Changing an existing DVD from PAL to NTSC

I have just created, and burned, a DVD in iDVD 7.0.4 in my default setting of PAL.
Now I want to print one in NTSC format. I went to Project Information and changed the setting from PAL to NTSC, read the warning given that it would rerender my assets, and clicked OK. I waited for something to happen, and when nothing did, I tried to burn the DVD, assuming it had changed what was necessary. I got the message 'You are burning a PAL movie to an NTSC disc. Do you want to proceed?' I'm using the same discs I always do: DVD-R. I've made no change. Can anyone help, please? I'm on an iMac running Snow Leopard. Many thanks.

Thank you! In desperation, I tried just that. I opened a new iDVD project, set it for NTSC, and imported the movie I wanted to burn from iMovie (where I made it in the first place). I've just burned the new disc and I can't view it on my screen - which is promising. Does this tell me that it's worked - that I've produced an NTSC video??!

Similar Messages

Convert a DVD from PAL to NTSC in iDVD5

My mother-in-law purchased a travel/sightseeing DVD while in Russia as a gift. It turns out to be in PAL format and won't play on her player back here in the US. Can I read it into iDVD5 and somehow burn a NTSC version of it for her.
If so, can someone lead me through the steps.
Thanks in advance
Henry

hi henry,
no easy task, because a videoDVd is a delivery format, not meant for further processing...and, hopefully, the DVD has no copyprotection.... I'll try:
a) make DVD "processable":
you have to convert the DVD, two options for the beginner:
* DVDxDV (free trial, 25$)
* Apple mpeg2 plugin (20$) + Streamclip (free)
DVDxDV and Streamclip (in combo with the $$ plug-in) are able to convert a DVD into a dv-stream/PAL
b) you can import that into a new iDVD project, before importing you should tell iDVD "NTSC"... the conversion will need a lot of time...
I'm not satisfied with pic quality.. I therefore recommend another 3rd party tool, for free: JES Deinterlacer, which allows the conversion of a dvPAL into dvNTSC...
final resulting dv again can be imported into a new, NTSC iDVD project....
it is NOT possible to convert a videoDVD AND keep its structure (menus etc.) ... ehm, well, maybe it is possible, but that is a task for the real enthusiast...

I want to convert a movie that I've created in iMovie from PAL to NTSC.

I've created a large movie using PAL but now want to convert it to NTSC to send to my family in Canada. It took ages to create. Is there an easy way of doing the conversion? I don't want to have to do it all again.

