Two different aspect ratio formats in one project.

Hi everyone

I'm currently making a project that includes 16:9 footage from my DSLR and 4:3 super 8 footage ripped from a DVD conversion. I started the project with the HD DSLR footage and now I've added the 4:3 it appears shrunken, as though to fit the 16:9 image. It's still 4:3 scaled down. I can't scale the image to its normal size without making it 16;9. When I created a new project with the 4:3 it's full size but then the next 16:9 has the same shrinking problem.

I understand why this is happening but am asking for a solution. Is there any way I can have the 16;9 and 4:3 in its oroginal ratio and size in the same image? I find it hard to believe that final cut doesn't allow you to do this (I'm thinking of Spike Lee's Malcolm x where it's widescreen but his visit to Egypt is in super 8 4:3 as an example), but then again I might just be ignorant

Thanks you in advance

I'm not totally clear about what you're doing. Screen shots?

You can put both in the same timeline, but 4:3 is going to have pillar boxes on the sides. And, you're DVD rip is probably standard def, so not as large as HD to start with. Doesn't matter what the original camera was, once it hits a DVD, it is standard def. You'd have to enlarge it, which could make it blur and/or pixelate.

Hi there

sorry for the late reply, I was on holiday. What I mean is simply to have the 16:9 footage and the 4:3 footage both in their original size and ratio in the same Final Cut Project (I want the 4:3 to have pillars on the sides, as it originally did.) So far it seems like I can only choose between a 16:9 ratio where the 4:3 is shrunken to scale or a 4:3 ratio where the 16:9 is shrunken to scale — I've attached screenshots to illustrate what I mean. I would like for the film to feature the full 16:9 and 4:3 ratios.

As an example, look at how this short film by Kahlil Joseph alternates between 4:3, widescreen, and cinemascope:


thanks for your time

Theo

edit: just seen my screenshots exceeded the upload limit but hopefully the film will sufficiently explain what I mean

In the video inspector set your spatial conform to none for the SD 4:3 footage and it will appear in your 16:9 project at it's original aspect. Sounds like it may be currently set to Fit or Fill.