PAL/NTSC setting

My default for DVD creation is PAL. How do I set it for NTSC?
Thanks

You can't change the frame rate after the project is created. Best to edit the material in the project format that matches the material. Once you finished, export a ProRes file and use that to do the standards conversion. Ideally dedicated standard conversion software like Graeme Nattress' works best. You can also use Compressor or MPEG Streamclip.

Similar Messages

Setting PAL/NTSC format with OneStep in iDVD 5

I'm trying to create a DVD from some MiniDV tapes I've recorded, but I need to make sure it's recorded in PAL format as it's being sent overseas. I'm using the OneStep option in iDVD, but the only place I could find to set PAL/NTSC is in the preferences, which is only available when you're using a project. I created a dummy project and set it to PAL, then quit iDVD, restarted and went to the OneStep option to burn the DVD. The problem is I think it still recorded in the NTSC format because the DVD played fine on my home DVD player on my tv, which is NTSC. I checked the settings again on iDVD, and it still says PAL, but I'm not convinced it actually recorded with OneStep in PAL since it plays fine on my home system. Can anyone tell me the definitive answer to recording in PAL/NTSC using the OneStep option in iDVD? Thanks in advance.

I used OneStep once... Don't like it. So I'm not much help there, but...
I just returned from an Italian-based cruise ship and bought their DVD of the cruise. I became acquainted with the videographer since he was on a few excursions we took. When I bought the DVD, he was there and I asked about whether I needed NTSC for back home. He said: "It doesn't matter with DVDs." Apparently, he was right because I went back to my cabin and played it in my PowerBook without any trouble. Same here in the USA.
So maybe it doesn't matter, but I can't tell you that with 100% assurance.

IDVD - PAL - NTSC - REGIONS; All messed up?

So I finished a project on iDVD, and the "clients" are from many different countries... The original project was worked as PAL. In the end, in iDVD I changed the setting to NTSC in order to write 3 disks. 1 for a client in Canada, and 2 for the U.S.
With the Canadian, there were no issues (at least the client didn't mention anything, only that the DVDs were great).
The one American, told me she had to change regions to her laptop DVD in order to watch it, but other than that it was ok.
The other American, could not watch the DVDs on her old windows xp laptop, also not on her DVD player on her Tv. She also went to a store to ask for help and the technician told her he could see the contents of the disk, but not play them; probably because they were not NTSC (!!!!). Finally she watched the DVDs by using VLC on her laptop (no region change here...)
What is going on? The same disks, 3 totally different behaviours...
Can anyone guess what went wrong?
I would really like to fix those problems...
Thank you!

Hi
Region - Should not be any problem - as iDVD only can make Region = Zero (0)
This means - Plays in any economical region (Has Nothing to do With TV-Standard at all)
TV-standard are as:
• 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
And Playback on Computer - should be able to use both - VLC usually works better than QuickTime in these cases. BUT here I noticed that PC/Macs are picky on Quality
• Burn speed I set down to x2 (or x4)
• I only use Verbatim DVDs - NO Memorex or NoName or other cheap brands - Yes it matters
• I use DVD-R as they play on more and even older DVD-players
My notes on this subject.
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/NTSC - double trouble?

I'm creating a DVD for use both in the UK (Pal) and in Canada (NTSC). Do I need two different video files - one in Pal, the other NTSC - or can the DVD play if it's set to multi-region?

Ideally, you need one in PAL and the other in NTSC. The region coding is a different issue, but yes, you should set this to be region all (i.e. check all of the region code boxes) if you are distributing this on DVD-R. If you are replicating, then you can decide if you want to restrict it to region 1 & 2 if you like...
Playing PAL in NTSC land seems more problematic than playing NTSC over here in the UK - many modern TVs are now able to handle NTSC natively, but not all are. All players will handle NTSC discs, mind you - it's the TV that's the weak link in the equation.
If playback is for a computer, then PAL/NTSC is immaterial... computers don't conform to those standards and both will play equally, as long as the region info is OK.
You cannot put PAL and NTSC on the same side of a DVD, but you can use double sided discs (although you can't get any label info on these, except in the hub ring area), or you'll be doing a two disc set... setting up two projects in DVDSP and encoding two sets of assets, etc, etc, etc!

