Making a PAL version of an NTSC DVD

Hello all.
I have recently finish production on a short film, made a DVD with extras for the crew, and now need to send one to Australia (PAL DVD). What is the best way to transform my NTSC DVD project to PAL. Do I need extra software to do this, or simply use the PAL settings on my NTSC video and let compressor do the work? Could I change my DVD SP project file to PAL and let DVD SP work it's magic?
Using:
DVDSP 4
Compressor 3
Thanks everyone!

Hi:
Another one:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=976262&tstart=15
And something to take in account is that "ussually" DVD players & TVs in PAL countries can play NTSC DVDs (what doesn't happen in NTSC countries where most of the equipmnets cannot read/play PAL movies).
You could check that with your contact/customer in Australia.
Hope that helps !
Alberto

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PAL DV footage to NTSC DVD help wanted!

Hi there, apologies if this has been tackled elsewhere, but I couldn't locate it!
I have a finished PAL edit of around 90 minutes in FCP 4.5 that I have output to a PAL DVD via DVD SP 4/Compressor 2. Following this, the client has also asked for an identical NTSC DVD to send to the USA. Luckily I have the edit still loaded in FCP - therefore: This is the first time I have needed to do a standards conversion. Can anyone advise what the best method/workflow for creating this NTSC DVD is?
Many thanks in advance for your time, TP
PowerMac G5, Dual 1.8 ghz, 3GB Ram, 250 GB HD Mac OS X (10.4.6) FCP 4.5, DVD SP4, Motion, Toast 6 Titanium

You didn't understand what my last post said.
I said go from his PAL DV edit in FCP to a DV tape (DVCam preferrably). Then have the PAL DVCam tape transferred to another DVCam tape in NTSC.
PAL is better quality that NTSC so there will be some loss just because there is less resolution in NTSC than PAL, but keeping it on a DVCam tape is fine.
Then log the footage back into FCP with NTSC settings and then edit/export/author.
I said nothing about tranferring it to analog or VHS. I don't know where you got that one. He said his original footage was edited in DV.
And YES, if you take it to a "professional" dub house it will turn out better than most software conversions is what i meant. I have used Lightning Media in Hollywood for years and their stuff turns out great.

H264 MP4 PAL to NTSC DVD

Im having issues convertin an H264 mp4 PAL file to an NTSC DVD. Im getting blocking and stuttering on playback after I use Toast to burn the DVD. Ive tried to convert the files in mpeg stream clip and in QT but to no avail. Getting errors with both. This is an odd scenario in my book, so I figured I would put it out there to see if anyone has had any luck. Thanks All.

Have you tried JES Deinterlacer? Much better for transcoding.
Also, it might be advantageous to convert first into an editable video (anything with low compression) before transcoding. The way you do it, you are asking for two major steps simultaneaously.
Also, do the encoding to MPEG2 (for the DVD) as a separate last step (in Compressor)

NTSC DVD material: Client wants PAL version, how?

Client now wants to know if the NTSC DVD we just did can be made into a PAL version using the same assets...I don't think so, correct? So what is best to do with this scenario - NTSC DVCPRO HD 720p60 material (and one HDV 1440x1080i seq) in my many FCP timelines. Do I just change every seq to PAL? How? Then use Compressor to make PAL mpeg 2's for DVD SP 4?
What's best workflow, or thing to do?
Thanks greatly
K

many PAL DVD payer and TV combinations are not able to play NTSC discs
and if they do the video picture area is aways smaller and always reduced in picture resolution.
When I recieve a DVD I expect it to play properly in full resolution and quality and not to rely on substandard work arounds.
If your client asks for A PAL DVD, give them what they asked for and convert the assets to PAL.
if you have the budget, get a facility house to convert using a Snell & Wilcox:
http://www.snellwilcox.com/products/conversionrestoration/conversionSD.php#alchemistphcip
or for inhouse conversion use this excellent FCP plugin:
http://www.nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconversion.htm

Producing NTSC dvd's from PAL projects

Hi
I'm in Australia (PAL) but would like to produce dvd's that can be viewed in the USA.
If I produce a NTSC version of my PAL filmed project in idvd, will it work in NTSC dvd players in the USA?

when you set iDVD to NTSC/29.97 and import a PAL iMovie, iDVD will convert your material and creates a NTSC videoDVD ...
... my experience, going vice versa, NTSC >>PAL, told me, that the underlying QTengine doesn't show a good result.. so, the long way for a probably better result is:
export your iM as 'QT/Full Quality' ..
download and use for free JES Deinterlacer
open your iMexport, choose 'Project, conversion' and let JESDI do the conversion..
drop THAT new file into a NTSC iDVD project..

