Pal footage in FCP to NTSC in DVD Studio Pro

I've been struggling with how to take my PAL project from FCP and get it to work as NTSC in Studio to burn a DVD. I set up Compressor to to compress as NTSC but when trying to import the Asset into Studio, I get an Incompatible Media message.
Have I missed a step here? BTW, the footage was shot on a Sony HD camera, so there's that issue too. I can get a file in Quicktime, but the image is washed out and has artifacts when I make the DVD. So obviously, I'm looking for something better.
Any ideas? Thanks!

You should do this in two stages.
First of all generate a master that uses the equivalent NTSC codec that your PAL version was made with, then make the DVD SP assets from that.
Alternatives for standards conversion:
[JES Deinterlacer|http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeschot/home.html] -decent quality and free.
[Natress Standards Conversion|http://www.nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconver sion.htm] -great quality, costs $100.
Take the original to a production facility that has either a Terranex or Snell & Wilcox converter. This will cost money so shop around. But you will get excellent results and it is real time, the other methods all take a very long time, even with a powerful high end Mac.

Similar Messages

24p footage shown as 29.97 in DVD Studio Pro

Hello,
I shot footage in DVCPRO HD codec with the HVX200 camera using the 24pN (native) recording format.
I edit everything in FCP 5 and when exporting to Compressor using the output DVD 90min best quality 16:9 everything is still OK. The video file (when opened in QT) shows that it's a 23.97 fps file as it should be.
BUT after importing it as asset in DVD Studio Pro 4, it shows as 29.97!! WHY? The video is smooth though, but why does it not show as 24p footage?
PS: everything is in NTSC (camera, FCP, DVD Studio Pro)
Thanks for any quick help,
JERRY.

Do not know if you have DVD Demystified, but page 9-34 says what you are saying. (Wanted to double check to make sure I said it right and I was starting to get a bit lost here also. Too late at night LOL )
DVD-Video supports 525/60 (NTSC 29.97 interlaced fps) and 625/50 (PAL/SECAM 25 interlaced fps) In the case of 24 fps the MPEG Encoder adds repeat first field flags to perform 2-3 pulldown fo 60 displays, for PAL a 4% increase in speed.
Also this thread from awhile back
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3944958

Cant burn dvd from fcp to compressor to dvd studio pro

I have burnt projects in the past from hd but cant seem to create an sp dvd from an combo hd and sd
project. I am using the setting best quality 120 minutes

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12830379&#12830379

FCP to DVD Studio Pro exporting help needed - desperatey......

Hi.
Please help me if you can.
I am exporting a Quicktime movie from FCP for DVD Studio Pro 4. I chose the MPEG 4 option in the compression, make it best quality and bounce it. But when I look at the self-contained mov file, every time a person walks across the screen I am getting little lines on the light parts of the screen or a beating or sizzling effect in the dark parts. Basically it looks like everything is "alive" somewhat - objects like curtains seem to sizzle.
Can someone guide me in the proper choices to make when exporting from FCP to import into DVD Studio Pro? There is not an MPEG-2 or M2V option, and the MPEG compression breaks it down to MPEG-2 or M2v upon import into DVD Studio Pro anyway.
I guess I don't know how to get the best quality bounce from FCP, in order to have a file that is less that 4G in size. Can someone please advise?
There are no directions on exporting FOR DVD Studio Pro in the Final Cut books, nor was there a FCP prep covered in the DVD SP books.

Quick workflow from FCP -> DVDSP:
In FCP, File Export QuickTime Movie
Select DVD Studio Pro Markers in the Markers drop-down (leave other settings as is)
Save QT Movie to your preferred location
In DVDSP, import your newly-created QT Movie
(You may want to confirm your encoding settings - both in terms of bit rate and whether
you're encoding on build or have background coding enabled - prior to this step though)
Best Quality workflow:
In FCP, trash the render files for your sequence
From the Menu, File Export Using Compressor
Now, in Compressor, select the appropriate preset(s): DVD: Best Quality 90 Minutes - 4:3
Optional: Delete the AIFF setting completely
Select the appropriate destination(s)
Optional: For the Dolby preset, alter Dialog Normalization (under the Audio tab of the Inspector) to -31. In the Preprocessing tab, alter the Compression Preset to None
Click Submit
Once the encode is done, import the .m2v and .ac3 (and/or .aiff) files into DVDSP
It's only fair to tell you that since this produces (pretty much) the best possible quality from Compressor, it may take as much as 5x-10x as long as the 'quick workflow' detailed earlier. (Especially if you've set DVDSP to do a one-pass encode)