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-NTSC questions

I have a lot of VHS-PAL tapes to commit to iMovie/iDVD5. I have transferred several using a Video Standards Converter (PAL to NTSC) and an Analog to Digital converter (set to NTSC). There were some artifacts in the final result that I did not like, so I removed the Standards converter and set the A/D device to PAL (rather than NTSC) and fed into iMovie/iDVD5. The results played perfectly on a Sony DVD player into CRT analog TVs with NO artifacts!
I am thinking of using this as standard practice because results are superior.
How is this method possible?
Does iMovie/iDVD5, or the Sony player throw away 100 scan lines and insert 5 fps?
Conversely will homegrown NTSC DVDs play on PAL players and PAL TVs?
Am I making a mistake for the future?
Will this work with the new Digital display TVs (Hi-Def)?
I would sincerely appreciate any enlightenment that the forum can offer on all my questions.
This is Posted on both iDVD and iMovie Forums for wider exposure
G4 Quicksilver Dual 1.0GHz: G3-400 B&W 768MB RAM Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Yes, you can convert PAL<->NTSC via iDVD/iMovie/QT
but the results are not very good because the
movement gets jerky because frames are just dropped
or duplicated to compensate the different
framerates.
I guess iDVD did the conversion in your case because
apparently you left its prefs at NTSC.
You get smoother motion with JES Deinterlacer:
http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/~shmhav/SVCDon_aMacintosh.ht
ml#PAL_NTSC
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6017.s
html
Dear Matti: You were perfectly correct in your analysis as to what transpired. Your answer and the valuable links help me a lot and are sincerely appreciated.
One further question, however: How long does the JES DeInterlacer take to convert 1 minute if iMovie from PAL to NTSC?
Thanks again
Malcolm
G4 Quicksilver Dual 1.0GHz: G3-400 B&W 768MB RAM Mac OS X (10.3.9)

PAL - NTSC Prores for DVD authoring

Hi
Ive 100 mins of concert footage shot on Canon t2i. 25fps PROGRESSIVE.
I need to author and duplicate a DVD using DVD studio pro, this will be pressed and released commercially.
Im trying to get the best quality and work method.
After loads of reading, so far, this is my work route.
1. Convert Prores files from PAL - NTSC using Comp 4.
Im keeping the same size, 1920 x 1080, just changing the frame rate to 29.97.
In frame controls I have ..
Resize - BETTER Deinterlace BETTER ( though can this be set to FAST as the footage is PROGRESSIVE)
Rate conversion BETTER
2.Take these NTSC Pro res 1920 x 1080 and convert in COMP 4 to m2v. Using 2 pass VBR. (???????)
It looks OK...just paranoid... just want to know if im missing a trick....????

A couple of thoughts:
If you're sending out this to a replication house, I'd check with them before you do anything in Compressor or DVDSP to make sure you know all their specifications.
Also consider sending your movie to a post house that has the hardware to do standards conversions. You can do it in Compressor (or another compression apps) but hardware doe a conversion better job than software, Asj the replication people for their recommendation.
What you outlined for steps in Compressor seem pretty reasonable. A few recommendations:
For best quality, set the Resize filter to Best. And Compressor will see that your video is progressive so that setting can just be the default.
Yes. Use two pass VBR – unless the replication house says otherwise. (Check with the replication people about optimal bit rate settings.)
For Audio set Dialogue Normalization to -31.
magenta1 wrote:
It looks OK...just paranoid... just want to know if im missing a trick....????
Not paranoid…just smart.
Best of luck.
Russ

PAL/NTSC DVD's

I recently purchased a 17-inch Intel-based iMac, and i was wondering if it can play DVD's from different countries (Japan in particular), wouold there be a problem with PAL/NTSC TV's??
Thank You

Remember you will only be able to change the Region Code in your computer 5 times. After that it will be locked to the last Region Code you used.
So if you have DVD's from say Japan and the USA, then each has a different Region Code. If you play a USA, then a Japan DVD, that will use up one of your changes, then if you go back to USA then another will be used. Once you use the 5th change your machine will only play discs from the Region Code you last set it to. SO you could only play USA or Japan NOT both.
This has nothing to do with NTSC or PAL as they are not Region Code based.
They are simple the format of the TV signal being output.
If for instance you only ever use Japan DVD's all with the same Region Code then it does not matter if they are PAL or NTSC you can play them as many times as you like, no issue as you swap from one to the other.
Region Codes are there to prevent content from being bought in one region of the world and played in another.
You can read more about Region Codes here :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVDregioncode
Ian

