PAL to NTSC simple solution

I realise there are probably many threads discussing this topic but I have just finished converting a 25fps movie to 23.98fps i.e PAL to NTSC and found after a lot of trial and error and trying an array of recommended methods that the simplest and best result is this:
1. Export your movie as a self contained clip from FCP and the audio as an .aiff
2. Open the clip in Cinema Tools and conform it from 25fps to 23.98fps
3. Open a new project in FCP and import the clip and the .aiff
4. Double click the clip within the Browser and adjust its speed to 104.165 with frame blending off which will adjust the clips lenght to the same exact lenght of the original PAL file and the .aiff
5. Put the video clip onto a time line with the same settings as the clip along with the .aiff audio
This final clip will now have a frame rate of 23.98 and the exact lenght of the original PAL clip with the original audio in sync.
For some peculiar reason the running time of the movie shown in the timeline is not the same as that shown in the browser but when you export it for dvd using compressor the resulting m2v is the correct lenght. You must also export the audio from the new timeline to go on the dvd as either another .aiff or a dolby digital.
There are some odd things going on with the stated running times of everything but the end result is correct.

I'm with Michael on this.
I use Graeme Natress's Standards Converter for this within FCP if it is a small project and use Compressor feeding Qmaster clusters for something more lengthy.
Clusters make a huge difference in the performance of Compressor. I have Clusters set up on machines running 10.6.8, 10.7.5 and 10.8.3 so I know it works on the range of current OSX versions.
Digital Rebellion has a good write-up on how to set up Qmaster.
Good luck,
x

Similar Messages

FCP/FCE anamorphic to iDVD - A simple solution?

I posted this over in the iDVD forum, but I would like to get some response from you guys on this matter too.
I have seen a lot of discussions about how hard it is to get anamorphic material from FCP/FCE into iDVD. There seem to be a few complex workarounds using third party software etc.
Today I suddenly came to think about a possible very simple solution.
1. Export to QuickTime from FCP/FCE
2. Open the clip in QuickTime Pro
3. Choose the Window menu and choose Show Movie Properties
4. Select the Video Track and click the Visual Settings tab
5. Uncheck Preserve Aspect Ratio
6. Change the width to 854 (DV-NTSC) or to 1024 (DV-PAL)
7. Save the clip and quit QuickTime
8. Open iDVD and start a new 16:9 Widescreen project
9. Import your modified QuickTime clip
10. Author and burn your DVD
Is it really this easy? Are there any downsides to doing it this way?
I just tested this workflow, and the finished DVD looked fine.
I prefer using Compressor/DVD Studio Pro my self, but it would be nice to have a simple solution to offer those who ask about bringing anamorphic material from FCP/FCE into iDVD.
I wonder why Apple has not implemented an anamorphic checkbox or something like that inside iDVD. I have not yet found any guidance from Apple on this matter. Have I missed something here?

I gave the usual dimensions for Standard Definition DV Anamorphic as an example. The actual dimensions for DV Anamorphic NTSC and PAL are: 720x480 and 720x576, but when stretched, the right width is 854 and 1024 as mentioned in my first post. The dimentions you are mentioning are for High Definition 1080i/p
If you are editing 720p, the dimentions are: 1280 × 720.
This might be of help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CommonVideoResolutions.svg

FCP/FCE anamorphic to iDVD widescreen - A simple solution?

I have seen a lot of discussions about how hard it is to get anamorphic material from FCP/FCE into iDVD. There seem to be a few complex workarounds using third party software etc.
Today I suddenly came to think about a possible very simple solution.
1. Export to QuickTime from FCP/FCE
2. Open the clip in QuickTime Pro
3. Choose the Window menu and choose Show Movie Properties
4. Select the Video Track and click the Visual Settings tab
5. Uncheck Preserve Aspect Ratio
6. Change the width to 854 (DV-NTSC) or to 1024 (DV-PAL)
7. Save the clip and quit QuickTime
8. Open iDVD and start a new 16:9 Widescreen project
9. Import your modified QuickTime clip
10. Author and burn your DVD
Is it really this easy? Are there any downsides to doing it this way? The modified QuickTime clip's Movie Info in QuickTime says: Format: DV, 720 x 576 (1024 x 576)
I just tested this workflow, and the finished DVD looked fine.

