Correct format for a 4:3 video for Vimeo

[andyfranks]

Hi,

I have footage in the following format which I'd like to upload to Vimeo (it was shot on a basic home camcorder some years ago). What would be the suggestion for the best format? I have VideoStudio Pro X5 trial version.
PAL (25 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3, 25 fps
Lower Field First
Matrox DV/DVCAM -- type 2
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

The Share - Upload to Web - Vimeo MPEG-4 4:3 option gives you:
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 640 x 480, 25 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Baseline Profile Video: 2500 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

Is this OK? Vimeo said they pillarbox all SD videos (ie. smaller than 1280x720) in order to fit them into their standard player so should I do the Vimeo HD 16:9 option for instance? It gives you:
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

I'm learning about editing etc, so any suggestions welcome.

Many thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

Your video file looks like a Mini DV camcorder type, not sure about the Matrox DV/CAM.
Is that what you get if you right click the file in the timeline and select properties.

Frame Sizes
Pal 720 x 576 is known as anamorphic, its size is stretched to fit a 4:3 frame, using a calculator you will se that 720 x 576 is not 4:3. Don’t worry about that to much its near. The stretching is called Non Square Pixel Rendering, I suppose the pixels are rectangular.

Pal 720 x 576 can also be 16 : 9 widescreen, again the pixels being stretched to fit the frame.

HD video tend to use a 16:9 ratio, 1280 x 720 and 1920 x 1080 both use 16:9 ratio. The pixels are square.
That’s the simple explanation from the folk up north.

Widescreen is the standard for both YouTube and Vimeo, so if you upload a 4:3 they will add a black border left and right to create the 16:9 shape.
If you render to 16:9, video studio will add the borders.
Viewing each of these on Vimeo will look identical.

You can use Video Studio to convert the 4:3 to 16:9 this involves stretching the frame to 16:9 and keeping it in proportion, otherwise folk will put on a pound or two.
You will lose some details top and bottom, the resulting video will fill the widescreen frame.

View my guide -- widescreen 16:9
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/16_9/16_9.htm
Written using VS 10 but still relevant for later versions.

Clear as mud

[andyfranks]

Hi thanks for this, it really helps. So sometimes the black bars are part of the frame and sometimes just the black background of the preiew screen. I see!

Yes, those are what it says in Properties, it was a mini DV camcorder.

Can you use the info in the tutorial to change individual clips in a project? On the project I’m doing now, there are two clips in the main video track (and indeed that's whole the project) – one 16:9 and one the 4:3 one I mentioned. Let’s say I want to convert the 4:3 one to 16:9 because I don’t want to have black bars either side when you get to that bit of the film – how do I do that? Do I just have both clips in the main video track and select the 4:3 one then do the tutorial? I have set the Project Properties to 16:9.

Looking at the tutorial - I can’t see an Attributes tab?

Thanks, Andy F

[andyfranks]

Sorry everybody - Attributes tab is there in front of your face. All done for now! Thank you.

[lata]

Hi Andy

All video clips are in the top track
Double Click the 4:3 clip to select it and open the “Options Panel.
Below the library--You will see two tabs, Video and Attributes
From the Attributes tab select Distort
The preview screen shows the clip selected with yellow “trim handles” (same look when placing the clip in the overlay track)
Right click the preview screen and select “fit to screen”
Right click again and Keep Aspect ratio
You will lose some detail top and bottom
You may wish to move the frame down a little, use the keyboard arrow keys

The 4:3 should be displaying as 16:9

If you have another 4:3 video clip
Right click the clip in the timeline and select Copy Attributes.
Right click the other 4:3 and Paste Attributes, that clip will now display as the first 16:9.

[andyfranks]

Yes got it thank you - brilliant.

[lata]

Hi Andy

One more issue you should be aware of, Interlacing

DV-Avi from your camera uses Lowe Field first.

All default templates provided by Video Studio now uses Upper Field, I think to be in line with HD video.

When to get to the point of rendering the project you should use Make Movie Templates Manager to create a template using Lower Field
If you use Share Create Video File - DVD it will use Upper Field.

Changing the field order may/will result in jagged edges within the video.

[andyfranks]

Thanks. The template I have used says 'Frame based'. Would this be OK for DV-AVI conversion to MPEG-4 or should I specifically select Lower Field First?

[lata]

Hi

Frame Based should be fine, I was assuming you were creating a dvd, using the standard templates