Playback of DVD Studio Pro 4 built SD video file - Menu 1 screen is WHITE!!

I recently upgraded from FCP 4.5 with DVD Studio Pro 3 to FCS with DVD Studio 4. I have resolved a number of problems with the upgrade by reading "Apply Discussions", however, I need help with the following: When I import my mpeg2 and AC3 files into DVD SP4, I use the DVD SP4 palette to select an Apple Template for my MENU 1. (I like the "Theater Interior" menu template.) When I view the final product with the DVD SP4 simulator, everything is great including the colors in MENU 1. So, I build my program onto my desktop, the same way I did when I had DVD SP3. Now, the problem begins. When I view the built video TS file on my G5 Apple DVD player, or format it to a standard DVD-R with my pioneer 106D burner and play it back on my in-house DVD player, when the program MENU 1 is displayed on the monitor, it is WHITE in color. The menu is set to times out in 20 seconds. Once that happens, the programs runs perfectly. However, what's with the white menu screen? I can barely make out the buttons. When I click on a button, it operates and the color and program work perfectly from that point. I there an option to get rid of the white screen when the menu comes up? Somehow, when DVD SP4 builds the video file, MENU 1 is encoding with a white background rather than with the colors of the Apple template in use. This did not happen with DVD SP3. Can you help me?
Ugene

try switching the menu encoding from software to hardware (or vice versa) in your DVDSP preferences and see if that makes a difference for you.

Emergency questions exporting for dvd studio pro (ntsc and pal)

Hi,
I'm under a tight timeline and would appreciate any help possible. I'm experimenting with outputs/burning today so the real thing can happen tomorrow.
I have an hour long project that was shot on two different kinds of cams -- a sony hdv V1U and pan dvx100b. The first shot mostly in 16:9, the second squeeze 24p. We imported all footage as non-hd though, because the V1u has had problems syncing properly with hd settings with final cut. The issue/question now is this-
I don't know what file format (I'm assuming mpeg-4 for DVD studio pro, but using compressor or no?) or settings to use -- I'm used to mpeg-4, but for some reason it is coming out all grainy/pixelated and I'm not sure if I need to adjust the settings. Also, once exported into a usable/high quality format, I need to burn a ntsc dvd but also a pal dvd -- I've burned pal dvds on dvd studio pro before and know adjusting the settings is just in preferences, but I'm assuming the video will need to be converted into a different kind of file. Or no?
My sequence settings are 1440x1080 (16:9), quicktime video settings compressor hdv 1080i60. When I export as a quicktime file the conversion is great and no problems, but that isn't workable in dvd studio pro.
I would appreciate any advice you could offer,
Thank you,
Tenzin

Thank you, I'm trying that -- someone else just mentioned it needing to be an mpeg 2 file as well. The trouble I'm having now in compressor is it isn't converting when I press submit -- nothing is showing up in the batch monitor. I've tried this directly exporting from fcp using compressor, as well exporting quicktime from fcp and then using the quicktime file in compressor.
I'm not used to using compressor so I'm thinking I am not doing something properly in this process? Thank you for the suggestions, they are reassuring. Do you know if the same file produced by compressor can be used for the pal dvd?

