NTSC/PAL conversion workflow

After years of working with hardware converters (the best of which I don't have available to me anymore), I'm now always playing with various software conversion methods. I know Compressor 2 works okay but is terribly slow, the Nattress filters are good and faster and I've just started playing with JES Deinterlacer which seems useful.
Anyways, a co-worker here with an Avid and Procoder says he can capture as NTSC (DV or whatever) and just export a PAL MPEG to make a PAL DVD without an additional conversion step. I havent' looked at his results yet, but he said it looks fine and didn't take much longer than if there had been no conversion.
So I started wondering why you can't do this with Compressor. And actually, it seems you can. Edit in FCP in one format, then create a custom MPEG-2 preset in Compressor in the other format and work just as you would otherwise. I just did this once and it worked fine though there seems to be quite a bit of jaggies when viewed on my cinema display. I don't have a multi-standard monitor in front of me right now, though I will later and will check it there.
So, the question is, what technically is the difference between this method and using a better (but slower) converter like Nattress or Compressor 2 Format Converter and what sort of quality difference should I expect? And does anybody know how Procoder compares using this or other workflows?
I work at a large university and occasionally need to do these things. Normally we're originatin in DV and usually just outputting to DVD, so often there's no need for a DV to DV conversion.
Thanks much to Graeme or anyone that has any insight into this.
Doug

Hi Graeme. Thanks for the response. But do you know what the difference is between those low Compressor 2 settings and just changing a basic MPEG-2 preset to PAL? Know what I mean? Is it even necessary to do the whole "Advanced Conversion" step in C2? Its so quick and easy just to change the MPEG-2 setting to PAL, but I haven't had time to test how it compares to using Advanced Conversion, either at low or high quality. With alot of what I'm doing, the source media looks terrible anyways, so I don't need a perfect conversion. Just something decent and fast preferably.
I shamefully admit I still haven't tried yours except to demo, but I will one of these days when I have a few dollars or have a huge load of conversions to get through.
Doug

Similar Messages

  • NTSC/PAL conversion question

    On my vacation I took a lot of video clips with my digital camera, and made them into a movie. However, some of the people I want to send a movie to are in Europe/Africa, and need to view it in PAL format. When I made the movie, I did it in NTSC, format. When I transfer to iDVD, do I need to change the format in iMovie or in iDVD? If I have to do it in iMovie, do I have to completely redo the whole thing? Or is there a way to just convert the present NTSC version to the PAL version? If so, how? (I solved by lack of hard drive space by getting a new hard drive placed in my Power Mac-now have 100GB).

    Hi dianeh,
    most many/all dvdplayers over here are able to
    read/playback NTSC dvds... no problem at all...
    second:
    export whole project as QT dv stream (1h = 13GB)...
    import that into JES Deinterlacer, for free
    http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeschot/home.html
    choose conversion NTSC>PAL
    another 13Gig per hour....
    import THAT into iDVD
    burn PAL version.......
    hope I could be helpful
    Tank you-I'll give it a try!!

  • Fixing Drop-Outs and NTSC PAL Conversion

    Hi All,
    I know there is a filter / Programme out there that can remove Beta Drop-Outs from bad video fields but the name escapes me. Also I need to find an excellent Pal to NTSC conversion software, this is for a broadcast programme so it MUST be a professional quality. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
    Dual 2 G5   Mac OS X (10.4.1)  

    See if this is what you want. I think this is what I used several months ago that worked.
    10-06-05 dropout fix plugin
    http://www.digitalheaven.co.uk/indexflash.htm
    Sharon
    G5 DP 2.5   Mac OS X (10.4.1)   4.5GB RAM

  • NTSC - PAL conversion problem

    I'm noticing a sort of faint horizontal line effect (like cardboard) on a lot of my conversions recently - can anybody explain what might be causing this?
    Compressor setting:
    Frame Controls: On
    Resize Filter: Best (Statistical prediction)
    Output Fields: Same as Source
    Deinterlace: Better (Motion adaptive)
    Adaptive Details - Checked
    Anti-Alias: 0
    Details Level: 0
    Rate Conversion: Better (Motion compensated)

    What is the delivery format of the finished movie?
    If it's going to DVD, 99% of PAL players will handle NTSC discs without issues.
    If it is for transfer to tape or you need to be sure of having a working DVD for the other 1% and you are doing this regularly, look at setting up a relationship with a post house that has a hardware based standards converter from Snell & Wilcox or Teranex. You will get great results in real time and a real expert operating the thing. Shop around for the best deal.
    Can you post a small clip of your "cardboard effect" somewhere?

