Converting to PAL Discs

I have been asked by a client to take an NTSC disc I made and convert it to PAL. It would seem to me that the best way to do this is to have the Beta SP master converted, then encode it to MPEG II with PAL settings. Then redo the DVDSP file with PAL settings and keep 0 region coding.
I was thinking I could convert it in FCP and then encode it with PAL settings, but this is not really the cleanest way to do it.
Am I right in my thinking?
Thanks,
Alex

Then redo the DVDSP file with PAL settings and keep 0 region coding.
You will need to redo the assets (menus etc.) to PAL settings.
Transfer from the Beta from a good house should get you the best quality, though Compressor (which is now better than earlier versions) and some plug-ins (such as http://www.nattress.com) can do a very nice job, you may want to run some tests.
As an aside, where PAL is common (ex-U.S.) many people can play NTSC discs (as oppossed to in the U.S. which is more hobbled). In fact when speaking with some people ex-U.S. they thought NTSC masters were okay and not even bother with PAL. Go figure.

Similar Messages

Burning PAL disc to NTSC

I have purchased several PAL discs (from East Africa) that I want to convert to NTSC for some N. American viewing. Some set-top DVD players have no problem playing them but others disallow it (region code and/or not NTSC). I can play the discs in my computer using DVD Player but can I read the contents of the discs into my computer and rewrite them in NTSC format without region code problems and how do I do this? Is it worth it to purchase Ripit software?

Region Codes are used mainly my the motion picture industry for limiting movie playback to a given area / continent of commercial dvd's (as well as dvd players themselves) and hence to control playback in a variety of locations.
To the best of my knowledge, Region Codes have little to do with burning an actual Dvd thru iDvd/iLife which essentially burns to region zero to facilitate universal playback in ALL regions. The exception to this rule is if one were to use apple's FCS2 / DVDSP to set a specific region code or rather flag the dvd with a given RC).
Region Codes have much more to do with initial firmware / hardware playback configuration / settings of the dvd-rom / burner when you first configure or install a burner in your computer. It may also have something to do with apple's dvd player application. It will ask you to select a region based upon your own location (which you can do at most 5 times for the same drive / burner). You'll get a dialog box similar to this asking you to make this selection:
Click Here
As for PAL vs NTSC your Mac will be able to play both PAL and NTSC discs. You should be ok here and this shouldn't be a concern as far as the computer is concerned.
However, the US is RC 1 while S. Africa I believe is RC 2. If you attempt to play a dvd from RC 1 in RC 2 then you'll get a dialog box asking you to set the proper region. And like I said, you can do this up to 5 times.
My suggestion is if you plan to be in both regions, invest in an ext. FW burner / player. Have the mac set to US (region 1) and the ext. FW device set to region 2 ..... that way you'll conserve on resetting your mac each time you wish to play a different region / dvd.
http://www.macworld.com/article/133147/2008/04/wrestledvdregion.html
Hope this makes sense but if not just come on back.
Message was edited by: SDMacuser

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

Does iDVD actually convert NTSC/PAL?

I was just dozing on the bed and had a moment of clarity...
Well, I've recently got a new iMac and got into this DVD thing I shoot movies of my family and send them back home on DVD. I'm in Japan (NTSC) and the family's back in England (PAL). My camera and iMac are all Japanese-bought.
I put my movies into iMovie then iDVD. I've made 3 or 4 movies so far. What I've been doing is rather troublesome, actually, but I've put the movies through to iDVD twice. The first time with iDVD preferences set to NTSC (my copy), then set to PAL (family's copy). This requires setting up the DVD menus, etc., twice in iDVD. Well, it's two completely different projects. A drag. Intuitively I feel this is wrong or unneccessary, so part of my query is whether this is necessary?
I've only had feedback on one movie so far - the first one. For that one I sent both an NTSC and PAL version back to see which worked or were better, etc., as I don't really understand the technology yet. Now according to my brother there was no difference between them (obviously he can play NTSC on his PAL player).
I've made a few more and sent PAL for the simple reason that England is a PAL country...
Then this 'moment of clarity' I just had was: that option in iDVD to set between NTSC and PAL, is that only to reflect the original tape and NOT to convert?? Have I, in fact, been sending NTSC DVDs only?? Or does it tell iDVD to convert to PAL when I send it an NTSC iMovie?
If it DOESN'T convert, that would explain why both were the same on my brother's player. In that case, does that mean I can only send inferior quality DVDs (I'm assuming PAL plays better than NTSC on a PAL player)?
On the other hand, the fact that they appear the same could be simply that the quality of both is not so good (the movies are just under an hour, with transitions and a little music).
Sorry, bit rambling, but I have a lot to learn, especially if I want to ensure my family get a good record of our lives here.
I remember when digital watches and calculators first became available. That was the height of technology. People were happier then...
Thanks in advance for any info and advice.
James
PS please reply as to an idiot