Hi
A. Using iMovie'08 to 11 - Will not give 100% result - as You want interlaced SD-Video = NTSC
B. Converting from PAL to NTSC - is Never 100% loss free - but You lose a bit
I use iMovie HD6 or FinalCut - as they can deliver 100% over to program that converts.
• iMovie and iDVD can convert - BUT RESULT WILL BE Very POOOOR.
My notes on How I do it
PAL to NTSC or NTSC to PAL
A. Copying commercial DVDs - No Not possibly at all - Not even legal to discuss.
B. Home made DVDs (DVDs without copy protection)
C. Movies from iMovie or FinalCut
• Save as full quality QuickTime .mov and convert this with JES_Deinterlacer (free on Internet)
NTSC ---> PAL.
• Most often not necessary - Most stand alone PAL DVD-players playback NTSC
(if TV is old in BL/W)
PAL ---> NTSC.
• If played on Mac - not necessary AT ALL
• If on NTSC DVD-player - CONVERSION IS NEEDED - nearly no Stand alone NTSC-DVD-players
playback PAL at all.
To do this You need to convert the PAL DVD to streaming.DV or full quality QuickTime .mov
• I use Roxio Toast™ to do this (There are no free converter)
• JES_Deinterlacer (free on Internet) to convert to NTSC
• Set up an NTSC project (29.97fps or 30) in iDVD and import then burn
I burn to
• Verbatim DVD-R
• Set down burn speed in iDVD to x1 or x4 recommended by many
• Secure a minimum of 25Gb free space on internal boot hard disk before burning (IMPORTANT)
PAL is 25 fps and an analog TV standard of 625 lines
NTSC is 29.97 fps and 520 lines
NTSC (29.97fps) 520 lines - about 640x480 pixels (square) 720x480 rectangular (narrow) pixels
PAL (25 fps) 625 lines - about 768x576 pixels (square) 720x576 rectangular (narrow) pixels
to use a photo 702x480 resp 576 then add 9 pixels on each side to add together as 720
If iDVD hangs on PAL or NTSC.
Bengt W wrote
Deleting iDVD pref. file - should return You into NTSC mode.
Yes iDVD can switch to PAL - BUT as You see with a rather lousy result.
a. Need to convert to PAL - most often not - Most PAL-player can playback NTSC
and on a fairly new TV in color. (old TV in Bl/W)
(Other way around - from PAL to NTSC most often a must - few NTSC-player can use PAL)
b. IF MUST - then use JES_Deinterlacer to do this conversion - so much better and free.
My list on this (or rather PAL --> NTSC - just think the other way around)
I have to send it overseas
That too can be a problem. As USA = NTSC = 29.97fps and EU = PAL = 25fps.
DO Not let iMovie or iDVD do this conversion from one to the other - Result will be Very
BAD
I save the movie as a full quality QuickTime .mov file then I use JES_Deinterlacer to do the conversion - then I cont. in iMovie or iDVD with project set accordingly.
JES_Deinterlacer is free on Internet and there are Pro applications but not that much better and costs are astronomical.
PAL-DVDs - don't play in US
NTSC-DVDs - usually plays well in EU
All plays well on a Mac - What ever.
Allosaurus writes
Thank you SDMacuser. I dumped all the plist icons with no result, and was getting pretty plist off when it occurred to me to delete all the previous dvd.proj files. Bingo. That did the trick. So thank you for all your help and the additional information you provided.
Yours Bengt W

Transcoding clip from PAL to NTSC

Hi, just my second discussion post so sorry if this question has been answered a zillion times before.
I need to buy a short stock footage clip that was shot in PAL DV (Standard Definition) at 720 x 576 @ 25 frames per second. I want to transcode to NTSC DV 720 x 480 @ 29.97 fps in PE 4 (by importing into a project and rendering it). Then I will use that transcoded clip in my project.
Before I buy this clip, I thought I'd ask if I can expect reasonable quality or if there are any things to watch out for. I'm assuming I can do what I describe above.
Thanks!
Steve

The conversion from PAL to NTSC can be a tough one, even with professional level software, Steve. As you indicated, it means not only changing the frame size (and pixel dimension) but also changing the frame rate -- which can often result in jiggliness.
Although officially possible, it's usually a pretty ugly transition. I don't know how much you're paying for this piece, but it might be worth challenging your provider to give it to you in acceptable NTSC format before you lay out the money.

Converting subtitle file length from PAL to NTSC

We're releasing a PAL version of a movie in the UK, whilst another company in the US will issue an NTSC conversion from our PAL master. The NTSC master therefore will run exactly 3.8462% slower than the PAL 25fps master, after standards conversion and speed correction.
We'd like to be able to use our PAL spotted subtitle file for the NTSC release, but I need to know if it's possible to 'stretch' the subtitle file by the required 3.8462% in order for it to match the NTSC running time.
I have tried a shareware app called Subtitler (by exporting the track description file and importing into Subtitler), but it does not allow me to input a stretch as a percentage - merely in frames, seconds, minutes etc, which adds the same amount to each subtitle.
Does anybody out there know of a way to create the modifid subtitle file?

Yes, I have already converted the original supplied .txt file, but (and as with most subtitle files it seems) I have had to tweek it myself and add a whole load more subtitles (directly in DVD Studio Pro), which are translations from Chinese to English, which were not included in the original supplied French to English file (the film is set in China and has both French and Chinese throughout!). I have also created another separate Chinese to English file in DVD Studio Pro. So you see my dilemma...
If only Subtitler was more stable - It crashes every time I import the DVD Studio Pro Item Description file.
A friend converted the original supplied file from PAL to NTSC using the excellent (but PC only) Subtitle Workshop.
I have been in direct contact with the very helpful author of the shareware Subtitler app, and he is working on a revision to fix the bugs.

