Thread: Q for video savvy mags

I have a bunch of old avi files in a 320x240 frame size. I'd love to convert them to 720x576 frame to edit with final cut. Can I do this? How? I am a JONG when it comes to video editting

What version of Final Cut do you have?

What format are you input videos? AVI is just a container that holds video and audio data. Are they DIVX/XVID, MPEG1, etc.?

You should be able to import the videos directly into Final Cut, edit them, and output to 720x576. You should not need to convert the videos to 720x576 before editing.

Check out a program called 'super' It's free.

I had the same problem trying to edit some clips from a buddy's little phone cam. I use premiere but there's not a conversion yet that I haven't been able to do with super.

Don't know about mac compatibility.

they're going to look like crap no matter what you do-you have to blow the 320x240 up 200% to get to full screen

Alldown: I have final cut express HD, it doesn't seem to let me import properly as 320x240. The input and output are currently 720x576and as a result I get left with black borders around the footage, this is the main problem!

Kidwoo: I will check super. I am on a Mac, but I could take the files to a PC and convert, then bring them back.

1/2: I know they'll look like crap, but I'd still like to keep the footage just for my own watching, not looking for high def stuff, just posterity.

Thanks guys.

one way to do the resize on a mac is to use imovie, but you'll lose some quality (that will always happen when you increase the size). here are the steps:

create a new imovie project. use the DV size for the 4:3 aspect ratio, if you want something else you can try 720 or even 1080

drag and drop the movie into the project and wait for it to import

drag the clip onto the editing line

select File/Export and select Expert Settings, click Export

it will open a window asking you where to save the file. in the bottom of that window you have the options to choose encoder. select MPEG-4 and click options to the right. there select MP4 as the encoder and choose the SD option for the size. make sure you give it a lot of bits per pixel (8000 should guarantee you very little loss in reencoding).

save the clip.

i'm positive Final Cut can do the whole thing for you, which is a much better way than going through a third program. unfortunately i am not familiar with FC.

Thanks f2f, I'll give it a try. I have tried extensively with final cut and I still can't get it to resize, which is a bit retarded and a major gripe. Sometimes I want to throw in mpegs from other sources to a project and it just doesn't size up right. Will try the imovie route.

You were able to import you video into Final Cut so that is a good thing. The problem you described seems to be that you have black bars around the clips because you are putting a 320x240 video onto 720x576 canvas. This is relatively easy to fix. There should be a "motion" tab if you double click on your clip in the viewer box. I am not exactly sure how to get to the "motion tab" but it should be pretty easy.

Under the motion tab is a scale option. To completely fill the 720x576 from, you need to scale your source video 240 % (576/240 * 100%). However, doing this will result in your video being slightly croped. This is obviously not ideal because your already operating with limited resolution due to your source video.

I am assuming your are using 720x576 because you want to output to a PAL DVD. If you do not plan on doing this, then I would suggest a differenc canvas size.

One other option would be to find some software that will resize your video allowing a change of aspect ratio ( in your case 1.33 --> 1.25 ).

Originally Posted by alldownhill

You were able to import you video into Final Cut so that is a good thing. The problem you described seems to be that you have black bars around the clips because you are putting a 320x240 video onto 720x576 canvas.

Bingo. This is indeed the problem. I'll try looking at the motion scaling. I can currently scale it to fit in the viewer just fine, but when I export it, it still comes out black-barred. I thought it would be easier on final cut, but it's not. I've spent days on this and searched all through the apple forums, etc. I thought if I just took the avi files offline, resized them, then reimported them into the job that would be the easiest solution....

I will also try using a different canvas size. Ultimately I'll just post it to watch on my website/computer, so I don't really need it on DVD at all.

Originally Posted by addict

I will also try using a different canvas size. Ultimately I'll just post it to watch on my website/computer, so I don't really need it on DVD at all.

If you are going to do this, find a canvas size that is the same aspect ratio as you source videos ( 4/3 ). This will keep you from having to crop.

Thanks Alldownhill, worked a treat. I knew there had to be an easy way. You = the man.

I'd convert the 720 to 320 before convert the 576 then it's 420.