Workflow for multi format delivery to:
-Tape SD or HD
-Digital formats for Web & DVD
-Sources are a mix of 16×9 (HD or Anamorphic) and 4×3 SD.
With a mixture of 16×9 and 4×3 in a show, the best approach is to edit in the resolution and aspect ratio of your final output format.
Reformat footage on the timeline as needed.
HD
If you have to deliver the final show on HD-CAM, edit in your favorite HD resolution, 16×9.
-The 4×3 footage will be pillar-boxed
SD
For delivery on SD Digi-beta you have to make a choice between delivering anamorphic or letter-boxed. Decide based on how much 16×9 and 4×3 footage you have.
16×9
If you have more 16×9 footage (from HD sources), deliver anamorphic.
Make sure the Anamorphic box is checked in Sequence settings in FCP.
-4×3 footage will be pillar-boxed.
4×3
If you have more 4×3 footage, go for regular 4x3 and cut the HD footage in letter-boxed.
or centercut
In my opinion, because most TV sets are 16×9, anamorphic is preferred.
You gain about 1/3 resolution over letter-box.
TV’s, projectors and DVD players are very good at stretching Anamorphic to 16×9.
Anamorphic makes it easier to up-res the show to HD.
If you are making a tape for projection, label with clear instructions:
“This tape is 4×3 LETTERBOX” or “This tape is ANAMORPHIC, please stretch to 16×9″
For SD DVD export a 640×480 Anamorphic quicktime.
Always de-interlace 4×3 full frame for the web on export!
If your sequence is SD-anamorphic or HD, export interlaced for Blue-Ray DVD.
For Web delivery, de-interlace on export!
-Make sure to add a few extra frames at the top and bottom to make the movie go to black and not hang on a ghost frame.
-Resize picture to 104% to get rid of closed captioning and fuzzy video edges.
Here are VIMEO’s instructions on how to prep video for uploading
Here are YOUTUBE’s instructions
Media college about aspect ratios