Attribute issues

[fred456885]

I have an old digital video camera that shoots 4:3 aspect ratio. My issue is that in the middle of my video the aspect ratio has changed across a cut, The lead in shot is 720X480 and the next shot is 712X480. My project setting is 712X480, although I normally use 720X480. I think the discrepancy came about because I had a difficult time importing my entire video into Corel, and had to patch the project together by loading it in in sections. The issue with my aspect ratio didn't become apparent until I had rendered the project, and now I have some shots that are different sizes. Is there a way to highlight the entire project and make the settings consistent?

[lata]

Hmmm

Strange sizes?

First save your project to create a copy, if things get worse you can always go back.

I would set the project properties to standard 720 x 480
Then select the 712 clip, double click the clip to open the options panel, choose Attributes tab
Tick Distort
Now right click the preview screen for Fit to Screen.
That should resize from 712 to 720.

You would have to do that for each clip, if there are a lot then try using Copy and Paste Attributes
Set the first clip using the distort, Copy Attributes, select all clips and Paste Attributes
Take care if you are using images as they will be resized?

[fred456885]

Thanks, Trevor. The aspect ratio changes when I freeze frame as well. Is that because the freeze frame uses the original aspect ratio rather than the resized one?

[lata]

Freeze Frame will use the project properties frame size

having set project properties to 720 you may have to redo Freeze Frame, although you can take a Snapshot, then replace the image.
Make sure you are in project mode when taking the snapshot

[fred456885]

Thanks, Trevor!

[Ken Berry]

What puzzles me, though, is where the 712 x 480 frame sized video came from, and why you have set it in the Project Properties. It is not a normal video frame size. The 720 x 480 size you normally use is the correct size for NTSC video (with 320 x 240 and 640 x 480 being standard sizes below that...)

In other words, I would be resetting the Project Properties, and enlarging slightly every 712 x 480 clip the way Trevor has outlined before rendering the project.

[fred456885]

Not sure where the 712 frame size came from as well. My project is set at 720X480, and I always import that frame size. But as I explained to Trevor, I had a heck of time getting the video to import into Corel, and finally had to do it in sections. The video started as a home movie shot on Super 8. Years ago I transferred it to VHS, then later transferred it to DVD via a digital recorder that had VHS to DVD. When I started using Corel to edit the movie, I ran into problems. A tech guy at Corel told me these recorders add a "control track" that makes the recordings problematic for Corel and advised I use Freemake Video Converter to convert the DVD to an AVI file before importing it into Corel. This proved problematic as well. Interestingly enough, my last movie I was able to import directly into Corel without converting it to AVI. So, to make a LONG story short, I would guess my odd frame size (712) came from the conversion done by Freemake. I must not have monitored my frame size carefully, although I have no idea why it would default to that frame size. And because the visual quality isn't great, I use "sharpen" under efx. That helps a little, and I export it to my computer as an mp4, then save a DVD version. This is taking a LOT of work, but I'm trying to archive my home movies of my son growing up, hoping he might want to watch them some day.

[lata]

Hi Fred

Thanks for the info regarding Freemake, I guess that makes sense, maybe a typo when you set the convert settings, easy to get 720 to 712. It does sound as though Freemake has not done you any favours?

Just one more question, where are the videos that you are trying to archive.
The last conversion appears to be to DVD (then later transferred it to DVD via a digital recorder)

So if your files are DVD then they are Mpeg2, it is pointless converting those to Mpeg4 to further “save a DVD version”
Are your files on a DVD Disc?

Any additional conversion will impact on quality, just rendering one step to many?

DVD is Mpeg2 so keep the same format, and that’s Mpeg2

[fred456885]

After I finish editing the video in Corel, I'm "sharing" two versions: a DVD for easy watching, and an mp4 on my computer for archiving (in case some new technology comes along in the future). Am I wasting my time saving an mp4? It's just that the DVD has such poor visual quality, and the mp4 looks better to my eye. Is there a better "container" to transfer my videos into? MP4 uses H264 encoding, and I assume that's the best currently available?

[lata]

Hi

I assumed you were going to Mpeg4 then converting back to DVD.

If you feel the quality is better as Mpeg4 to play on your pc then I would continue to do that.
We cannot see what you see and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Just check your original video for the interlacing type, Video Studios mpeg2 templates use Upper Field as default
It is highly probable that your originals are using Lower Field or Frame Based, changing that to Upper Field can impact on quality.

Rendering to Mpeg4 maybe Frame Based.
If there is a difference here it could explain the poorer Mpeg2 playback?

[fred456885]

I'll check, thanks, Trevor!