I gave the usual dimensions for Standard Definition DV Anamorphic as an example. The actual dimensions for DV Anamorphic NTSC and PAL are: 720x480 and 720x576, but when stretched, the right width is 854 and 1024 as mentioned in my first post. The dimentions you are mentioning are for High Definition 1080i/p
If you are editing 720p, the dimentions are: 1280 × 720.
This might be of help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CommonVideoResolutions.svg

Hdr-hc3 problems! Interlace? PAL to NTSC

Hello. I am having problems editing a video shot in Sony hdr-hc3 PAL version. I captured in hdv and edited. In the timeline I put 25 frames per second. 1440 x 1080. 16x9... Compression HDV 1080i50
Well, I exported everything. Export/Current Settings. Then I burnt a dvd with dvd studio pro and when I look the video in the TV it looks really really interlaced. Everytime there is movement, the image looks double. Well, I have tried with after effects to remove the pull down but it's not useful. It seems it's not really a interlace problem because when I say to guess pulldown... it doesn't appear anything. I also tried with cinema tools... i did the reverse telecine... but doesnt work... or at least i dont have any idea what i have to do...
I also tried with compressor but the same problem... I dont know if I have to do something in final cut, after i export from final cut... or what i have to do with this problem. The motion looks horrible. HELP PLEASE!
Thanks a lot!

As a last resort (in case you are stuck which is a common fate of most users when dealing with this horrible legacy of NTSC frame rates) you have a simple solution that will produce flawless, no hiccups conversion from PAL to NTSC. You will need sufficient space, patience and willingness to accept 4% change in pitch.
a) edit your footage in 25 progressive. Export it as image sequence. Export audio separately.
b) In QTP import image sequence to NTSC frame rate 23.976. Add your audio (SCALED) to your movie.
c) Import your movie to 23.976 FCP sequence.
d) export it NTSC mpg2, which will add standard pulldown to bring it to 29.97.
(all this can presumably be done in FCP, if only one could figure out how!)
(Note to Apple.Please kindly note that 24 is not 23.98 nor it is 23.976, Your documentation is all over the place with no rhyme or reason. 24 can mean (FTC, QT) 24 or 23.976. Strangely 23.98 seems to be always used to denote 23.976. This is not nice nor professional and is awfully confusing)

PAL to NTSC Big Problems

We shoot and edit in PAL on FCP and output to Quicktime MOV. When I convert the MOV to MPEG2 NTSC in Compressor I am getting some bad shuddering on any camera pans.
I have tried changing field dominance and turning on and off the deinterlacing. I have even tried transcoding from an encoded mpeg 2 PAL with no improvement
I am using version 1.2.1 of & have almost no control over the GOP settings. I don't know what do do
Please help

As a last resort (in case you are stuck which is a common fate of most users when dealing with this horrible legacy of NTSC frame rates) you have a simple solution that will produce flawless, no hiccups conversion from PAL to NTSC. You will need sufficient space, patience and willingness to accept 4% change in pitch.
a) edit your footage in 25 progressive. Export it as image sequence. Export audio separately.
b) In QTP import image sequence to NTSC frame rate 23.976. Add your audio (SCALED) to your movie.
c) Import your movie to 23.976 FCP sequence.
d) export it NTSC mpg2, which will add standard pulldown to bring it to 29.97.
(all this can presumably be done in FCP, if only one could figure out how!)
(Note to Apple.Please kindly note that 24 is not 23.98 nor it is 23.976, Your documentation is all over the place with no rhyme or reason. 24 can mean (FTC, QT) 24 or 23.976. Strangely 23.98 seems to be always used to denote 23.976. This is not nice nor professional and is awfully confusing)

QuickTime movie in Pal to NTSC

I have a PAL camcorder.
I made an i movie in PAL and then edited it. I then converted it to QT in Pal. I then want to convert it to NTSC in JES. It doesn't seem to want to convert. ??? Perhaps I put something wrong into the slots. Could some one give me the right steps?? I thought that I followed the "Unofficial iMovie FAQ"

