If you want to edit individual anamorphic clips into a letterboxed sequence:
1 | In your new Sequence settings, make sure "Anamorphic 16:9" is NOT checked. |
2 | Make sure your footage is flagged as Anamorphic 16:9 (you can do this as you capture, or later in your Project Bin columns). |
3 | Drop the clips, and they are automatically letterboxed to the 4:3 frame. |
4 | Render out the sequence before printing to video. |
Whole 16:9 sequences seem to behave erratically. Here's the workaround:
1 | Edit your 16:9 Sequence to finish. Render all your effects etc. |
2 | Export it as a Reference Movie: Export -> QuicTime Move (do not click "Re-compress frames" or "Make Move Self-contained").
This speeds up the export process (as it only refrences the rendered files on your disc). |
3 | Import this exported file into your project. |
4 | Flag it as Anamorphic in your Bin (the anamorphic column is by default very far to the right in the Bin window). |
5 | Drop this file into a pristine 4:3 Sequence. |
6 | Render out. |
Although the Canvas can look the same as when converting 4:3 clips to anamorphic widescreen (depending on how your Canvas is set up), Final Cut is really letterboxing the anamorphic content to the 4:3 frame.