Uncommon Aspect Ratio for video export - 10:9

Simply_Simon wrote on 9/26/2018, 3:54 AM

Hello everybody,

 

I am making videos of a Game Boy game, and they have an aspect ratio of 640:576, or 10:9. I have used MAGIX Video Deluxe (formerly Movie Edit Pro) often to edit my videos and I like the interface, but after exporting a few videos to mp4, I realized that the native aspect ratio of my recorded videos is not actually supported, and text I add will be pushed outside of the video frame. Basically, this is how it looks like in the editor (Sorry for profanity in the text, if you care about that):

https://lpix.org/3138539/text.JPG

And this is the outcome, because the program just adds black borders and THEN changes the text box:

https://lpix.org/3138540/text%20wide.PNG

 

I have tried changing the aspect ratio in the export window here:

https://lpix.org/3138938/export%20window.PNG (sorry for German)

But changing this setting is not actually possible:

https://lpix.org/3138939/ratio.PNG

It will just go back to 16:9, which is really annoying. My source video files are 10:9 .mp4s, which can't I export as 10:9 .mp4s? Is there something I am missing?

 

For this particular video, I found a workaround: export as an AVI using the Lagarith Lossless Codec, because the AVI export function DOES allow me to change the aspect ratio:

https://lpix.org/3138940/AVI.PNG

And this gave me a 1.5 GB file for a 35 minute video, which I was fine with.

 

However, since then I changed computers, and apparently this makes the AVI export go wrong, because if I export my newest video now, which is 20 minutes long, it gives me a 10 GB file and it's corrupted after 10 minutes. I checked and the difference is the bit rate; the new video has an almost 10x higher bit rate than the old one, something ludicrous like 40.000 kbit, and I see no way to change that. So probably the program uses my hardware to determine how high of a bitrate it can go to and just applies the max?

 

So, two questions:

a) Can I get an .mp4 export that is 10:9 with no hassle, if so how? If not, WHY not?

b) Can I limit the bitrate on the AVI export to something sensible? Maybe there's a "hardware acceleration" box or something to uncheck somewhere? Should I use a different codec?

 

Happy to provide more info both in English and German. Thank you for your help!

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 9/26/2018, 4:24 AM

Hi, welcome to the Magix forums.

Try this procedure to allow you to create your video and edit it in the aspect ratio you want:

  • When you first start a new project, on the New Project screen, choose the Custom Movie option, see first screenshot:
  • On the settings screen that then opens, at the bottom, enter your desired figures, see second screenshot:
  • Edit your video as normal, export to mp4 and you should see this screen, third screenshot:

Notice, the aspect ratio and frame size are retained.

HTH

Jeff

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 32 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, Audient EVO 16 audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, Vegas Pro, PhotoStory Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

Simply_Simon wrote on 9/26/2018, 4:31 AM

Thanks for the quick answer, Jeff!

 

I have always used the Custom Movie option, and my settings screen has also always looked like the one you showed me:

 

However, this is how my export window looks like right now:

It does not retain the settings, and I cannot change the ratio.

 

EDIT: I don't remember anymore, but I'm pretty sure I had to change the resolution and frame rate manually, it let me do that, but never the aspect ratio for some reason.

yvon-robert wrote on 9/26/2018, 6:54 PM

Hi,

Why you not use full frame capture screen normally is 16:9 ratio if you use 1920 x 1080 or any screen using ratio 1,77 or 16:9 like 1600 x 900 also you can configure you capture screen area using the right ratio. Better to use a real screen capture software some are free.

Regards,

YR 

Simply_Simon wrote on 9/27/2018, 3:34 AM

I use Open Broadcaster Software to capture the exact size of the Game Boy window, which is 640x576. If I capture my entire screen, the game will be a tiny fraction of it. If I full-size the game, it will be stretched and look terrible.

I have a 10:9 source video to work with and it really should be no issue for the program to render a video of that dimensions, but mine does have problems.

 

My program tells me I have the newest version, but the pictures Jeff showed me have more options than I have. Where do these come from? Should I maybe download an update, and then it will work like Jeff said it would?

 

Also, if someone knows how to set the bitrate of the AVI export to a sensible, low rate, I'd be happy as well. I can upload an AVI of ~2 GB to Youtube without any problems and have the storage space. A 10 GB AVI, however, corrupts (which also shouldn't happen...but you know).

emmrecs wrote on 9/27/2018, 4:31 AM

@Simply_Simon

My program tells me I have the newest version, but the pictures Jeff showed me have more options than I have

As your signature shows, you are actually running an "old" version of the software;

MAGIX Video Deluxe 2015, Version 14.0.0.187 (UDPP3)

The most up to date version is 18.0.1.209, sometimes also known as "MEP/VDL 2019". Hence the differences you saw in the screenshots I posted! Your current version is clearly as up-to-date as it can be; you will need to upgrade if you want to use this latest version.

