PAL to NTSC, when to convert? Can't Build or Burn now.

I shot on a Pal camera and built the project as a NTSC project in FCP 5 (Studio). Converted all the PAL video into NTSC when compressing using Compression out of FCP. All seemed to work fine. Built the DVD as a NTSC project, no problems until... I can't get it to Burn, build or format. Right now, it is freezing up on build, but I've actually burned a few CDs but none of them have worked. Always crashed the DVD player in my Computer.
Anybody have any experience with this?
Would I be better off going back and finishing the project as a PAL project in FCP and then convert the whole project into NTSC? How to do that??
I've been dealing with thise issues for days now. One small step forwards, 2 big steps backwards.
Especially frustrating because I've been working on this project for years and now it is ALMOST finished, but I can't quite do it......
Any help, suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Ed

this is my workflow for shooting in PAL for NTSC DVD discs - it has worked well for a contract to USA clients for over 6 years:
shoot in PAL
edit in Final Cut in PAL sequence
export QT file - self contained, current settings
standards convert to NTSC using Nattress:
http://www.nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconversion.htm
import into Compressor or Bitvice and produce M2V and AC3 files
http://www.innobits.com/bitvice.html
author in DVDSP in an NTSC project
build project
burn disc using Toast with TAIYO YUDEN DVD-R discs
http://www.roxio.com/eng/products/toast/titanium/overview.html?ClickID=cqk44wven vp77zlfpxaqzwqe44w77wwsxkix
http://www.jigsaw24.com/default.aspx?ITEM=JIGSG155APA&IP=5WGSTOCONSC_DISCSPLBDVDFC

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PAL to NTSC: Nattress Standards Converter 2.5

I have been looking at the Nattress Standards Converter V2.5. I have an 8 mm 50-year-old cine movie converted digitally to a movie supplied to me on a DVD. That movie is now in FCE and I want to convert it to NTSC to send to a friend in Canada. (The quality of course is awful due to the original.)
I get the impression that PAL to NTSC conversion is difficult because of the different frame rates etc. Obviously, extra frames must be added to reach 29.9 FPS which probably causes jerkiness.
How successful is Standards Converter V2.5?
Will it work with FCE 3.0?
Thanks.

Remove the Apple shift fields filter - let the plugin handle all the field stuff.
PAL to NTSC shouldn't be blurry - are you viewing out of the NTSC monitor, not relying on the FCP preview? NTSC to PAL can be a touch soft, and with that I normally drop the motion blur to around 15% to get it looking better.
For upper to lower field conversion, you should be using 2.5.2 for best results, which we'll get for you via email.
Graeme

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.

Grainy Image when converting from PAL to NTSC...

Hi,
I'm using Compressor 2.0.1 to convert a PAL movie to NTSC. I find that the output is extremely Grainy, the blacs are Muddy and the Highlights are colored.
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Thanks and Regards,
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There are many options when converting from PAL to NTSC with Compressor's Frame Controls panel. Have you tried other settings? Note, however, that the highest quality settings are pretty slow so be prepared for a fairly long wait even on your Power Mac G5.
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When to convert from PAL to NTSC?

I want to convert PAL DV movies to NTSC DVDs. Should I do the PAL to NTSC conversion as I export the QT movie, which QT seems capable of, or should I drop the PAL QT movie into Compressor and do the conversion there? Any advise or reports of experience with this process would be appreciated.

Hi
As I know and try, first convert your movie to NTSC and then convert it to MPEG.
converting DV-PAL to MPEG-2 NTSC is taking too long.
good converting takes 1.2 hour to 1 min of video on G5 Dual 2.5GHz.
you can download my compressor droplets (compressor 2).
http://homepage.mac.com/tal_rom/FileSharing7.html
Tal

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

Converting PAL to NTSC in FCP

How do I convert PAL to NTSC in FCP?

Hi
May be my Amateuristic way can be of help ?
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

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

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 to NTSC can I do it in Premiere or After Effects

I have been asked to create a video for a client which is to be shown in Denver USA. I am shooting on a Sony FZ1 and will be working in Pal widescreen. Can I export it as NTSC footage or is this a specialist area, is After Effects a better programe for doing this? Help I'm on a deadline