Creating BITC DVD with FCP and DVD Studio Pro

Ok so here's my question:
I've created a sequence with BITC, and now I want to export it to DVD studio pro so I can burn it to a dvd. I've been exporting as a quicktime movie, at DV PAL Anamorphic res. When I bring it into DVD Studio as an asset, it has to re-encode.
Can I drop one of these steps - ie. how do I export from FCP so that the resulting file does not need to be re-encoded in DVD studio.
I'm sure this is really very simple, but it's going to help me a lot - I have several (10-15) hours of footage to do this with. Thanks in advance...

export the file as a QT not self-contained use current settings
luanch Compressor, drag and drop the QT file on to the window then encode to get
M2V video and AC3 sound file
import those into DVDSP

To create a PAL DVD in DVD Studio Pro...

I simply took my NTSC Uncompressed Quicktime File, put it into Compressor, and when I converted the file to MPEG 2 I changed the Video Format to PAL in the Inspector Settings. I didn't make any changes to the AC3 settings...
When the m2v and AC3 files were created I put them into DVD Studio Pro in a PAL Project and burned a DVD...
I watched the DVD on my MacBook Pro computer in DVD Player and it looked great and the sound synced up and everything. I put the DVD into my Playstation 3 and tried to watch it on my NTSC TV Monitor and a message came up saying "Playstation doesn't support PAL format"...
So it seems like everything worked correctly. Did it? I need to send this DVD to the Edinburgh International Film Festival and I want to make sure it will work.
Thanks!
Mike

The Best Buy Blueray player to get is the Playstation 3. Someone here said that as a Blueray player it's terrible compared to a designated Blueray player, and he may be right, but my local high-end audio store said the Playstation 3 is actually a very good Blueray disc player. These guys are very reputable so I'm not sure what this other guy is talking about. I'm sure there are designated players that are better than the Playstation 3, but they can't be $400 either. And I personally thought the quality of my Blueray disc on my Playstation 3 was awesome, though of I've not watched the disc on a designated player for comparison. Hope this helps...
Mike

HD from FCP to DVD Studio Pro...Help!

Looking for opinions in getting the BEST possible Standard Def DVD from a Final Cut Pro sequence containing heavilly effected HD DVCPro P2 footage.
My sequences settings are:
Frame Size: 960 x 720
Aspect Ratio: HD (960x720)(16x9)
Pixel Aspect Ratio: HD (960x720)
Editing Timebase: 23.97
Compressor: DVCPRO HD 720p60
Video Processing: Rendering in 8 bit YUV
I of course have Compressor and DVD Studio Pro 4, but have not gone from my HD sequence to SD DVD yet with quality results. I'm not concerned with time just highest possible quality so that it holds up well on HD televisions.

I just finished a 15-minute HD 1080i project in FCP that used AJA's DVC PRO HD 1080i 29.97 codec. I tried to make a self-contained QT movie and send it to compressor using the settings you suggested. Unfortunately, it came out with a lot of moraying and the detail around subjects eyes were pixelated.
Is there another setting you would recommend for going from 1080i to a Standard Def DVD?
thanks.

FCP Pro Res Super 16mm -- Compressor -- DVD Studio Pro (Nightmare Workflow Critique)

Hello,
I figured I post here rather than the DVD Studio Pro forum; I've posted on Creative Cow as well but haven't gotten any responses yet.
Before I mention my problem, I'd like to mention that I've tried several types of compression methods and bitrates and unfortunately, my disk still freezes in my player, generally around the same area.
(I have two, minute long clips with Smoothcam there).
I'll try to be as specific about my work-flow as I can and I've posted the photos of my FCP and Compressor settings below.
30 Minutes. Super 16mm.
2K DPX Scans -- > Graded In Color --> Pro Res 4444 23.976 --> Sent To Compressor --> Mpeg 2 + AC3 --> Build & Format With DVD Studio Pro
I set blue compression markers at the start of each Smoothcam clip.
I've recompressed my footage without Smoothcam as well - with the same end result.
I've sent my timeline to Compressor and used both the 5.5-7 VBR setting and the 6.5 CBR settings (with everything under Frame Controls set to the highest quality).
(I've also used the 6.2-7.7 built in settings with the ninety-minute high quality preset).
I am using Sony DVD-R disks. 16X/1X. When I play them in my PS3, the film freezes at different points in the first two-three minutes - then skips ahead exactly to the same point in my film - about halfway.
I've set Chapter markers and it skips to the halfway one; from there it plays fine.
1. I wanted to ask if I should maybe export my entire sequence first through FCP (an .mov file) and try Compressing that?
(I've done this and the result is still the same)
2. Should I set it to Pro Res 422 HQ first?
(I've done this and the result is still the same)
3. Perhaps I should just try to Compressor with the 90Min-HQ setting without changing anything?
(I've done this and the result is still the same)
4. Should I remove the Smoothcam?
I'm currently compressing the entire sequence void of all Smoothcam.
When I bring the files into DVD Studio Pro, I see under preferences that Studio Pro also has VBR settings. Do those have any effect on my DVD encode? There is no CBR there - only VBR set from 5.5-7.
5. Is there anything I'm doing wrong with regards to my workflow? There are several options that may be causing this; I'm not sure if its the progressive footage to interlaced standard definition disk, or modifying field dominance, gop structure, etc.
Any help would be greatly (that's greatly) appreciated.
Thanks!
-Boris