Pal/NTSC Convertion

Hi There!
Need a bit of help.
I take it all back! The Compressor does a splendid job of converting Pal/NTSC as long as one does not want to watch it on an LCD Screen.
Looks wonderful, well more than acceptable, on an ordinary NTSC TV and on a computer but I get annoying diagonal lines on my LCD. Fringing I think it is called.
Could someone please help because I am obviously doing something right and there is obviously an extra setting I need to make a perfect conversion.
I seem to have the "field" correct as it looks fine on TV.
Is it something to do with the interlacing?
Now I have the hang of the Compressor it really is quite simple!
If I can just conquer this I shall be a happy bunny!
Jane

... there is another post here; problems with compressor not changing the frame rate to 29.97 even though that setting is chosen in the "video settings" box ...
(ie you end up with "NTSC" but it is 25fps)
R.

OK, the videoformat may be changed (PAL, NTSC) by plugin a specified cable, but how can I force to have PAL-format instead of NTSC to be send to iMovie via the USB-cable?

OK, the videoformat may be changed (PAL, NTSC) by plugin a specified cable to be connected the iPhone to the TV, but how can I force to have PAL-format instead of NTSC to be send to iMovie via the USB-cable? Al this transcoding afterwards takes a lot to much time. Is there a solution before sending the clips?

Well, thanks a lot. iMovie '11 is similar, but not identical and unfortunately I don't seem to find any "Frame Rate Pop-Up menu" when I generate a new Project. Do not find an "Aspect Ratio Pop-Up" either. Also the help does not speak of this options. I just have to choose a Theme and that's it. Also the "Settings" Menu for the Film does not help.
I also checked the general settings for iMovie:
So I would dare say, there is actually no possibility anymore, to set the output format. And also when I create the output file, there is nothing more than a short list of resolutions.
I do not understand why all options were taken away. I admit, I am a little disappointed.
Best regards
Claudio

FCP4.5, Dazzle Hollywood Dv Bridge, PAL & NTSC Detection

FCP 4.5 HD - QT 7.1.5 Pro - Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge - Australia PAL
Discussions about the pros and cons of the Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge aside, as I've read a number of threads and am aware of various opinions on the devices failings. I've had one for a number of years without any problems, purchased long before finding out about Canopus. Anyway ....
I've had no issues with capturing PAL footage to FCP 4.5 using the Dazzle, however when trying to capture a friends NTSC tape to either FCP 4.5 or iMovie HD, I can get picture and audio, but the picture is Black & white, so I'm assuming the Dazzle is not switching from PAL to NTSC. (PAL being the default). All the FCP settings are correct for NTSC. (And I've tried them all).
Anyone know how to resolve this?
This device is recognized in the System Profile with unit software version 10001.
And yes, I'm looking at a Canopus ADVC110, but if I can avoid spending $450 (approx) I'd much prefer it. Thanks all

After a frustrating morning working with the Dazzle, I tracked down and purchased a Canopus ADVC110, which also didn't work.
Did some more digging and came up with the following:
Here in Australia we use the PAL television format.
Most televisions, VCRs and DVD players have both PAL and NTSC playback.
However the NTSC playback format used by most multi-format PAL VCRs is NTSC 4.43.
The Canopus ADVC110 uses the true NTSC format 3.58, and won't recognize 4.43. (I found this information on the Canopus website discussion forum).
Lucky for me I had a PAL format JVC VCR that could be set to playback NTSC 3.58, which connected through the ADVC110 allowed me to successful transfer the NTSC tape to my Mac through FCP 4.5. Now to make it into a DVD, after tweaking it a bit.
What's a little annoying is that the Canopus ADVC110 box says quiet clearly on the back, "Pal/NTSC Compatiable", which it is, but perhaps they should go into a little bit more detail.
I'll test the Dazzle tomorrow, and see what happens.

NTSC Set Top DVD Players

Hi,
Here in Europe, it is usual that PAL Set Top players can play both PAL and NTSC disks.
Obviously the region code plays a role here.
I have a region free PAL disk that I wish to send to the US and Latin America.
Will they be able to play it without problems?