> PAL to NTSC shouldn't in theory have too much quality loss because the native resolution of PAL is a bit higher
True, but there is the whole 50i -> 60i conversion that can get really messy.
> And yes, Premier should manage it just fine
No. It does just about the worst possible job imaginable. After Effects is only slightly better.
One of the "best" (easiest, highest quality) ways of converting PAL -> NTSC is to:
1.) Deinterlace the PAL source (50i -> 25p)
2.) Slow down the video by 4% (25p -> 24p)
3.) Encode as 24p "film" to DVD
There are many other ways to do the conversion (pulldown, blending, motion compensated framerate adjustment) but all methods are predicated on high-quality deinterlacing, which Adobe products simply do not have.
Check out my dv2film() process: http://dv2film.com (Jim Simon hosts the site)
Although this workflow was originally developed to convert NTSC60i -> NTSC24p, it can also handle PAL sources. In addition, there is a function for "normal" 50i <-> 60i (PAL <-> NTSC) conversions.
Go to the site and go through the workflow, but with one of the following modifications. Instead of the template that Jim provides, use:
# option 1: create 24p from 50i
AviSource("%PATH%\%CLIP%.%EXT%")
dv2Film(DeintMethod=2, OutputPAL=false)
# option 2: create 60i from 50i by repeating fields (assumes lower field first input and output)
AviSource("%PATH%\%CLIP%.%EXT%")
dv60i50i(DeintMethod=2, Type=0, OutputBFF=true)
# option 3: create 60i from 50i using blending (assumes lower field first input and output)
AviSource("%PATH%\%CLIP%.%EXT%")
dv60i50i(DeintMethod=2, Type=4, OutputBFF=true)
# option 4: create 60i from 50i using motion compensated framerate adjustment (assumes lower field first input and output)
AviSource("%PATH%\%CLIP%.%EXT%")
dv60i50i(DeintMethod=2, Type=6, OutputBFF=true)

How can i change pal to ntsc

how can i change Pal to ntsc format.
thanks

I would recommend a free tool called JES Deinterlacer. It will do this.
http://jeschot.home.xs4all.nl/home.html
I should add that if you use PAL clips in an NTSC project in iMovie, they will be automatically converted using an algorithm that duplicates every 5th frame.

Burning converted PAL to NTSC movie file on to DVD

Hi.
I'm having a few problems based around standards conversion from PAL to NTSC. I have some old home movies (PAL footage from my time in Europe) which I have been editing in iMovie. I have (I think) successfully converted the finished project into an NTSC format. However, when I burn to DVD in iDVD I am getting nasty red and green vertical lines ruining the picture when played in my home DVD player. This disfiguration seems to be triggered or coincides with any peak in the audio.
Is this a PAL -> NTSC standards conversion problem? A problem with the file I am burning to my DVD through iDVD, or a problem with my home set up? Needless to say the movie plays fine on my Mac and my home set-up plays other commercial DVD's perfectly.
Any ideas?
Thanks and Happy New Year.
Tom

Hi tommycrops
Welcome to apple discussions. I suggest narrowing the issue down as much as possible ... one idea is to make a disc image to the desktop of the finished iDvd. Test playback with apple's dvd player. Assuming it plays as expected then burn to Verbatim Dvd-R at 4x.
Also make sure all energy saver controls (in system pref's) are set to Never while working within iDvd. Disconnect all external third party devices prior to burning the dvd.
If none of the above works for you then go back to your original iMovie project file, check all movie properties and try to open it within QT Pro/player prior to burning. You'll need to verify playback prior to burning.

Do I actually need Nattress to convert PAL to NTSC?

Hi Everyone,
I have FCP 6.01 and I have PAL footage captured from a PAL DV machine. To convert to NTSC MiniDV, do I need to use Natress? Can't I just put the PAL clip in an NTSC timeline and render that bad boy?
Thanks so much!
Kirk

Yes,
you can either use a dirty way:
you drop different formats on your timeline and if a window appears each time you bring a new format saying if you want it to conform it with your current sequence settings you say yes (this may cause frequent renderings).
Or a clean way:
Create a ProRes sequence to host different formats. ProRes HQ more suitable for HD flavors.
Gig

Convert PAL to NTSC

Hi I have a project filmed and edited using PAL standards.
Using elements 3 can i produce a DVD that can be played in the USA and if so how?
Dai

Yes, I have done this with PE2 at the DVD output stage. It takes about 20% longer to render because it needs to generate the extra frames and, for the same reason, pans can appear jumpy. The picture loses some detail, presumably because of the differently mapped pixels. The quality is disappointing compared to the originals.
Unfortunately only a few DVD players available in the US will play PAL DVDs directly, although I am told that apparently there are ways to edit the files on the DVD to persuade the DVD player to decode the PAL based MPEG2 files as if they were NTSC.
Of course, if the end user of the DVD is content to view it on a computer then the PAL DVD will work.
My biggest difficulty was testing the NTSC DVD in UK because although all my DVD players will read NTSC disks, I was not sure whether the quality degradation was on the disk or in the playback from a DVD player to a PAL TV. However when I eventually got the disks to the USA and played them back on a state of the art Sony installation, it was clear that the problem is with the standard conversion.
Regards
Ian G

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