My first impression is you're trying to make this too hard...
You have a high quality timeline which is downconverted to 1080, no problem. Once rendered, SmoothCam
should not represent a problem. If anything, SmoothCam will reduce the sudden movement that can cause problems. Any scenes where you have a high rate of change per frame (like in an explosion or a background of leaves flapping in the wind) should be marked with compression markers.
Export as a QT movie using sequence settings (include markers for DVDSP) so you have a completed source file for compression. I'm not aware of anything that will improve the quality beyond what is in the timeline, so current sequence settings are fine. Test this for playback issues.
If you are having playback problems with the sequence after export and compression, the most probable cause is excessively high bandwidth requirements. Try using the DVD: Best Quality 90 minutes preset. It generally produces a very good quality product. Any attempt to increase the quality will likely increase the bandwidth requirements that are the probable cause of the skipping.
While Sony is a big name, their DVD substrate is only mediocre. If you think the substrate is a problem, switch to Verbatim or JVC/Taiyo-Yuden.
If you are dissatisfied with the quality of the Compressor output, look into the Cinema Craft encoding products.
Hope this helps.

DVD Studio Pro not playing back audio of asset converted from FCP via compressor.

I exported project via compressor:
File Extension: m2v
Estimated file size: 4.34 GB
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: Bottom first
    Average data rate: 3.6 (Mbps)
    2 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
This took about 7.5 hours. I exported the audio separately as AC3. Finder plays it sound & pictures. Quicktime plays the video. DVD Studio Pro, when I drag the assets (video, audio) to the timeline editor, so I can play it in the viewer, it plays the audio the video is black. No setting in view or any other setting will get it to play the video. This project is due to ship today and I don't want to re import it if I don't have to.
I exported this project before the MPEG2 export as a Qicktime with .mov suffix. This plays alright, but there is artifacting around motion. I think this is due to low VBR, but don't know. Can ayone help?
Dix Moser
[email protected]
FCP Studio
PowerMac 1.8G 3G mem 250G HD
750 G ext. Firewire drive (where media is stored)

If I may chime in...
I'm a little confused on the "what plays what" part, but all that really matters is what DVDSP sees/plays.
I've worked on a system like yours and what I'd recommend is:
1. NEVER export via Compressor. It's just ungodly slow on anything less than a Quad. Export a self contained QuickTime Movie using the first export option and use that to feed Compressor.
2. Segment your output into manageable clips (I like 15-20 minutes) both to perfect the encoding and so you aren't re-encoding the whole show if something goes sour. It will all play fine as long as it's all in the same DVDSP timeline.
From what you describe, I'm thinking you're on an early version of Compressor that had A-Pack as the AC-3 encoder. This is no biggie, I mention it mostly to verify. Early Compressor was good too.
Make maybe a 5 minute piece to tune up. Just export as normal, then into Compressor. Your encoding values seem about right. Get the AV pair into DVDSP and it should play. I'm guessing that part of your problem is that the processor is fighting to handle the project size. Build the test clip project and look at it in DVD Player to view what would have been burned. If all looks OK, go for it. If not, bring back the results for discussion. This should be a snap, it's just a really big project. Keep your head up, I had a friend do a 225-minute disk on his G5...