Same project in CS5 to PAL DVD and NTSC DVD.

Hi everyone,
I am trying to find best solution how to do it. My project is slideshow with scaled JPEG images and some video clips from DSLR camera Canon T3i.
I know that video is 16:9 (1920x1080, 29.97fr) ratio and my output should be 4:3 ratio. With this I can deal with no problems, because is just few clips. My conclusion is: How to deal with PAL SD 4:3 ( 720x576, 25fr) ratio and NTSC SD 4:3 (720x480, 29.97fr) and a lot of images. What sequence settings I should use for the project? What I can think: start with DV PAL after everything is done put in DV NTSC sequence and scale it? Any other thoughts, please?
Thank you, Art

I was recently faced with a problem on an HD NTSC video that I videoed and produced. The customer wanted a DVD that relatives over in Germany could view. My concern was how to produce and test a PAL version. My good friend Harm advised me that any DVD player in Pal-land has the capability of playing NTSC DVD video disks! It worked fine.

PAL & NTSC DVDs--an Option?

I have an extensive collection of PAL & NTSC DVDs. The G5 has a (lower) empty optical drive slot. If I install another Superdrive will I be able to set it up to exclusively use this to play PAL regions 2 & 4 DVDs without locking the G5 permanently into this format i.e. use the first drive to still play NTSC Region 1 DVDs only? I understand that the manual says the the format choice can only be changed 5 times, but it is not clear to me if this statement applies only to the optical drives or the computer itself. I certainly do not want to make an irreversible choice for the G5!
Any help will be appreciated.

So... You are confusing video standard (format) with region codes here. The optical drives in Macs (most) are region code locked, meaning that they will only play disks from one region (and that region may be changed up to 5 times before the hardware gets stuck). It doesn't care what video format is on the disk from that region (NTSC or PAL), and it doesn't care about region-free disks (recordable DVDs, and commercial region-free disks).
On the Mac, the region locking is managed by firmware on the drive itself, so you can have one drive per region, if you like.
It might be more convenient to upgrade the firmware on the drive (depending on what model you have) to a region-free version of the firmware. As you may or may not be aware, the US is a WIPO signatory country and is prohibited from recognizing region codes as a form of copy protection or copyright control. Apple includes region code locks on their drives, ostensibly at the behest of their peers in the media industry, but it's perfectly OK for you to remove it (and, there are locales where region code locking is actually prohibited, but presumably if you bought your Mac there the locks are already absent). Be aware, however, that changing the firmware of the drive would void the warranty on the drive (not the whole Mac, just the DVD drive).
Another option might be to purchase an external region-free DVD drive.

PAL to NTSC DVD compression questions

Ok,
I have recently finished a dvd in PAL format with about 4.5GB total video once compressed. Now I need to get this into an NTSC version. Is it possible to use Compressor 2 to convert the DVD compressed clips/audio [the ones ready for PAL DVD] into NTSC format ready to build my project in DVDSP? Or do I need my original quicktime clips in PAL format and change them to NTSC in Compressor 2 then make them into NTSC DVD ready clips? Also what is the best setting for NTSC DVD in compressor that will be ok for the size of my final version [4.5GB]. Sorry about these questions but I made the PAl version with compressor 1 and there was far less settings to worry about.
powerbook 12 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

I'm pretty sure you need to go back to your Final Cut source material and re-export via Compressor by selecting 'advanced standards conversion' to get your NTSC files. Then you can import these into DVDSP as NTSC assets.

NTSC DVD Transfer to PAL

I finished the Wedding in NTSC DVD. The client wants a copy in Pal to send to Russia. What is the best way to do?
Transfer NTSC DVD to DVD PAL direct, easiest way. Is there any other way?
Thanks a lot.

