How do I fix aspect ratio of a .MOV file?

smhontz wrote on 12/12/2012, 9:16 PM

I was given a QuickTime .MOV file. If I play it in QuickTime Player, the aspect ratio is correct - e.g., an image of the earth is round. It also looks correct in VLC.

If I try to bring it into Vegas 12, using my standard project properties of 1920x1080 29.97 P, Pixel Aspect Ratio of 1.0, all the circles are vertical ovals. If I let Vegas set the project properties to match the media, it picks 1440x1080 and Pixel Aspect Ratio 1.0, but the circles are still vertical ovals.

QuickTime player says this: Format: H.264, 944x531, Millions. Normal Size: 1888x1062.

MediaInfo says this: Width: 1416 pixels, Original Width: 1440 pixels. Height: 1062 pixels, Original Height: 1080 pixels. Display Aspect Ratio: 16:9. Original Display Aspect Ratio: 4:3.

I need this to fit into my 1920x1080 project; I don't care if there is black borders, but I do want the aspect ratio correct. I went into Track Motion, turned off Maintain Aspect Ratio, set my Width to 1920 and my height to 850 and that looks ok, but I just guessed at the value of 850.

Is there some way, by looking at these numbers, to determine exactly how to set the height to width ratio to make it look correct? Or is there a different way? And why does QuickTime player and VLC show it properly, but Vegas doesn't?

Comments

ChristoC wrote on 12/12/2012, 9:27 PM

with the footage on the timeline, right-click and select Properties.
In the Properties box, select the Media Tab.
Play around with "Pixel aspect ratio:" there until your circles look round!

musicvid10 wrote on 12/12/2012, 9:28 PM

In the Project Media pane, set the media to 1440x1080 and 1.333 pixel aspect. Leave the field order alone. Then match media properties in your Project, so you have the correct Preview. Hopefully all should work now in Vegas.

Missing/incorrect media flags are fairly common with MOV files.

smhontz wrote on 12/13/2012, 8:53 AM

Thanks for the advice. I forgot about the Aspect Ratio setting in the media properties. Changing that to 1:333 did the trick. Also good to know that sometimes the flags are mishandled.

I've been dealing with a lot of different formats supplied by a lot of different people for a project I'm working on, and it's been a real learning experience!

musicvid10 wrote on 12/13/2012, 9:57 AM

Glad you got it sorted!

As a footnote, files encoded anamorphic MOV in Vegas won't play right in QT player, either. Handbrake anamorphic does play correctly, however.