From FCP to DVD Studio Pro

When I export from FCP then use compressor to create the mpeg2 file for DVD and then burn a DVD in DVD Studio Pro the video is then hot. I don't know if I'm not seeing it right w/my monitors or where the problem is. Would appreciate any trouble shooting techniques or what steps need to happen to get everything correct.

I am having the same problem I think - See 'Colour/luminance shift from FCP to output DVDSP Problems' which I posted.
Has anyone an Idea? It seems to me that FCP is not showing the footage correctly. Or its doing something to the gamma which when once outside of you machine ie DVD's it looks Brighter and burnt out.
Have you tried looking at your footage in Quicktime Player. Then going to the 'Enable Final Cut Studio color compatibility' tick box in the prefs and turning that off. Does your footage look 'hot' as you describe? (I assume when you say hot you mean brighter). If it does then whatever that button does I want Compressor to do the same to footage I put through it.
Hope that makes sense to your problem, I hope you have found an answer or directions I could try...

I'm a bit confused. Since my original camera format was 720/60p, and I converted the footage to Pro Res422 in order to edit in Final Cut Pro 7, should I convert back to a higher quality format before sending the file to DVD Studio Pro?

I'm a bit confused. Since my original camera format was 720/60p, and I converted the footage to Pro Res422 in order to edit in Final Cut Pro 7, should I convert back to a higher quality format before sending the file to DVD Studio Pro? If so, which Compressor codec is best to use in order to preserve the original 720/60p? How do I maintain the highest quality?

No...ProRes is a high quality format. Finishing format. Many TV networks take that as a final deliverable.
BUT...DVDs aren't high definition...they are SD. You cannot make a 720p60 DVD with DVD Studio Pro. Any DVD you make will be SD...720x480. The only HD DVD format out there is BluRay, and for that you need a BluRay burner.
As for making a high quality DVD...using the BEST QUALITY settings in Compressor will work:
#42 - Quick and dirty way to author a DVD
Shane's Stock Answer #42 - David Roth Weiss' Secret Quick and Dirty Way to Author a DVD:
The absolute simplest way to make a DVD using FCP and DVDSP is as follows:
1. Export a QT movie, either a reference file or self contained using current settings.
2. Open DVDSP, select the "graphical" tab and you will see two little monitors, one blue, one green.
3. Select the left blue one and hit delete.
4. Now, select the green one, right click on it and select the top option "first play".
5. Now drag your QT from the browser and drop it on top of the green monitor.
6. Now, for a DVD from an HD source, look to the right side and select the "general tab" in the track editor, and see the Display Mode, and select "16:9 pan-scan."
7. Hit the little black and yellow burn icon at the top of the page and put a a DVD in when prompted. DVDSP will encode and burn your new DVD.
THATS ALL!!!
NOW...if you want a GOOD LOOKING DVD, instead of taking your REF movie into DVD SP, instead take it into Compressor and choose the BEST QUALITY ENCODE (2 pass VBR) that matches your show timing. Then take THAT result into DVD SP and follow the rest of the steps. Except you can choose "16:9 LETTERBOX" instead of PAN & SCAN if you want to see the entire image.

The size of my exported FCP movie is too big for DVD studio pro

Hey,
I have been editing for 4-5 years now and have never had a problem with size of a project to put into DVD Studio Pro to burn. However, I just finished a 2 hour project in which exported as a FCP movie it is 23.97 gb in size. When i put this into DVD Studio Pro it makes it 4.8gb in size which just makes it too big for it to burn. I have tried changing the compression to no avail and just now decided to clean up the timeline so everything is on one track with nothing overlapping. (The problem was it was a 2 camera shoot so the first camera i had on the bottom track constant with the second camera on the top track when i needed it but still with the first camera underneath.) Do you think this could be the solution to my problem? If you guys could help me out it would be most appreciated!