Hi sola
Converting from Pal to NTSC is one of the hardest things to do.
Believe me! I live in New Zealand a Pal territory but when I wanted to convert my little TV programme DIYTV Learn TV Production in 44 minutes showing the world how to make saleable, watchable TV programmes on iMovie I had to convert it to NTSC and get it to work on all USA DVD's.
It took me five months! Nobody could tell me how to do it. You can get a man on the moon but not convert acceptable PAL to NTSC cheaply and easily.
I tried everything Jes, the Compressor which comes with FC Pro , took it to production houses and still I could not get an acceptable conversion that did not cost a bomb. I tried all the forums. I begged to be given some settings which would work. Nothing! Doing it digitally takes hours and you need the correct settings which are a 'big secret'.
I did not try Platinium Alchemist as it was about NZ$1000 a go and I had 8 programmes. I reckoned I'd not sell that many to cover the cost. I think this would be the best.
Now the first thing to find out is what you want to do with it once you have converted. This makes a difference for some of the ways you do this look awful on LCD screens
I am not an expert in Jes but a lot on the forum swear by it. I too never got it to work for me.
If your video is not too long you may consider having it done professionally by a duplication house.
For this you just need to take in your tape and they can make the change either to tape or DVD. They have the equipment mainly an NTSC recorder which are are difficult to come by in Pal countries.
You can do it the analog way at home by making a DVD, playing this on a cheap DVD recorder from China, a named expensive variety will not do, which has a cunning little switch between PAL/NTSC and you can make the change in real time and as good quality as you get, better than digital and it works on everything.
The big problem with this is you need an NTSC tape recorder.
Have you noticed your PAL camcorder will play in NTSC but not record. This is because the wattage/ampage, sorry experts I am dislexic here, is different in USA and it makes the pictures flicker if filmed under lights consequently the big firms only sell the correct type of camera for the country to avoid problems.
I hire an NTSC one as I have hours of video to change but if you have just one item it would be cheaper to get it done by a duplication house. Once you have it on NTSC you can do what you like with it.
Caution. If you want your iMovie to play on all USA DVD players you have to convert the sound to Dolby Sound AC3 but that is another problem.
This is my answer to the question for what it is worth. If anyone out there has a better solution please tell us. So far I have had no complaints and I have sold many DVDs changed like this. My change costs about $20 but takes hours to achieve but worth the effort.
Good luck. Hope someone is more helpful
Jane

Switch PAL to NTSC?

I've got the latest ipad with up-to-date OS & recently purchased the Digital AV adapter so I could connect to tv via HDMI.
I've just attempted to watch a video via my ipad onto a tv & it comes out all distorted with the wrong colour picture coming and going as well no sound at all. I know this is a simple case of switching it from PAL to NTSC as I am in America but the settings that I'm used to where I could change the tv signal output has disappeared.
How am I meant to change it now? The Digital AV adapter is useless if I can't change the settings for the tv signal output!

Just out of curiosity, is the video in question encoded as PAL or NTSC? Seems to me the adapter would have to use whatever aspect ratio, lines, etc. the video is coded for.

Shoot in PAL or NTSC

I have read a lot of discussions on this subject and used the mighty search function but still it seems there is no definitive answer.
So I've come to the experts.
I'll be shooting a big project very soon and the client is based in Europe but they want to distribute the project (to the attending media people) in NTSC and PAL.
They'll have a bunch of thumb drives to distribute to both European and North American media members and the project needs to be finished before they head home.
The train of thought seems to be shoot in PAL 25p then convert to NTSC 24p via compressor. I'll shooting with a Sony EX-1 so shooting in PAL is a simple menu function. Stay away from interlaced, shoot progressive.
Thoughts?
db

If it's being distributed on a thumb drive (for computer playback) I don't think it matters. Computers aren't NTSC or PAL. It's only TV sets you need to worry about.
-DH

Transferring the film to video best practice and combining PAL and NTSC

Could anyone help me with the following 2 questions that I was asked in our small school video lab, I don't really have much experience with negative film and NTSC. Thankyou so much.
1. "I may be going back to the film negative to cut it, based on the FCP EDL. This means that Final Cut has to maintain perfect synch. I know that with AVID, it's more reliable to transfer the film to video at 25 fps rather than 24 fps. Do you have any idea whether this is also the case with Final Cut??"
2. "Some of my source materials is on PAL and some is on NTSC. Is that going to be a nightmare?? Will I be able to convert from one to the other when I import?? Or will I need to get the NTSC miniDV tapes transfered to PAL so that your PAL deck can read them? "
we normally use PAL (In UK).

1. This is where Cinema Tools comes into play. It can conform your edit list from FCP back to film.
There is a wealth of information in the Cinama Tools handbook and Help menu item.
Someone else might be able to contribute more information, my experience with CT is very limited.
2. Some decks are switchable between PAL and NTSC. If yours can do this then you can capture your footage in a preliminary project and convert it for free with [JES Deinterlacer|http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeschot/home.html] which does a decent job or for $100 with [Natress Standards Conversion|http://www.nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconver sion.htm] which does a very good job. Both will take some time, best to capture only what you really need.
The best possible conversion is done with dedicated hardware solutions such as those offered by Snell & Wilcox. Real time with excellent results. This would be the way to go if you have a lot of material or if your deck is not PAL - NTSC switchable.

