Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 1475)

690 Part IV Real Time and Rendering
Adding Filters and Motion Effects to Mixed-Format Sequences
You can add filters to nonmatching clips and adjust their motion parameters just as
you would in a native sequence. With the exception of different real-time processing
demands required by nonmatching clips, working with effects in a mixed-format
sequence is essentially the same as working with native sequence clips.
When adjusting parameters in the Motion tab of a sequence clip that has been scaled
to match your sequence, keep in mind that the clip already has adjusted motion
parameters that make the clip appear normal within the sequence. If you reset all of
the parameters in the Motion tab of the clip, the clip may not appear as you expect. In
this case, you can use the Scale to Sequence command to match the clip dimensions
and aspect ratio to the sequence. For more information, see “
Scaling Images and Video
Clips to Match a Sequence ” on page 377.
Combining SD and HD Video
Many video producers find that they need to combine HD footage with SD footage, or
combine several HD video sizes, within the same project. Converting a video format to a
higher-resolution format is called upconverting, and the reverse is called downconverting.
The process of upconverting and downconverting is not as simple as scaling a video
frame. Changes in aspect ratio (4:3 for SD and 16:9 for HD), frame rate, and scanning
method (interlaced and progressive) may also be involved.
Downconverting HD Video
There are several methods for downconverting HD video to SD video:
 Letterbox
 Crop
 Pan and scan
 16:9 anamorphic