Importing 960 x 540 video into Final Cut Express?

[nysus]

So I've got some video clips that I imported into iMovie '08 at 960 x 540 resolution and then created a new video with them at 960 x 540.

When I import the video to Final Cut Express, I have a lot of black surrounding the video because I'm at 1920 x 1080 mode. FCE doesn't seem to support a 960 x 540 format.

Any suggestions?

 

[huntercr]

So I've got some video clips that I imported into iMovie '08 at 960 x 540 resolution and then created a new video with them at 960 x 540.

When I import the video to Final Cut Express, I have a lot of black surrounding the video because I'm at 1920 x 1080 mode. FCE doesn't seem to support a 960 x 540 format.

Any suggestions?

There may be a better way, but my first thought is to create a new project and go to "easy setup" and change to 720p AIC. Then at least you're upscaling less.
Import your clip and then scale it up using the "scale" function in the motion tab of the clip, or resizing by hand in the canvas.

Be sure and export your video in iMovie as Apple Intermediate codec, BTW.

Oh Also, what is the native resolution of the clips you were working on in iMovie 08? You don't have to export at 960x540

 

[nysus]

Thanks for getting back.

The video was shot on my HD camera at 1920 x 1080. I imported the video from the camera at the 960 x 540 resolution setting into iMovie '08. I then export the movie from iMovie '08 using the Share -> Export Final Cut XML menu option. It doesn't give me an option to export using a higher resolution.

I would assume that when iMovie imports from the camera at 960 x 540, the extra lines of resolution are lost, no?