What's the cleanest workflow from PAL to NTSC?

Hi. I'm shooting in Iceland and editing in the States. Can anyone make a recommendation about the cleanest workflow from PAL to NTSC? I'll be shooting with an HD camera. Thanks!

What kind of HD?
There are about 6 million flavors - some really are HD, others use the term more as a marketing gimmick.
Why not just hire a camera that shoots the format and frame rate that you will be editing with? Granted, it might be difficult to find a camera compatible with US standards in Iceland, after all there are only 320 000 people living there. Plenty of rental places in the US though.
The cleanest workflow from PAL to NTSC is by using facility with a hardware converter such as those from Teranex or Snell & Wilcox. You will get a professional standards conversion engineer thrown in but the price will far outweigh what you will pay to hire a camera.
Other options, depending on what kind of quality is acceptable to you:
Compressor - You already have it. Will give you very good results but take a long time to process.
Natress Standards Conversion: $100. Will give you very good results but take a long time to process.
JES Deinterlacer: Free. Will give you decent results but take a long time to process.

G_converter from PAL to NTSC

Does anyone know the time frame to render for G_converter?
I render a 2hr show from PAL to NTSC & it takes 33hrs. Is this the correct #?
thankx
JP
Dual G5, 3GB memory, BlackMagic SDI card,dual Apple cinema 23 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Sounds about right......what is the speed of your processor?
It took 25 seconds to render a 3 second clip...on a G4 dual 1.25. That is about 7.1 times as long as the clip. But depending on other factors, like what other filters you have on the cips, can make the render longer.
Shane
"There's no need to fear, UNDERDOG is here!"

Grainy Image when converting from PAL to NTSC...

Hi,
I'm using Compressor 2.0.1 to convert a PAL movie to NTSC. I find that the output is extremely Grainy, the blacs are Muddy and the Highlights are colored.
Any suggestions?
Thanks and Regards,
Rajnesh

There are many options when converting from PAL to NTSC with Compressor's Frame Controls panel. Have you tried other settings? Note, however, that the highest quality settings are pretty slow so be prepared for a fairly long wait even on your Power Mac G5.
Otherwise, you might want to try the freeware utility JES Deinterlacer (available on VersionTracker.com). JES Deinterlacer is pretty fast at PAL <-> NTSC conversion and the results are better than you will get with the basic settings in Compressor 2.

Easiest way to produce NTSC DVD from PAL encore project?

I have a PAL Encore project with 25fps assets and subtitles. What's the easiest way to make an NTSC DVD from this project? Encore won't let me edit the quality settings to change from NTSC to PAL. These settings are greyed out. I take it they are dictated by the assets. Can anyone suggest how to make an NTSC project easily from this Encore project? I don't want to go back to the original footage. I want to just convert it from these Mpeg-2 files in the Encore project.
Any help would be much appreciated.

What Richard said. I'll add three things.
Encore won't let me edit the quality settings to change from NTSC to PAL. These settings are greyed out. I take it they are dictated by the assets.
They are dictated by your selections when you created the project. And NTSC vs PAL are not settings that can be changed in the project settings once created.
Regarding reusing menus. The files accessed by the Encore library for DVD projects are different for NTSC vs PAL. They have NTSC or PAL in the filename, but you don't see this from inside Encore. (They do not vary for Bluray menus.) You can take your NTSC project menus, "save as file," and then "import as menu" into a new PAL project. They will be the "wrong" pixel size and aspect ratio, but Encore may correct the par. I have never tried this. But if you get oddities doing it this way, in the new PAL project, add a PAL menu, edit in photoshop, and copy the button groups and such from the NTSC version of the menu to the PAL menu. That might work.
What I see in most of these "convert PAL from NTSC" threads is that virtually all NTSC disks play on current PAL equipment. Many users asking your question decide not to convert. that is especially true, because Richard's "export as NTSC" is not as simple as it seems.