Jeff

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 32 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, Audient EVO 16 audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, Vegas Pro, PhotoStory Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

Simply_Simon wrote on 9/27/2018, 4:51 AM

The most up to date version is 18.0.1.209, sometimes also known as "MEP/VDL 2019". Hence the differences you saw in the screenshots I posted! Your current version is clearly as up-to-date as it can be; you will need to upgrade if you want to use this latest version.

Jeff

Oh.

 

Well, then two questions:

- is that a free upgrade, as I own the "old" version? How do I get that then - I could only find purchase links?

- if it's not free, is there really no way for my version to simply render the video in the desired aspect ratio? It is just weird to me that it doesn't work even though it has all the same buttons as shown in your screenshots, and why would you even be able to choose the aspect ratio if it doesn't let you?

 

I'm also thinking of putting a black picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio behind my smaller video and rendering the resulting 16:9 total video letterboxed this way, but that can really only be a workaround - it should be possible to simply get any aspect ratio I want!

emmrecs wrote on 9/27/2018, 9:01 AM

Hi again.

is that a free upgrade, as I own the "old" version?

No, upgrades need to be purchased.

if it's not free, is there really no way for my version to simply render the video in the desired aspect ratio?

I can't answer that because I no longer have that version on my computer, sorry.

I think your idea of placing a black background behind your video seems an eminently sensible method of resolving your problem; however, I think you may need to ensure your video is centred on the screen. IOW, I'm not sure MEP will do this for you automatically.

HTH

Jeff

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 32 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, Audient EVO 16 audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, Vegas Pro, PhotoStory Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

johnebaker wrote on 9/27/2018, 12:03 PM

@Simply_Simon

Hi

. . . . why would you even be able to choose the aspect ratio if it doesn't let you? . . . .

In theory mp4 files will accept any aspect ratio AR, however in MEP 2015 expects a 'valid' aspect ratio for mp4 files.

If you were to export as AVI then you can have 10:9 AR.

. . . . thinking of putting a black picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio behind my smaller video . . . .

This should not be necessary, change the project setting to 16:9 and MEP will automatically letterbox and centre the source video for you.

HTH

John EB

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 24H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Simply_Simon wrote on 9/27/2018, 1:32 PM

Hi again.

is that a free upgrade, as I own the "old" version?

No, upgrades need to be purchased.

if it's not free, is there really no way for my version to simply render the video in the desired aspect ratio?

I can't answer that because I no longer have that version on my computer, sorry.

I think your idea of placing a black background behind your video seems an eminently sensible method of resolving your problem; however, I think you may need to ensure your video is centred on the screen. IOW, I'm not sure MEP will do this for you automatically.

HTH

Jeff

Thanks for the info, Jeff!

 

@Simply_Simon

Hi

. . . . why would you even be able to choose the aspect ratio if it doesn't let you? . . . .

In theory mp4 files will accept any aspect ratio AR, however in MEP 2015 expects a 'valid' aspect ratio for mp4 files.

If you were to export as AVI then you can have 10:9 AR.

. . . . thinking of putting a black picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio behind my smaller video . . . .

This should not be necessary, change the project setting to 16:9 and MEP will automatically letterbox and centre the source video for you.

HTH

John EB

Hi John, do you have a suggestion what I could try that my AVI export is not too big and/or works in the first place? As I described, exporting it currently gives me a 10 GB file that corrupts after 10 minutes (of 20) with my chosen codec, and if I use a built-in codec, it gives me a 37 GB file that corrupts after 2 min. Maybe there's a different codec I could use?

 

Also, if I just let MEP do what it wants, it'll move my textboxes around during the export. I'd like to avoid that by making the video in edit view look like it'll look after being exported.

Simply_Simon wrote on 9/27/2018, 5:20 PM

Heads up to everyone, I fixed my problem by indeed using a different codec (someone on another forum recommended this one: https://sourceforge.net/projects/x264vfw/ ), and it worked! I now have a 300 MB AVI with no apparent quality issues, and I can change a lot of settings to customize it how I want it to be.

 

If anyone wants to try it, you only really NEED to check the "Zero Latency" box in the settings, otherwise the sound will desynch, but it even tells you to do that.

 

Thanks a lot for everyone trying to find a solution and explaining things to me, I'll continue editing the rest of my videos then and render in AVI or mp4 depending on the ratio I need :).