11 am

Sorry for the late post but was gone all day.
Here are the video properties of the video that I have been playing with. This is video that is shot by an old analog camera and captured using go cap and plextor box. This is the only type of video I have been using for the last two years. MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Here are the video properties of the same file above after I have made a color correction and it rerenders it to a new file.
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 3000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

It appears to do this every time.

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:36 am

I tried to be a bit more helpful and this time I took the video file and put it into the time line in VS 10 and took a copy of the video properties as it went into the time line and then the video properties when I go to share and save and then the output video properties as I try to put it into a new project time line. Then I took the same file and opened it in X2 and did the same thing: put it into a new project time line and the box comes up and I click details and there are the video details. Then I make a small change and click share and same as project settings and then the little info box in the lower bottom left show what you are saving it as properties and then the output file which is now 16:9 and looks squished in the play window.

original file from capture

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

from save box lower left
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz,

from new file vs 10 rendered
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

original file from capture before putting in time line x2
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

from save box lower left bottom
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

from finished file
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:46 pm

It seem the problem is occuring during the "share" stage:

We'll need to go through the steps:

After you have finished editing, you Click "Share"...then Create video file...then Same as Project Properties....

we need to double check that the project properties do actually match the video properties...it should, in your instance, but double check.

If not... make adjustments after clicking on the Options check box

When creating a video file from the "same as Project settings" the only way to change any of these settings manually is from File/Preferences/Project properties...dialogue box.

Also, in Share/Create Video File....click the Options Button and turn on or off the Perform Non-Square pixel rendering.... do a test with it on and another test with it off.

As a side note...I've just noticed that I don't get a splash box when I insert the first clip in a New project anymore....

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:29 pm

I know that my clips and project properties are always 4:3. When I go to Share>Create Video File I always use the Custom template and, invariably, when I click on the Options button it always says 16:9. This never happened in previous versions, only X2.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:48 pm

Hi Doug

So what you are saying is that you run the process through VS 10 without problems.
But when doing the identical thing in X2 you end up with 16:9.
Is that correct?

Try using ¡¥Same as first clip¡¦ rather than ¡¥Same as project settings¡¦ to render the project.

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:51 am

I did some more tests tonight and this is what I have found out:

Non square pixel on or off makes no difference.

Yes I can take the same clip and do the same things with it in vs 10 and it works fine. Makes a 4:3 video file.

Two interesting things;
If I put my test clip in time line and go share and select same as first clip rather then same as project properties, what happens is it makes a 16:9 file even though the first clip is 4:3, but the 16:9 is different than the other 16:9's that I have gotten. By different I mean the other ones have a black boarder on the top and bottom and the picture stretches from one side of the view window to the other. This makes it look squished and no one would use it. When it makes it with same as first clip, it doesn't really look squished and there is a black boarder all around the picture. Top bottom and sides. Sort of like it is really 16:9 but shrunk down to display in the video space window.
The next interesting thing, is if I put test clip in time line and go share and select custom and poke around in custom but change nothing, as it does say 4:3 in that drop down box, then it actually does what I want and makes a file that is correct, 4:3. I have tried this twice and the first time made no adjustments to the file and the second I changed the white balance. Both times it made a 4:3 file. So, as a work around to what ever is wrong, this works. I just have to remember to go through the custom selection process each time.
I don't have, as yet, a 16:9 camera so I don't know what the 16:9 would look like on the X2 program but I assume it would look like the results I get with share same as first clip. If you can convert a 4:3 to a 16:9 in the first place.
So as for now at least it looks like I can use the x2 program to work with my files and by just going through the motions of selecting custom and changing nothing, if I don't want to, and it makes the correct file. Using same as project settings makes a squished 16:9, and using same as first clip makes a better looking 16:9, even though in both cases the project is 4:3 and the project properties are 4:3 and I save it as 4:3.

I sure appreciate everyone's help and we will have to see if more people have this or it is particular to my computer, files, or software installation.
Doug

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:31 pm

Hi Doug
You said
¡§I don't have, as yet, a 16:9 camera so I don't know what the 16:9 would look like on the X2 program¡¨
Have a look at this guide to 16:9, it was updated for VS10 but should still be relevant for X2.