Real World Experience - TIPS - Pal to NTSC and Authoring DVDS on both

I have just completed a DVD project.
It was shot and edited in Pal and then authored to both Pal and NTSC DVDS ( Pal for Europe - NTSC for Japan and USA)
Standards Conversion:
I used both compressor and graham Nattress' excellent G (for Graham?) Standards converter.
Compressor was a fast work around for a quick pal to ntsc conversion at ok quality. Since my footage is very demanding (lots of handheld heli shots, water housing footage)i imagine it was giving the converters a real work out).
The Nattress G converter was much slower but the results were as close to perfection as i would imagine a software solution can get. Obviously the extra render time was working extra hard to get the conversion looking good.
For anyone going down this path - For your master you just have to use the natress converter- thanks Graham - best $100 i have spent this year.
MPG2 encoding
i did this using compressor and it worked well.
Here is the rub - i THOUGHT compressor was not doing my MPG 2 conversion at acceptable quality - it was actually the lack of quality out of compressors fast and easy solution for pal - ntsc that was giving me banding on moving objects and color issues.
I suspect this may be where some people think they are coming unstuck with compressor. (go back and check you ntsc conversion relative to your original pal quality)
I hope this saves anyone else in my situation some time.
In summary - when working in PAL (ie you are shooting and editing in Europe or Australia)Your work flow should be - shoot and edit in Pal ,convert with Natress, encode with compressor (compressor 2.1 - i use 7.7 mbs max, 6.0 mbs av - 2 pass variable - use ac3 for audio) - which has actually been working well for me (despite various threads about issues with compressor)
Hope this come up nicely for anyone doing a search. Thank you to everyone who has helped me on the way and good night!

Rory85 wrote:
Ok cool, thanks Stan.
Re-doing the Encore stuff, as much as that would/will suck, it's not my worst fear.. the thing that scares me the most is the thought of re-doing all of the Premiere work again.. If an NTSC Encore project can convert a PAL Premiere working file to a NTSC DVD, I can live with re-working the Encore stuff.. And yea, Dynamic link takes care of all of the chapter markers, so that wouldn't be a big issue - it'd just be a matter of re-building the menus..
But yea, if anyone has a definite yes or no answer on whether or not Encore can turn a PAL Premiere project into a NTSC DVD, I'd love to know.. The person I'm doing the work for doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars getting PAL dvds printed etc unless we absolutely know it's going to be a complete re-start to get it to NTSC..
Thanks again,
Rory
Hi Rory.
It's not possible in Encore or Premiere.
The conversion process is a complex one & consists of changing the actual resolution from 720x576 to 720x480, which gives a very different shaped pixel as well.
Then it also changes the frame rate of the footage from 25 to 29.97.
The easiest way to do this with Adobe tools is to use Atter Effects, making sure that the AE render is locked to the duration of the composition - this is critical, or you will end up with footage at the wrong speed. All menus will need to be rebuilt.
Sorry I cannot give you better news.
As a general rule of thumb, if in doiubt - create & author in NTSC as there are almost no PAL setups that cannot output either pure NTSC or PAL-60, yet there are very few that can go the other way.....

Pal to NTSC for the USA

Do I have a Pal video on Dvd change into NTSC VIDEO for DVD to be presented in the US or is it done by the DVD itself?
thanks for help on this one .
cheers WOlfgang

Oh dear! . . . All this conflicting advice!
Wolfgang, I can't agree with piero - I used JES Deinterlacer, and the quality's not good - especially if you have any action scenes.
I’ve found the best overall PAL to NTSC Standards Conversion comes from Hanumang’s Compressor method:
First, change your Easy Setup to DV PAL, then open a new sequence. This will make certain your Timeline is correct for PAL.
Before you Capture, be sure your Capture Settings (in Log and Capture) are:
Device Control: FireWire PAL
Capture/Input: DV PAL 48 kHz
"Load your DV PAL movie into Compressor 2, then choose
Advanced Format Conversions > DV NTSC from the settings.
Then, under the Frame Controls tab, alter your settings to:
Frame Controls: Custom
Resize Filter: Better (Linear Filter)
Output Fields: Bottom First
Deinterlace: Better Motion Adaptive
Adaptive Details: checked
Rate Conversion: Better (Motion Compensated)"
Results are stunning and once set up, it’s dead simple to use again because the settings are saved in Compressor.
The only downside is that it’s slower to process than other methods – but I find the results are better and I can use the Mac for other work whilst compressor’s working in the background.
A quicker (but I find, more fiddly) method is Graeme Nattress’ Standards Conversion:
http://www.nattress.com.
This method gives outstanding results too.
Andy
Quad 8GB. 250+500 HDs. G-Raid 1TB. NORTON. FCP 5.1.2. QT 7.1.3. Sony HVR Z1E Mac OS X (10.4.7)
"I've taught you all I know, and still you know nothing".