some things don't make sense here. please clarify.
Standard DV is roughly 5 minutes per gig, so that means that you have just about 2 hours of video, ok, got that. Now it's the two track thing that gets me.
Are you saying you have 4 hours of footage, the same thing from two cameras, and you're trying to set up a multi-angle DVD?
If it's just that you used two video tracks to edit, then NO, it is not your problem. It's still only 2 hours, the video will be mixed down to one track upon export from FCP to quicktime.
My suggestion is, instead of bringing a quicktime file directly into DVDSP, use compressor. I believe they have a preset in compressor 2 for a standard 120 minute DVD. IF you're project is truly less than 120 minutes, than that should be fine. If not, then you may have to manually make your own setting and lower the bitrate.
So the workflow is:
-open sequence in fcp
-file>export>quicktime movie... (you can uncheck "make movie self-contained" if you want it to export faster and you plan on keeping your original capture footage around)
-export your movie to a directory of your choice with a name of your choice.
-open compressor (in applications)
-drag the quicktime file you created into compressors main window, this will set it up. Now specify the export setting (120 minute HQ all files either 16x9 or 4x3 dep. on project) and specify a location for the files to be created. I strongly suggest that you use the HQ (High quality) settings in compressor. It's much slower to process, but much better quality.
-with a 2 hour movie it should take a really REALLY long time to compress, so I'de say do it over night.
-when compressor is done, you should have 2 or three files. a .m2v file a .aif file, and a .ac3 file. The .aif is your PCM audio, much better quality than the .ac3, which is dolby 2 channel. However, the .ac3 is a much smaller file with a lower bit rate, so if the .aif makes the DVD file size too big, you can switch it out for the .ac3
-Finally, open up your DVDSP project, drag the .m2v, .aif, and .ac3 into DVDSP and use the .m2v for the video track and either the .aif or .ac3 as the audio (as mentioned above)
-the good news is, your DVD media is already rendered, so when you go to build your DVD it will go much, much faster!
By the way, I recommend you go to file>advanced>build do not do a burn and build.
I find it best to build the VIDEO_TS folder on a hard drive and then use a program like toast to create a DVD (using toasts from VIDEO_TS option). This method also allows you to go back into DVDSP, make tweaks, and reuse your VIDEO_TS folder, not having to rebuild the whole thing each time.
Remember, 120 minutes on a single layer DVD is going to render fairly low quality no matter what.
If you have a newer mac and a dual layer drive, you may want to cough up a few bucks and get a dual layer DVD-R, then you have over 8 gigs of space to work with, perfect for HQ 2 hour footage.

Compressor footage crashes dvd studio pro 1.5

hi posted this a while back in dvd studio pro forum but there was no answers. I am still getting same problem so thought I would seek advice again.
I am after some advice after I encountered a problem using footage converted with compressor in dvd studio pro 1.5.
If I compresss footage using high quality encode through fcp with compressor option it causes dvd studio pro 1.5 to crash with unexpected error occured, about half way into building either disc or img file .
If I convert the footage using quicktime conversion and guessing bitrate then it works fine .
one thing I have noticed is that the m2v file has a timecode beginning 1 rather then 0 which it has if I convert using the other method, so maybe I have something wrong in compressor settings?
what would be an ideal setting for a 80 minute film?
I am using fcp 4.5, compressor 1.2.1 quicktime 7.0.3 and os 10.3.9
thanks

Hi Adrian
I'm wondering if your build is crashing due to a bitrate spike caused by Compressor - it's reknowned for this. In DVDSP2 and above you get a warning in the log when this happens, maybe 1.5 is somehow missing this. Quicktime's mpeg exporter is a much more stable encoder and doesn't suffer from bitrate spikes. Another thing to have a look at is your audio. If you're using the .aif file that Compressor or DVDSP creates it's a pretty high bitrate od 1.5Mbps. If you re-encode your audio using A.pack to Dolby 2.0 with a bitrate of 192kbps you'll give yourself alot more headroom even with bitrate spikes.
Hope some of this helps
Good luck
B

Pal footage in FCP to NTSC in DVD Studio Pro

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