Silal wrote:
Drew
AFAIK Apple DVD Player doesn't bother about PAL & NTSC switchs, for sure it does limit the Region Code switchs.
Will go back and test I probably set the Region code and PAL, just trying to remember which opne it was complaining about
OOT
I would like to talk seriuosly with the group of people that decided the region code system.
If not for Region Codes, we would have nothing to worry about LOL just another wrinkle in the fun and games of DVD'Ville

Sharing movies overseas - PAL & NTSC burning

OK -
So apparently I have the option to burn a movie as NTSC or PAL.
So I have to assume that the region codes on my Superdrive only matter when there is a commerically sold protected disk being played.
Figuring out the best way to produce a home movie DVD to share with friends in Europe is still a problem.
I do know that apparently TV set-top DVD burners produce video disks which have no region code difficulties. Is this likewise true for movies edited in iMovie, Final Cut Express & burned via iDVD?
More information would help keep this from being a trial & error process - if the people on the other end are not overly technical. Its hard enough to get substantive "help desk-type" of feedback to even understand the nature of the problem your recipients might be experiencing.

Hi Ernest
I know all about the PAL/NTSC conversion because I, unlike you, live in a Pal area.
You are so lucky living in USA because NTSC is accepted in all areas. In fact even though I live in a PAL area, New Zealand all my DVD's produced for world sale are in the NTSC format. Virtually every DVD player accepts NTSC but unfortunatley for me the USA DVD players do notaccept Pal
So you can safely make and send all your DVD's in NTSC and they will be playable worldwide.
As I said I live in a PAL area. 25 frames per sec and I have to change my DVD programmes to NTSC approx 29 frames per second. To get an acceptable conversion can be either very expensive or time consuming.
I have not tried the Jes de interlacer so I cannot comment but most on the forum find it acceptable.
I found the problem was to get good quality on all formats, computer, tube and LCD and Plasma at an acceptable cost and did not tie up my computer for hours.
Eventually I managed to find out how to do it but it is a long job.
One would think that the answer would be to film in NTSC but one cannot do this in a PAL area because of the difference in the electricity voltage. If I used an NTSC camera under lamps here in NZ the pictures would be unusable and visa versa.
Nowadays all commercial DVD's are just dubbed in NTSC. This is a pity because PAL gives a better picture. In the trade NTSC used to be known as Never The Same Colour Twice.
Sometimes I wish I lived in the USA!
Hope this helps
Jane

Ref. monitor for pal,ntsc and HD

hey there,
i am working more and more on my own edit station. so i want to make it more efficient.
i need a monitor or TV to see my edits on a bigger scale, something like a reference screen!!
and i need a pci card to connect it, too.
but here is the thing, ideally i need one that i can use for PAL, NTSC AND HD projects!
is that even possible??
my intention is mainly to see my edit on a bigger scale, not necessarily to have a 1:1 reference image because i guess that would be out of my budget. otherwise that would of course be very interesting!
i use a 2x2.66GHz Dual-Core Mac Pro Computer with MAC OS10.6.4 and FCP 7
thanks for your help and interest!!
andy

hey, thanks for your reply.
unfortunately those high end reference monitors are out of my budget.
i would already be happy, to have some sort of screen (TV or monitor) on which i can
see my edit on a bigger scale. i don't need it for color correction or finalizing.
and as i work on SD and HD projects, it should work with both.
so, is it possible to use a HD-TV or a computer monitor for that?
SDI or HDMI?
forgive me, if this is confusing, but english is not my mother tongue.
thanks again for your help!!

Possible to do a DL PAL / NTSC DVD?

Hi,
we just finishing our DVD which is a PAL project and just comes out to fit a single DVD. Is it possible to make a DualLayer DVD with a PAL project on the first half and a NTSC project on the second to increase the commercial sale possibilities for the USA and Japan? Would a standard DVD be able to choose between these two or does it has to work through a kind of universal Menue?
Best regards - Christoph

Christoph:
Would a standard DVD be able to choose between these two or does it has to work through a kind of universal Menue?
There is no way to include both standards PAL/NTSC material in the same disc/project.
Alberto

PAL/NTSC setting

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