  • NTSC PAL conversion with Atlantis software

    Anyone used this: http://www.dvfilm.com/atlantis/index.htm
    The demo appears to work well - but would be grateful for your input before parting with the cash.
    Cheers,
    Steve
    Message was edited by: Juzcoping

    I have about 2000 X 5 - 10 sec clips to convert from NTSC to PAL. Nattress, while very good, is a bit time consuming what with nesting files and all. Haven't considered using Compressor. Will look into that too.
    Cheers.

  • NTSC/PAL conversion quality query

    I have managed to accidentally do all my iMovie in NTSC format rather than PAL. I found out that you can recode it and save it as a quicktime movie in PAL format. Will this reduce the quality of the finished product or would I be better off doing it all again in PAL format in iMovie?

    Hi Sparkley:
    Read this and then decide...
    How can I convert PAL<->NTSC
    http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#PALNTSC
    ;)Sue

  • NTSC-PAL Conversion???

    I'm trying to find out a way of converting 1080i(29.97) to 1080i50 without getting motion judder. Does anyone know how?

    I get very good results using compressors advanced mode, I convert HDV 1080i60 to HDV 1080i50 and turn on the advanced motion controls.
    It takes a very, very, very long time - hours per minute kind of long time - but the end result looks like it was shot natively at 1080i50 for most movement. I found natresses stuff was very quick, and delivered an excellent result (it blends at a field level) but still had motion strobing on slow smooth pans - it is worth having that plugin in your toolkit though, just anyway.
    If you need it done well, this side of Christmas, you are going to have to take it somewhere.
    Test a small clip, like 10 seconds, and work from there.

  • Any successful NTSC to PAL conversions out there and how?

    Hi all. I am using Compressor 2 and have yet to get a good NTSC to PAL conversion with the built in preset. I could use some suggestions.

    If you are unhappy with the current results don't use the standard preset. Try one of the other frame control options that offer higher quality but with much longer processing times. Also, make certain that you have the latest Compressor updates, the last update had fixes for NTSC/PAL conversions.
    Finally, you might want to try the freeware utiltiy JES Deinterlacer. JES does adaptive deinterlacing, inverse telecine, and NTSC/PAL conversion and many users seem to be happy with its results (and since it is a completely free download you can hardly go wrong).

  • NTSC - PAL colors conversion for betacam

    I need to get a video file that is NTSC (no compression 8bit) into PAL (no compression 8bit) to edit it in Final cut pro 5.1.4 and to put titles from Motion, to finally put it on a betacam tape. To be shure that the conversion (NTSC-PAL) is well done, I gave the NTSC file to a professionel conversion compagny. (I tried to do it myself with compressor and with the plug-in natress, but was not completly satisfied with the result).
    Now my problem is that the conversion company didn't compensate the modification of colors during the conversion. So now I have a file in pal (no compression 8bit) but the colors are lighter then the original file in NTSC.
    Can someone tip me on a way to modify the colors in Final cut pro of my file in PAL? I know how to use most of the filters, but I don't now much about doing it professionally. I was hoping that there could be a filter or a plugin that is made for my kind of problem, and I'm afraid of making a mistake because I never prepaired a file for a betacam tape before. Do I have to be carefull with the percentage of black or of white? Do I have to work in RGB or YUV?
    My second question is: the video PAL that was converted from NTSC has lines where there is quick movement when I look at it in Final cut pro or Quicktime. (the original NTSC file didn't have them) Should I use a filter to desinterlace it or will these lines disapear any way on the betcam tape? But I'm puting titles with Motion, so those titles don't have lines... How will they mix with the video?
    Thanks for your help
    Louie

    Hi mish,
    that is such a .. <searching correct english word> hillarious (?) idea, I give you a star for that ;-)))
    changing some flags on a ready-made dvd... wow! nice try...- but as Fred said, NTSC<<>>PAL conversions are no trivial tasks... you run into many problems, e.g. where do you get the additonal 5 frames per second you need for a transfer from PAL to NTSC? how to make the audio fit to these new pictures? and, I HAVE to do this silly joke: NTSC has a very different color concept (Never The Same Color) then PAL.. and for sure a different res...
    the name is irritating, but all mighty JES Deinterlacer is doing a fantastic job in converting video standards (ok, for a free software solution...) give that a try!

  • Pitch Change fix for 24p NTSC to PAL Conversion

    Anyone here have a decent tutorial for Audacity or Soundtrack Pro to fix 4% pitch change caused from 24p NTSC to PAL conversion? I don't have Protools. Thanks!
    Alexander

    In the Project tab of STP (top left pane) there is an Audio PullUp/PullDown menu. You should find the preset you need in there.