PAL to NTSC Text issues

When I export from FCP5 to Compressor 2, converting PAL to NTSC, any text that I have used in FCP stretches vertically. Has anyone else had this and if so, have you found a solution???

Here's what I don't understand - some guys captured this concert in two ways - a PAL camera (and associated audio) and then some sort of audio recording, a believe a DAT.
They gave us PAL tapes which we have captured, and then ProTools audio files. Theoretically everything should match up at this point (the audio from the cameras and the audio from the recorder should be the same, right?)...
Why would it be that after changing the MIXES (but not shortening or lengthening the audio), exporting from ProTools, and then laying them into the FCP track (syncing up to the first beat of a song, etc), they audio drifts? Not bad, about 1 1/2 seconds in 6 1/2 min of footage.. but nonetheless, this is a HUGE pain.
Given this is a music DVD and the artist is a major musical stickler, changing the audio has a ZERO percent chance of being acceptable...
Thanks again for your help -
Jason

PAL and NTSC project.

I was wondering if you could give me some advice on when/ how to best convert a project that I have to NTSC? At the moment it is editted as a PAL DV file, it's going to be formatted for DVD to be used both in Australia and in the US. Should I export the clips as NTSC from FCP then encode for DVD or should I let DVD Studio convert the project to NTSC from the PAL clips?

I’ve found the best overall PAL to NTSC Standards Conversion comes from Hanumang’s Compressor method:
"Load your DV PAL movie into Compressor 2, then choose
Advanced Format Conversions > DV NTSC from the settings.
Then, under the Frame Controls tab, alter your settings to:
Frame Controls: Custom
Resize Filter: Better (Linear Filter)
Output Fields: Bottom First
Deinterlace: Better Motion Adaptive
Adaptive Details: checked
Rate Conversion: Better (Motion Compensated)"
Results are stunning and once set up, it’s dead simple to use again because the settings are saved in Compressor.
The only downside is that it’s slower to process than other methods – but I find the results are better and I can use the Mac for other work whilst compressor’s working in the background.
A quicker (but I find, more fiddly) method is Graeme Nattress’ Standards Conversion:
http://www.nattress.com.
This method gives outstanding results too.
Andy
Quad 8GB. 250+500 HDs. G-Raid 1TB. NORTON. FCP 5.1.1. Shake 4.1. Sony HVR Z1E Mac OS X (10.4.7)
"I've taught you all I know, and still you know nothing".

DVD for UK and World Wide. Should I shoot Pal or NTSC

Hey guys,
I have a project to produce a series of DVDs for an American client.
They want the finished films on DVD for Worldwide distribution.
I have a Sony Z1E and I can shoot HDV1080i50 for Pal or HDV1080i60 for NTSC.
I intend to edit in HDV and down convert the final films for standard def DVD.
Will there be a problem watching these films on certain TVs? Will a Pal DVD work on a NTSC TV or will a NTSC work on a Pal?
I want to know from the beginning so I can shoot in the format which will work best for the final DVD to be seen on both Pal and NTSC.
Please help if you can,
Jamie

NTSC DVD players cannot play PAL DVDs. Most (but not all) PAL DVD players can play NTSC DVDs. So if you want to make only one disc your best bet is NTSC. But be aware that you will get a few people who will say, "It doesn't work". The best solution is to make PAL and NTSC discs. And no, you cannot make a disc that is both PAL and NTSC.
A side note. DVD players will only play SD material. So shooting HD is overkill. You will have to convert it down to SD resolution. Also HDV is the poorest of the HD formats as far as quality goes.

Convert a PAL to NTSC?

I have the dvd "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and its in PAL format, so my DVD player won't read it. I know how to convert just the movie but is there a way of converting the entire disc to NTSC?

Maybe this will help you:
http://www.jakeludington.com/archives/000560.html
Dave Taylor suggests one of the least frustrating solutions I've seen. Invest in a region-free DVD player with onboard PAL-to-NTSC conversion.
Good Luck

PAL to NTSC simple solution

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