You must have set the wrong preset. Look in the "advanced format conversions"... Make your movie a PAL version Then perform the MPEG compression in iDVD. The the resulting file should work fine in iDVD. The resulting QT movie will be 720X576. After you do this THEN import the file into iDVD for the mpeg compression. The size of your file you just made leads me to believe that you created an MPEG PAL version... this isn't going to look as good I'll bet, and it probably won't import into iDVD which expects something other than an MPEG file.
You are starting with your sequence master from FCP right?
Jerry

NTSC DVD production from PAL media

I have had issues producing DVD for the U.S in the past.
In New Zealand we can play both PAL and NTSC on probably 99% of the DVD players in the country. Same in Australia I believe.
Seems that the U.S has mostly NTSC only DVD players and it is difficult to find a PAL or dual standard player. (Is that correct?)
Is there a better (simpler, faster, less steps) way for me to produce DVDs for the U.S (NTSC) than the way I am doing it.
Edit in PAL project and out put movie.
Import PAL Movie into a NTSC Project. Small scale adjustment usually required
Export Movie (NTSC)
Encode NTSC Movie to MPEG (I use Main Concept ENcoder - standalone version)
Open mpeg in NTSC Encore Project and burn disks
Note: I encode to mpeg outside Encore because Encore never seems to like encoding the avi (PAL or NTSC) in the NTSC Encore Project. It is fine with the mpegs

>it is difficult to find a PAL or dual standard player. (Is that correct?)
It is.
>Is there a better way for me to produce DVDs for the U.S
Maybe try DVFilm Atlantis.

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.

Change NTSC DVD to PAL

I live in the dark ages...I have a DVD player (attached to my TV) that doesn't play NTSC format properly.
I have an NTSC DVD that I want to burn into PAL format....I own the NTSC dvd so it's all legal!!....so i can watch it in colour on my DVD player.
Everytime I burn it, it is still in NTSC format...ay ideas how I change it?

During the demo installation, the Hawkeye icon is dragged to the applications folder, and post-installation shows up there under Hawkeye.
The demo version has limitations, which show in a pop-up when you start the demo version:
The demo version is limited to eight files in the library and three playlists (each playlist being limited to three files).
DVD file size is limited at 1 GB
SVCD files are limited to 400MB
iPod/PSP files are limited 100 MB
iPod/PSP Encodes direct from DVD are full length but in grayscale
New prepare modes from DVD (DV/SVCD/Change Format) are limited to 5 minutes

Creating NTSC DVD in DVDStudio Pro from PAL material

I am UK based and normally work in PAL. I have used Final Cut Pro v5 and DVD Studio Pro v 4 quite a bit for making PAL DVDs and am pretty comfortable with the process.
But I now need to create an NTSC DVD and make copies to be played in the US. . The end product is a DVD, with a menu and twelve, chapters each only 1-2 mins long, to send to US clients so needs to look reasonable. I only have to run a few copies so will not be using a duplication/replication facility.
The source material is DVCAM PAL supplied to me as PAL MOVs.
How can I convert the material to NTSC and at what stage in the process do I do this?.
Will I need other software to convert and achieve a reasonable quality DVD?
Is there anyway I can test the final result to see if it is really NTSC?

Hi,
I'm working on transcoding PAL to NTSC. I've been weighing the many pieces of software which seem to do some part of this including Hawkeye, Mpeg2 Works4, Nattress, and even Toast Titanium, but I think I've settled on doing it with Compressor 3, mostly because I already have it, and I read this Macworld article:
http://www.macworld.com/article/49306/2006/02/marchcreate.html
My first question is regarding something Drew said:
"I find converting first to PAL/NTSC in the original Codec then encoding that to m2v seemed to give better results than converting straight from PAL/NTSC to the m2v stream."
I'm not sure what that means. Can you explain a little more about what are you converting and what are you using to convert it?
For my purposes, I'm starting out with a PAL video_ts folder (region free). I've cobbled together a best-guess workflow from sources all over the internet. Would you kindly check this and steer me away from any cliffs?
I can't import the folder directly into compressor, right? So my plan is to use MPeg Slipstream to
1. Open DVD
2. Export a Quicktime movie using the "Apple DV-PAL" settings
Now I have a .mov file which Compressor will recognize, and which I can convert to NTSC by following the directions in the article, right? I don't want the audio or movie length changed, so I think I want to use the traditional method instead of "Slow-PAL". The result will be an NTSC .mov file, right? Will this .mov file contain the dvd menus, subtitles, and alternate audio tracks? Do I need to use DVD Studio Pro to fix anything?
Thanks a lot for your advice.

