Re: 16:9 Import from Comb2008 into Premiere CS4 - not correct aspect ratio

I can't speak to PAL, but in NTSC world, this is what I do:

Ignore the non-square pixel aspect ratio and set C4 up to create (and output) the square pixel aspect equivalent of your non-square project. For instance, I work in Widescreen DV (NTSC) which has a frame size of 720 x 480 with a non-square PAR of 1.2:1.

I set-up a custom template in C4 to create all my graphics in there at 853 x 480 square, which is the square pixel equivalent of NTSC's DV 1.2 non-square widescreen.

Just make sure that any video you import to C4 is stretched to fill the frame (check footage controls: you'll want your video set to anamorphic) and any square still images stay square on import.

Now, to the math:

1.4587 x 720 = 1050.264 (round to 1050).

So create and output your project in C4 at 1050 x 576 SQUARE and any application should be able to interpret this correctly.

I've had to develop this work flow because Avid is really picky about this kind of stuff.

Hope this helps.

I'll run a quick test just to make sure.

Just tested at 1.4587 (your settings) and had no problems importing, however, I noticed the correct DV widescreen pixel aspect in Premiere Pro 2.0 is 1.422. Will try another test at that setting.

Looking at the aspect of a 1.422:1 in C4 (1024 x 576 square), the aspect ratio comes out to 1.778:1. This is the correct 16 x 9 aspect ratio. 1.422 x 720 = 1023.84 (round to 1024).

Finsihed 1024 x 576 test. All good here. Hope this helps.