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

When you view a true/proper 4:3 or 16:9 video using the wrong project aspect then the video frame may show as a smaller size BUT the video should be in proportion, not squashed or distorted.
I think you have a corrupt video file.
If the video shows as squashed then VS is reading the Aspect ratio flag incorrectly.
This can be simply a corrupt video file, Capture the file again.
You can fool the program by capturing 4:3 footage but selecting 16:9 as the capture aspect, or visa versa.
The resultant video will show as squashed.
Some 16:9 footage contain a black border top and bottom, they view as 16:9 but the video is actually 4:3.
Do this:-
Start a new project. Add your original video to the timeline.
Switch to project playback
Use Tools¡XSave current frame as Image.
This will save the actual video frame, it should not contain black borders.

Doug
Where did you get the original footage from?

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:30 am

Hi Trevor, You do have a good memory for things people post.

Okay, it has taken me a while to get back to this and as I said in the other post, I just gave up using X2 and went back to vs10. I was waiting to get a new camera to use x2. I will say I was lucky that I bought full version of x2 and not an upgrade.

Here is the low down. I know for absolute fact that I do not have any corrupted video files and the capture from the camera is fine. I am not making any mistakes my self. What happens is if I put a video clip into the time line in X2 and render it it will come out squished. I did find out what black lab said in the other post, that if when I go to render the clip I go to custom instead of clicking same as project, then it will render it correctly. If I don't it squishes it. This is apparently the same as black lab has found out. Here are two screen captures of the same clip brought over from VS 10. I put the clip in the time line and one I just clicked same as project and the other I went into the custom. Now I changed absolutely nothing in custom and the 4:3 box was all ready at 4:3. Then I just close out by clicking okay. You can see the result same as project is squished and the other is fine. They are four three clips made by a four three camera and processed with out any trouble in vs10. When they are inserted in the time line of x2 the box says change project setting and I click yes.

http://www.unique3phase.com/fromulead10.jpg

http://www.unique3phase.com/corelx2sameasproj.jpg

The biggest problem that I can remember with this method is this. With a 3 minute clip it is no big deal. Just do it over again and you could be good. From what I remember it is the 2hour clips that kill you because if it takes 2 to 4 hours of computer time to render then you are pretty discouraged to find it squished. I remember that I ended up with no guarantee that going through custom would fix the problem. That is why I went back to vs 10 to do all my stuff as it was all 4:3. I don't know what the problem is, surprise it has not been more frequently reported. doug

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:05 am

if when I go to render the clip I go to custom instead of clicking same as project, then it will render it correctly. If I don't it squishes it. This is apparently the same as black lab has found out.

I always use the Custom option and therefore have always changed it to 4:3 first, so I've never rendered it to 16:9.

From what I remember it is the 2hour clips that kill you because if it takes 2 to 4 hours of computer time to render then you are pretty discouraged to find it squished. I remember that I ended up with no guarantee that going through custom would fix the problem.

For me, changing it to 4:3 has always produced a 4:3 file.

Doug2006 · Post by **Doug2006** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:56 pm

I will have to do some more checking. But the difference seems to be that you say when you go through the custom option the box is saying 16:9 and you change it to 4:3 and then it works. For the examples I gave above and also as I remember it from before, when I click on custom it takes me to that same screen but mine says 4:3 which is what it should say. I then did not change a thing accepted what was there and then when it rendered it, it rendered in 4:3. When I don't go through custom it renders it in 16:9. The point being is this if every time I went to custom it showed 16:9 then I would feel like there was a slight bug causing it to read the file as 16:9, but when I go there and it all ready says 4:3, then a person wonders what is going on? I don't change a thing but something happens because if I don't open that box it is guaranteed to make it 16:9.

I would have to fool with this some more my memory from before is going through custom for me is not a guarantee that it will not produce the 16:9 format. I have both programs and am not too concerned about it now. Doug