IDVD uses different templates depending on which format you choose. PAL and NTSC are different formats, not only in frame size, but color resolution, and frame rate.
Yes, PAL is superior to NTSC. However, some regions of the world can only play NTSC, others PAL... some can play both formats.
You must specify the format BEFORE starting a new iDVD project because you can change that setting over and over again after having started a project and it will actually only use the setting that it was set to when the new project was started. As in, change your video standard preference, then File > New... not the other way around.
As for transcoding... many apps do transcode, but by mistake, not by design. What I mean is, if you take NTSC footage (720x480 29.97 FPS Non-square pixels) and tell it to output it as PAL footage (720x576 25 FPS Square pixels), it will. It will convert it by stretching the pixels vertically and reducing the frame rate. Most may not even be able to notice the difference, especially when viewed on an analog device such as a TV... it might be more apparent on a digital device such as a computer. Another example would be to take a 320x240 Quicktime move and then add it to iDVD directly. It will stretch the content to fit the format that you have chosen. Now there is a drastic change in viewing quality because there was a drastic change in frame size. PAL and NTSC are quite close to one another by comparison.
All in all, you should shoot in PAL if you wish to output PAL DVDs and conversely shoot in NTSC if you wish to output NTSC DVDs. This will result in the best outcome.
NTSC is jokingly referred to as Never Twice the Same Color... meaning that NTSC has some of the worst color rendering out there. It is one of the primary reasons why the U.S. is FINALLY switching to HD... to say goodbye to the archaic format that has existed in the U.S. for well over 50 years. PAL too is going away. Cheer the arrival of HD... it is superior to both PAL and NTSC on a grand scale.

How to convert DVDs (PAL, NTSC) to mp4?

Hello,
I would like to convert DVDs (PAL, NTSC) to mp4.
I have Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, but never used it.
I am looking for a easy to understand information how to do it step by step.
Maybe there are already how tos for this?
PAL: 720 x 576, 25 fps
NTSC: 720 x 480, 29 fps
Thank you very much.
Sandra

Oh, you need to learn the program first before you can export anything...
Get yourself a month of Lynda.com subscription and learn CS3.
Watch the Online Video Course Premiere Pro CS3 Essential Training
Adobe TV had a course for CS3 but they dropped that.

Converting to PAL from 1080p

I'm about to start on a short, somewhat animated sequence in HD. The final output will be NTSC dvd, PAL dvd, and HD 1080 24p or 30p for download. I don't care what frame rate the original sequence is at whether it's 24p or 30p, I just want it to be in a frame rate that is easiest and best to convert to PAL. I will be using Compressor to do the conversion and compression.
What frame rate should I use for the original sequence?

29.97 is your choice.
Open Compressor,
reading through the menu of the settings tab (standard definition folder) you can see it by yourself.
I have a link for you for more details about setting a potentially good conversion:
http://www.macworld.com/article/49306/2006/02/marchcreate.html
Good luck,
G.

NTSC DVD created with iMovie 6.0.3. Need to convert to PAL.

Is there a way to do this without starting over? Can I switch iMovie from NTSC to PAL? Can I take my iMovie NTSC project and copy it to a new iMovie window after switching the preferences to PAL? Would that keep chapters in place? Can Toast or something do this? I sure hate to totally start over.

