VS 9: Converting video from 4:3 to 16:9

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:35 pm

Author: TubaDad
This is for taking 4:3 video clips and creating 16:9 projects. You do lose the top and bottom of your video, but there is no other way to get it to fit side to side without making everything short and fat.

Organize your 4:3 clips, but do not add them to your timeline yet.

Set the project properties to 16:9.

Place your clip on the Overlay Track.

Right click on the clip thumbnail

and select Original Size? This will make your clip short and wide. If this is video of your wife, keeping it in this format could end in divorce.

Right click again and select Keep Aspect Ratio? This will put everyone back into normal proportions. It will also automatically clip the top and bottom of your video.

When shooting concerts, this is great for cutting out the dead space above and below the stage. You can click and drag the video up and down to clip what you want, but be careful here. If you are using several clips, you could make the transitions between clips look strange when the center of your video changes from clip to clip.

Go to Share and create your video clip as you would normally, using 16:9 as the aspect ratio. Now you have converted that 4:3 clip into 16:9.

Squirmy · Post by **Squirmy** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 1:12 pm

Hi,

Thanks for this tutorial. I have found it enlightening. However, I have the reverse problem, which I would like some advice to overcome. I have some video footage in 16:9 ration, and would like to convert it to 4:3. I am somewhat mystified as to how to go about this.

In addition, I have VideoStudio 7.0, and some of the facilities mentioned (Project Properties 16:9, Keep Aspect Ratio), do not appear to be available in VS 7.0. (Is this correct?)

Anyway, some advice would be welcome.
Many thanks for all the fine work which has gone into this website.

Cheers,
Honza.

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 5:38 pm

Honza,

You can do the same thing with 16:9 to 4:3, but you will be slightly zooming into the picture, as well as clipping off the right and left sides. I just tested it and the steps are roughly the same except you have to drag the corners to size the clip.

For VS7, which has been a while since I used it, you should be able to drag the corners of the clip to stretch it. As long as you only use the corners you should maintain the aspect ratio. If I remembe right VS7 and VS8 will let you drag past the screen size, VS9 likes to snap back to the edge of the visable screen, making it hard to drag the clip size to what you need.

Squirmy · Post by **Squirmy** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 12:37 pm

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your prompt response. (I hope you and your family are having an enjoyable Christmas - my lot certainly are!)

I must admit that I am having trouble with the following:
"For VS7, which has been a while since I used it, you should be able to drag the corners of the clip to stretch it. As long as you only use the corners you should maintain the aspect ratio."

When I wave the mouse over the clip, there appear to be no "handles" to grab and re-size. It seems that there is nothing in the software which allows you to re-size the clip in this way.

May be I am missing some step, or the version I have (VS 7.00.0000, Copyright 1992-2003) is something of a dinosaur and possibly does not have the facility.

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond and all the best.
Cheers,
Honza.

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 4:57 pm

Honza,

The jolly fat man treated my lot well also. As usual I won't see my children for a couple of days while they break in their new stuff. I have always wondered if Santa comes all dressed as we see him in the northern hemisphere when he gets to Australia. He would be sweating his jingle bells off with summer down there.

I think you may have found the limitation within VS7. Like I mentioned it has been a while since I used that version, and I did not try to do anything like this until VS8, so you may not be able to do this with that version. I just went back to look at my old projects.

Not being a saleman, but I do think the upgrade price is well worth the cost to get VS9.

Cheers.

Squirmy · Post by **Squirmy** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:45 pm

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for taking the time once again to respond, I really appreciate it.

Santa must get very hot and sweaty around here, at this time of year. It is 85-95F here in Canberra at this time. I'm glad my kids are past the age where they have to sit on his lap!

Thanks for the advice re VS7. I will be on the look out for an upgrade. With any luck I may find something in the post Christmas sales.

Cheers,
Honza.