NTSC DVD doc for PAL Europe. Updated Advice on IF I need to convert & HOW?

I have read with interests several posts on playing NTSC, all region DVDs on PAL DVD players. I hope someone may have some updated advice for my situation. In brief, I would like to give out DVD copies to festival goers in France where my Doc will play in April. I thought to produce DVD-Rs on my Mac.
With a film acquired documentary(24fps), transferred to NTSC video (29.97 fps) sitting as both Avid and Final Cut Pro Media on my trusty G-4, I am now ready to export a Quicktime Movie and then encode to MPEG-2, and "author" a DVD in DVD Studio Pro.
Will an NTSC DVD now play on most DVD players and Televisions in Europe? (A contact stated their "players are bi-standard NTSC and PAL", but I'm still uncertain this means my DVD-R or replicated NTSC will play).
Should I make a PAL DVD?
IF I try a PAL DVD is it really as simple as exporting a Same as Source Quick Time Movie from Avid or FCP then using the QT MPEG-2 exporter and selecting "PAL" from within Quick Time? Then I just create a new Pal project in DVD Studio Pro?...... Even if it is that simple to create PAL from QT and my media, I don't see how my 24 fps/29.97 fps doc now magically becomes PAL 25 fps / 59.97 fps just because I converted it to MPEG-2.
Do you all recommend I try to make my own PAL DVD or should I just take my already authored NTSC DVDs and cross my fingers.
I really appreciate any newer thoughts on this topic. I'm an old pre-digital film guy so be kind.
Thanks, Rob
G-4 Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Yes, although the vast majority of newer European DVD players and TVs have no problems with NTSC DVDs, the only way to be sure (well, almost sure) is to burn a PAL DVD. You can't legislate for the fact, however, that not all DVD players can play all DVD-R authored disks, but that's a seperate problem!
I generally use After Effects for quick and dirty (but good quality) standards conversion. Whatever you do don't just try exporting your project via Quicktime using a PAL as this will only change the colour space and not the frame rate or frame size. If you use QT to change frame rate it will simply repeat every fifth frame to get to 30fps which will give you jerky motion.
Here's a step by step guide to doing the conversion in Compressor 2, using "optical flow" to interpolate to get the extra frames :
http://www.macworld.com/2006/02/secrets/marchcreate/index.php?pf=1

Will PAL dvd player play my NTSC DVD-r?

I'm trying to figure out if I need to convert several NTSC dvd's into PAL format to send to a friend's mom in Israel (she's very sick and would like to see these soon).
Since I've never converted between these formats, I've been doing lots of research and keep getting more confused. I downloaded JES Deinterlacer (i think thats what its called) but I'm not sure I need it since I read the following on an imovie FAQ website:
"I have an NTSC project and want a PAL DVD.
The good news is: You can just send an NTSC disc. Any PAL set top DVD player capable of playing DVD-R discs can also play NTSC discs. All that is needed is a fairly new TV, built in the last 8-10 years or so."
Could this be true? Can I really just send the NTSC dvd's to her? I hate to waste time here...please help...
Thanks so much in advance.
Jenny

That´s right; NTSC DVDs will always work on PAL players when the player is compliant to the DVD specs. Those players do give out the regular NTSC signal and/or convert to PAL60. Some players can even convert to PAL50. The problem is the TV set.
My German TV is 14 years old and cannot handle PAL60 or NTSC; I would need one of those rare players that convert to PAL50 (usually with poor results).
But NTSC DVDs will always work on a PC (when it is an all-region DVD).

Making a PAL version of an NTSC DVD

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