Hi
Please Karsten
b) export your iMovie project; drag the resulting file into a new PAL IDVD project; iDVD will ask you to keep or change the standard
IS NO GOOD WAY at all - It works but resulting DVD is barely viewable ! (jumpy, un-sharp and really bad)
a) is an excellent choice as long as TV is fairly modern - else result will be Bl/W
My notes on this:
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

Can iMOVIE HD convert a PAL DVD to a NTSC DVD?

That was all! Can iMOVIE HD convert a PAL DVD to a NTSC DVD? That's my only question. Thanks.

Hi
A. Commersial DVDs - No Not at all - Not even legal to discuss.
B. Home made DVDs (without copy protection)
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 conver the PAL DVD to streaming.DV
• I use Roxio Toast™ to do this (There are no free converter)
• MPEG Streamclip (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)
Yours Bengt W

Convert HDV PAL 1080i50 to NTSC HD 1080i

Has anyone ever successfully converted HDV PAL 1080i50 to NTSC HD 1080i. we keep running into problems with cinema tools. Both the preferences in the file menu and button marked "conform" in the open clip dialogue are GRAYED OUT!! Please help...
We've also tried using MPEG Streamclip 1.9 to conform our footage with meager results. Basically we always end up with jumpy footage.
Also if no one knows how to do this, what about converting 1080i50 to 1080i/p 23.98/24?? Is this possible? Can it have smooth playback?

I've done it in a different way.... I've used FCP Media Manager to recompress the HDV footage to DVCPRO HD, then it works in Cinema Tools, although I've gotten glitches in the video for some reason on occasion. Inotherwords, the orginal PAL DVCPRO HD file is perfect. Then when I conform it in Cinema Tools to 23.98 (which takes about a second), it's now a perfect NTSC file with the exception that at around 5 mins. in, there's a five frame glitch, which I have no way to explain except that there's a glitch in the software which causes that...

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.

When to convert from PAL to NTSC?

I want to convert PAL DV movies to NTSC DVDs. Should I do the PAL to NTSC conversion as I export the QT movie, which QT seems capable of, or should I drop the PAL QT movie into Compressor and do the conversion there? Any advise or reports of experience with this process would be appreciated.

Hi
As I know and try, first convert your movie to NTSC and then convert it to MPEG.
converting DV-PAL to MPEG-2 NTSC is taking too long.
good converting takes 1.2 hour to 1 min of video on G5 Dual 2.5GHz.
you can download my compressor droplets (compressor 2).
http://homepage.mac.com/tal_rom/FileSharing7.html
Tal

Can a NTSC Panasonic camcorder be used with OSX 10.6.7 and be converted to PAL

I have the opportunity to buy a panasonic camcorder in USA which records in NTSC and the software to install is NTSC.
As I live in Australia and the TV & Video is PAL.
Can the software be installed and allow the mac to convert to PAL in iMovie or will I require other conversion software?

You can choose to have your project be in NTSC or PAL within iMovie under Project Properties. I don't know at all what the software is supposed to do and wouldn't know if it is even compatible with Mac OS - and, I don't think you need it. iMovie will import and is compatible with many different cameras and camcorders; take a look at this article (and be sure to click on the link for supported cameras):
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/9.0/en/mov39f85198.html

Burning a NTSC movie on a PAL disc.

I keep getting the Message
"It seems that we are burning a NTSC movie on a PAL disc. "
The blank DVDs I am using are not formatted as anything and I never got this message until recently upgrading Tiger.

The blank DVDs I am using are not formatted as anythin
Very true.
In the iDVD Preferences you need to change the PAL setting to NTSC BEFORE starting a new project.

Convert to PAL

Need to convert NTSC movie with extras to PAL viewing copies. Price to do this is around $40 per disc, I read the post about streamclip, wonder if it works with 7.2GB?

whats a racing car got to do with standards conversion?
This question is about the right tool for the right quality at the right price.
Compressor is bundled with FC Studio so no extra cost, Nattress is the gold standard software converter at £50 for a liftime use, this is cheeper than Jim could get for one disc converted.
I turn my head and look at a £20,000 Snell &Wilcox Alchemist which is charged by the second.
make yer choice, pay yer money

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

Converting to PAL Discs

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for