Good old PAL to NTSC

Ok I have to convert Pal to NTSC and then burn to DVDSP. Is what Im doing correct and giving me the best possible quality?
1, Cut my master piece in fcp and exported it with QT (pal) 15GB
2. Opened compressor 2 and used advanced format conversion DV NTSC
3. Change file format to mpeg2 (in the inspector)
4. 1 pass VBR best (in the inspector) - is this the best/normal setting
5. Thus got a summary saying something like this - please forget the est file size as I used small clip to get same info
Name: DV NTSC
Description: DV/DVCam NTSC with 48kHz stereo audio
File Extension: m2v
Estimated file size: 5.91 MB
Video Encoder
Format: M2V
Width: 720
Height: 480
Pixel aspect ratio: NTSC CCIR 601/DV
Crop: None
Frame rate: 29.97
Frame Controls: Off
Aspect ratio: 4:3
Field dominance: Progressive scan
Average data rate: 5 (Mbps)
1 Pass VBR enabled
Maximum data rate: 7.5 (Mbps)
High quality
Best motion estimation
Closed GOP Size: 15, Structure: IBBP
DVD Studio Pro meta-data enabled
It is saying it will take 4/5 hrs to encode this. Do I then import this asset into DVDSP with NTSC mode on and build and burn my DVD? Ship it to the states and never have to worry about doing this crap again.
Owen

If you are planning to use Compressor's default PAL-to-NTSC preset then I'd do a short test to look at the quality of the conversion. I believe that the conversion presets that Apple offers use a low quality setting which may not produce results to your liking (others have reported so).
In any case, you can change Apple's presets to give higher quality but the processing times will increase dramatically. As an alternative, you might want to give the freeware utility JES Deinterlacer a try. JES does fast, good quality deinterlacing and standards conversion (PAL to/from NTSC) and it's a free download from places like VersionTracker.com.

Similar Messages

How to convert HD DVD to SD in PAL and NTSC - is the MXO2 the magic bullet?

I edited a 1 hour-long video of my college class reunion in FCP Studio 2, exported via Compressor and finally made it into a DVD with menus via DVDSP. Very neat so far, but there's a problem - the DVD is in HD, but I need to convert it to SD PAL to distribute to my old pals in the UK and SD NTSC for those who made it to the USA.
I'd like to do that without re-doing all the fancy menu-work in DVDSP, but how? Can anyone advise me, will the new Matrox MXO2 convert an input HD PAL signal to an SD PAL / or SD NTSC output which can be re-acquired into DVDSP and burned to disk?
Advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

Jerry, I appreciate your help with this. I exported the film from FCPS2 via Compressor as a PAL SD .mov, located the correct HD video asset in the DVDSP Build folder and replaced it with the new SD version, renamed to look like the HD asset.
On re-opening the project, DVDSP registers the fact that the video asset has changed (mainly affects menu items), but despite ensuring Preferences is set for SD, there seems no way of changing the format of its output from HD to SD.
Trying to hide the HD video asset in a sub-folder doesn't work - DVDSP re-names the new SD video as Filename (Video) 1.
Build command creates an HVDVD_TS folder containing the usual HD-type files. Creating a template in the hope of using the menu structure in a new SD project results in all the HD video assets coming with it.
I'm sure I'm being stupid, as usual, but can you point me in a better direction?
Thanks
Dr8x

Converting PAL to NTSC and making a DVD

I have a couple of .avi files, some are in PAL and others in NTSC, I wanna make a DVD in NTSC mode, How can I convert the files?

Hi
This is not easy and You need other programs to do this.
.avi.
You can use MPEG-Streamclip to convert the AVI files so that QuickTime can play them
and to streamingDV for iMovie.
This may work - I had great problems to get .avi into anything usably.
*PAL to NTSC or other way*
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.
• 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

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

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

I live in Australia, should I use PAL or NTSC settings when creating my DVD?