  • NTSC MPEG2 conversion to PAL MPEG2

    I have 10 NTSC wedding dvds which I want to convert to PAL dvds. I don't have the original dv files, just the finished dvds. I want to be able to view my made in Canada dvds in India. Is it possible to do this?
    I know that some dvd players will play both pal and ntsc, but i don't know if my relatives have this type of player.
    Is there an easy way to do the conversion or should i just tell my relatives to get a ntsc/pal dvd player?

    http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6017.shtml
    http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/~shmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#PALNTSC

  • Used to, but now can't detect a NTSC/PAL external monitor.

    This has come up in this forum as well as others in the past. Here is the syndrome:
    1. iBook (or other) is hooked up to an external NTSC/PAL monitor (in my case a Sumsung LCD TV) via the mini-VGA/S-Video out.
    2. Works perfectly for some period of time, days to years, as far as I've seen people post.
    3. Suddenly, iBook does not recognize the external NTSC monitor, and outputs crap onto the monitor.
    4. Detect display in the preferences only gives the native LCD (ibook) and a VGA external monitor.
    5. This doesn't go away, and no one has found a way to make it go away.
    Anyone figure out what the crap is going on with this? ANYONE HAVE A SOLUTION???

    Pullout the Battery of working phone - Insert it after a minute - Then Check
    Regards Eree - Follow me on Twitter - Facebook - Google+
    For More visit My Blog

  • HDV NTSC/PAL machine with HDMI output ???????????? To hire????

    I live in the UK where we have PAL...I have a big job to do that is NTSC HDV...
    What can I use to play out the tapes into my FC2.....
    I have a sony HC7 buts its PAL....I also have access to couple of bigger sony cameras that play Ntsc/Pal but dont have HDMI to access the full HDV to capture it using Pro Rez via my Blachmagic card/HDMI////....
    What is best to hire>>>>>

    Thanks for your reply....
    NO the material is in NTSC and that is what i want to keep it in for NTSC DVD release....Its just that the camera i have is PAL....
    And I need to find something with HDMI out to access the raw HDV format....
    Cheers
    ROB

  • G4 with OS X 10.4.11 and DVD's in various formats (NTSC, PAL, SECAM).

    Can a G4 AGP Graphics “Sawtooth” running OS X 10.4.11 Tiger play DVD's in the various regional formats (such as NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) an unlimited number of times, or is there a limit to how often the capability to play a particular format can be switched to the capability to play a different one?

    Using an application such as VLC should optimize format playability.  It may also help with the region code issue.  The "number of times" isn't to do with the DVD format, it has to do with region codes set into the DVD by the media distributors.  You can change that 5 times and then the DVD player is locked in forever. Try VLC and it may help with both the format playback and maybe get around the region code issue (disable Apple's own automatic DVD Player activation).
    VLC media player - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ - general media player that plays just about anything.
    Niceplayer - http://code.google.com/p/niceplayer/

  • Apple TV/FM Card NTSC - PAL switch?

    G'day,
    Long shot I know... but after opening my TAM on the weekend, and examining the TV/FM tuner card, I saw it was a Philips brand card. So I wrote to Philips Australia to see if they happened to have any laying around.
    No, they said, but - some of their TV tuner cards were "switchable" between formats... I was told.
    I've put the TAM back together again now, and would rather not open it back up for nothing...
    Can anyone out there shed light on this? Apple only have 1 reference number for the TV/FM card - they don't distinguish between regions - NTSC, PAL, or SECAM. Could this be because they just have to flick a switch on the card to tell it which zone it's in???
    I do realise that the cards also have different connectors... (NTSC has screw-on antenna connectors, whereas PAL and (I think) SECAM have just slide-on ones) But is that all the difference? and you just flick a switch somewhere for the region?
    Cheers
    cosmic

    The video input standard is selected in the Apple Video Player program, so there's no need for different verions of the TV or TV/FM card. The correct video input standard (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM) for your region is pre-set, according to the region version of the Apple OS that was installed. To change the setting, select "Preferences" within the Apple Video Player program. In addition to the video input standard, you'll find settings for movie compression and the remote control. An adapter is required to change the TV/FM card's coaxial "F" type connector to a different type. Here is the User Manual for the TV/FM card. It should provide you with answers to most questions that you might have.
    Incidentally, optional Apple input/expansion cards (like the TV/FM card) or specific components found on these cards are typically manufactured by well-known, third-party semiconductor companies, but the cards are considered "Apple" products. As such, third-party companies (like Philips) won't stock these products. For example, Motorola made many of Apple's PowerPC processor chips, but they never stocked/sold the motherboards on which these processors were soldered.

Maybe you are looking for