Question about changing frame rate from PAL to NTSC

Hi,
Usually, I would use JES Deinterlacer for changing the 25 fps of PAL into 29.97 NTSC.
Recently I've started shooting with Sony's EX-3, full HD (in PAL mode)
If I'm using JES Deinterlacer, the resolution would drop from 1920x1080 to 720x480 (adding 2 black rectangles to keep the 16:9 ratio)
With the 720x480 res I would need to choose 4:3 aspect in iDVD.
I'm somewhat confused here...Can I keep the original resolution of 1920x1080 and just use another software for changing the frame rate...then burn it with iDVD in widescreen 16:9? Is there anything like JES for that? Or does NTSC DVD means always 720x480?
Thanks a lot!
ymotion

You could try doing it in compressor>advanced format conversions. Personally I like taking it to a terranex, but I also have had GREAT success with Graeme Nattress's standards converter. You can google it, or search this forum for a link. It's cheap, only a hundred bucks or so.
1. Convert the footage pal to ntsc, no frame size change
2. Open compressor and select the appropriate setting for the length of your video. And also add the dolby audio setting. Don't forget the anamorphic settings noted above.
3. I don't remember anything at all about idvd, haven't used it since DVDSP came out. DVDSP allows you a whole host of display parameters and infinite customization for your projects. It'll only take you a couple of hours to figure it out, and those are hours well spent.

How to make an NTSC DVD from Pal & NTSC videos using CS3

Hi!
I am on CS3, on Windows.
I need to create an NTSC widescreen DVD from footage that is both NTSC and PAL. Also some of the footage is 4:3 and some 16:9.
What would be the best way to accomplish this.
I created an NTSC widescreen project in Premiere CS3. Imported all footage and arranged on timeline.
While exporting to Encore or to Media Encoder for MPEG 2 DVD - I am constantly getting the error "Failed to return video frame". Or "An unexpected error occured." I am unable to burn even and AVI. I have confirmed, that all audio and video clips are exact duration and that there is no gap between frames on timeline.
I am able to successfully burn most of the clips individually (except one from about 20 + clips) - but fails when I export them togetether.
I am racing against time, I have very tight timeline, I need to get it done today :-(
I would appreciate help from experts on:
1) What could be causing this error - how can I fix it?
2) Is the workflow I am using (combining all clips as they are), the way to go - or do I need to do something before I combine/export them for NTSC Widescreen DVD.
Thanks.
Rene

I think you are starting on the wrong track with this, if your source video is a DVD disk then you should not be converting it to anything. You just need the raw mpeg video from the dvd itself. a dvd consists of VOB files but they are really just mpg files with different header information. In most cases you can even rename a .vob file to .mpg and play it with any media player program.
Anyways you should go download this free program: http://www.svcd2dvd.com/VOB2MPG/default.aspx
It's a great little simple utility, you point to your video_ts folder and it will export the vob files for each title into a solid .MPG file which you can import into premiere and edit any way you would like. without wasting time or quality encoding to a different medium codec.
I will say that CS4 is much better at handling mpg files then CS3 if i remember correctly, but see how it works for you.
Good luck!

Exporting subtitles, OR changing from PAL to NTSC

Hi, folks.
I've made a DVD in PAL with full subtitles. I created the subtitles in Encore.
My client now needs an NTSC copy of the disk. I can easily rebuild the menu, but retyping the subtitles will take an age! Is there a way to export the subtitles from Encore (or a way of grabbing them from the project folder if that's a workaround) so I can import them into a new NTSC project?
Even better, is it possible to get the original PAL project and save it as NTSC, or if not, any reccomendations of a program that can do it for me which will preserve menus and subtitles? I've had a look, but most seem geated towards piracy, not making a carbon copy with things like subtitles intact.
Many, many thanks for any help!
Alison.

hey there:
i guess there's no easy answers for the matters in this thread as it has no replies for more than a month.
i got a related problem - and actually i didn't DO the subtitles in encore, but imported a text file of them. i had to spot in encore, though, as my import didn't contain in/out time codes.
& now that that's all done in PAL, i'll need to do the same for NTSC. i actually figured out a kind of a rudimentary workaround for this (or, so i thought) by ripping the subtitles off the finished PAL dvd with an app called subrip & porting to subtitle workshop that exports the encore format. but unfortunately whatever i try to do converting between different time code formats/frame rates, the resulting NTSC time codes are out of whack.
the above, though a long story, does contain two core questions:
- how to export subtitles & their time codes out of encore?
- how to convert above export back & forth between PAL/NTSC?
any pointers much appreciated... cheers!
best,
- z -