I am new to creating DVDs and I am not sure what settings will give me the best quality when I burn it to DVD. I live in Australia, should I use PAL or NTSC settings? Any other hints?

Hi
My best Guess is - PAL
Does Your electicity current use 50Hz or 60Hz
Sweden 240V 50Hz - TV - 25 frames per sec = PAL
USA 110V 60Hz - TV - 29,97 fps = NTSC
AND
Then it comes to HOW the Video was recorded - AS iDVD does not convert in a very good way. I use JES_Deinterlacer to do this when I need to send a DVD to USA. and it's free on Internet and even very expencive converters doesn't do it any better.
Yours Bengt W

PAL or NTSC for international distribution?

Hi everybody, we have a 5 hrs film shot and edited in Premiere Pro CS6 in HD pal, 50fps, 16:9 intended for international distribution on 2 double layer DVDs. How should we best author it to guarantee worldwide compatibility and best possible quality? PAL or NTSC? There is no budget to press both, PAL and NTSC DVDs. Thanks for your help!!!

NTSC every time.
All PAL players these days will happily output NTSC content either as true NTSC (by running an on-the-fly standards conversion in the video decoder chips) or else as PAL-60.
Very few NTSC players will output PAL in any form.
Your biggest problem will be standards converting your 50i footage into 29.97.
EDIT.
Here's a great tip for you.
Do not ever shoot at 25 fps in any shape, way or form if you need international release. Use 24p instead - and when the time comes to burn a DVD all you need to do is scale it down & render to DV 24p widescreen from Adobe Media Encoder. All will be fine, and you can use fully progressive images all the way through.
Pros:
24p footage is universal, 25p is not spec compliant, must be interlaced & will only work in PAL regions.
24p will play - in an upscaling player (such as a modern Universal, or a good BluRay player) at the encoded rate (Hollywood have been pulling this trick for years now) and in a non-upscaling player it will automatically pull to 29.97 with no intervention needed from the user.
Cons.
None that immediately come to mind - although of course 24p footage has it's own issues but these are outweighed by not having to standards convert.
Why this is needed.
Because although most US discs will play in PAL players, either as pure NTSC or PAL-60, the reverse is not true and even when you can find a US player that will handle a 25i stream, you will run into difficulties with the display because the mains is at the wrong frequency (60Hz instead of 50Hz) and the image will be garbled, black & white or missing altogether. A study by Sony showed that perhaps 1/20 players can output PAL frame rates properly in NTSC regions.

Pal or NTSC in HD

There is a difference between pal and ntsc in the PMW-Ex1 camera? If I shot 1080p30 (only in ntsc setup) and then render the footage to prores, there is a difference to downscale to a sd pal or ntsc?
Message was edited by: FranTex

HD in NTSC land is 59.94, 29.97 or 23.98
HD in PAL land is 50fps or 25fps.
If you need to convert NTSC to PAL, you need to either dub it at a post facility (best method), or you can use Compressor to convert (OK method), or use the STANARDS CONVERTER from www.nattress.com (good method, but meant for mixing small clips from one format into another).
Shane

Burning in Brazil: PAL or NTSC?

I'm making a dvd with iDVD for my girlfriend to play in her dvd-player in Brazil. In the "Projectinfo" window, I see that I can/have to choose between either the PAL or NTSC format. Which one I have to use? I know that in Europe the system is PAL and I think in Brazil it's NTSC, but I'm not sure. And it's kind of a present for her birthday, so it would be a pity if the disc doesn't play on the big day. Any help appreciated!
bye, Joost

Brazil uses PAL-M
http://www.high-techproductions.com/pal.htm
but even if you send her an ntsc copy it should work fine in most newer pal DVD players (most of which play both pal and ntsc) ... Hope this is Helpful & Good luck.

PAL to NTSC ? a little help please!

Hi. I have read several topics but couldn't really find an appropriate answer to my question.
I am trying to:
I live in Switzerland where we use the PAL system. So I have a PAL video-camera.
I am trying to create an NTSC movie to send to friends in the US!
I understand about the part where you can export the movie to NTSC format.
My problem is:
1) Proportions!! PAL is: 720x576 and NTSC is: 720x480!
The height is shorter so when I export, the image is squeezed!
Is there a way to "CROP" the image instead of having the image squeezed ?
2) I also saw that you can keep your proportions while exporting to NTSC, but then what will happen when someone uses a NTSC TV to watch movie. Will it squeeze the image, or will it add black stripes at the top and bottom?
3) I thought if my iMovie file was NTSC that it would crop the image when I do the import from my camera. But it doesn't work, and plus .. it transforms the NTSC standard to PAL automatically. So you can't even chose the format!
Any ideas, suggestions ? How could I do it? I am a bit lost! MANY thanks! & kind regards,
Stephanie

default settings (no cropping) to export as NTSC, but it didn't work out.
What was the problem then? How did it not work out??
The following page has info how to preserve correct aspect ratio when converting video:
http://www.iki.fi/znark/video/conversion/
For example, Section 3.2.2 has instructions for PAL to NTSC conversion:
PAL 720x576 must be resampled to 729x486, then cropped to the final 720x480 NTSC resolution.
I haven't tested whether JES Deinterlacer does the conversion along those lines (very few applications do these things right but luckily almost no one notices that!!) but in my tests the results have been very good.
If it is NTSC, why is it [iDVD] using PAL size ?
Notice that iDVD's PAL/NTSC setting takes effect only for new projects.

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.

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

Pal to ntsc small query

I have read up on the forum re producing an NTSC dvd from a Pal file and taken on board the suggestions re compressor & nattress etc. One quick question though. A friend of mine who shoots in Pal and produces dvd's in both pal & ntsc says he simply nests and exports the Pal project using QTconversion, sets up a new NTSC sequence and imports the qt file into it.
I have tried a small clip this way and if I look at the new clips properties in QT player, it appears to display as the correct frame rates etc for NTSC and seems to play ok.
Is there something very obviously wrong with this method? I am assuming so as otherwise everyone would use this method.
I think my friend is working on the basis that he says FCP will happily handle a mix of PAL & NTSC in the same timeline so switching is not a problem?
Confused?

All my movies/DVD are short ones then I use the Natrress plugins with very good results. It works inside FCP. It's a time consuming process, but you can leave working alone as heavy renders.
About how to test reaults, I don't find any other option that using a real NTSC TV. I'm sure you can find some models there with both standards PAL and NTSC.
Don't judge the conversion in the computer monitor because you need to check there is no problems with interlacing/scan.

PAL to NTSC...Unsure how to verify

Hi there, I have transcoded the clip from PAL to NTSC in Compressor 2. I have resized all my menus etc and authored in DVD Studio Pro 4 with the session set to NTSC. I am now wanting to verify that it will work in the USA (I am in Australia).
I have a Sony professional monitor, which I have set to NTSC. I have a DVD player that I have also set to NTSC. I then play my new NTSC DVD and it works. The only catch is that my PAL version of the same project also works within the NTSC environment, only it's not quite as smooth.
Is the difference between NTSC and PAL (within the correct environment) a matter of 'work' or 'not work' or does it just not look quite as good?
Thanks, Simon.

If you authored the DVD in DVD SP as "NTSC", it will work for shure in a NTSC only enviroment. Of course the quality of the video will not be so good as the original PAL DVD because the conversion, but it will work.
DVD SP doesn't let you mix PAL and NTSC assets.
I live in Argentina where the TV standard is PAL, my pro DV camera is PAL . . . but . . . all commercial dvd movies (sale or rental ones) are NTSC (don't ask me why who's smart brain decided so). Then I live with the double standard problem because most of the dvd players sold here are not capables of play PAL.
Be sure your project is set to NTSC in DVD SP and everything will be fine.

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.....

Good old PAL to NTSC

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