Creating NTSC DVD from PAL VHS input

I have a PAL VHS tape that I have just captured in AVI format using a Canopus ADVC-55 bridge. The settings I used in PE10 were DV PAL (as I am in Australia). I am now going to produce a DVD of the footage for use in Australia, but I also need to send a copy to my cousin in the USA, where they use NTSC. The whole PAL/NTSC process confuses me somewhat and I would appreciate some guidance.
1. If I create a PAL DVD for viewing here, is it right that it won't play in a DVD player in the USA? If it won't, can I create a DVD with output settings NTSC even though the input setting was PAL?
2. If I don't create a playable DVD as output, but instead just create an MPEG file and burn the MPEG file to a DVD to be read on a PC, will it read on a PC in the USA?
3. Should I recapture the footage, setting the ADVC-55 to NTSC (rather than PAL), and the project settings to DV NTSC? I have tried this and it seems to work, much to my surprise, as I thought the VHS tape itself was in PAL format and hence would not capture with NTSC settings.

Although most PAL DVD players will play NTSC video -- you are correct that virtually no US NTSC DVD players can play PAL video. And that's true whether you burn a DVD file or an MPEG to a disc. It's a different aspect ratio, resolution and frame rate.
But you can use Share/Computer/AVI with the NTSC DV preset to output an NTSC DV file of your project. Then you can start up an NTSC DV project, load that file into it and burn an NTSC DVD from that.
It won't be perfect. But the program does to a pretty good job of interpretting your video from one format to another.

How do I convert from PAL to NTSC in compressor?

I have a project I converted from mp4 file to Apple Pro Res to edit it in FCP. I exported using Compressor and tried to import the files to DVD Studio Pro. It said it can't put PAL files into an NTSC project. I didn't even realize it was filmed in PAL (yes, I have the rights to use the footage). How do I convert the files from PAL to put it into FCP...in Compressor? If so, how? Thanks for any help!

To convert the 25fps PAL file to a 29.97fps file staying within the ProRes codec:
• Open up compressor. In the Settings window select: Apple>Formats>Quicktime>ProRes 422
• Select the "Duplicate Selected Setting" icon in the upper left of the Settings window
• This creates duplicate of the preset that you can edit
• Select the preset copy and, in Inspector, give it a new name (something like ProRes PAL>NTSC)
• In Encoder>Video Settings>Frame rate - and change the frame rate to 29.97
• In Frame Controls> turn them on and set Resize Filter and Rate Conversion to BETTER. (If so set them to BEST, be prepared for a long wait)
• In the Geometry tab, set the Frame Size to 720x480 (you don't say if the file is 16:9 or 4:3)
• Submit the file and go have dinner. Depending on the length of the file, it may take hours.
Have fun.
x

How to convert from PAL to NTSC in compressor

I have a project I converted from mp4 file to Apple Pro Res to edit it in FCP. I exported using Compressor and tried to import the files to DVD Studio Pro. It said it can't put PAL files into an NTSC project. I didn't even realize it was filmed in PAL (yes, I have the rights to use the footage). How do I convert the files from PAL to put it into FCP...in Compressor? If so, how? Thanks for any help!

Since you've already edited it, export from fcp (file: export: quicktime movie - NOT quicktime conversion) with current settings. Bring this file into compressor and apply the appropriate dvd preset. Thencustomize the preset, changing the frame rate to 29.97 fps and video format to ntsc in the encoder panel: the pixel dimensions in the geometry panel to 720x480 (not sure if this is necessary, but doublecheck it). Then in the frame controls panel, enable frame controls and change the resize filter to best, and rate conversion to 100% of source and rate conversion to best. This may take a long time to output, so you might want to do a short test by setting an in and out in the compressor preview window.
Hopefully, I haven't left anything out. If there are any questions, post back.

Changing an existing DVD from PAL to NTSC

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