Testing a PAL DVD

I’ve used the Nattress: Standards Conversion filter for a current FCP project and it’s worked amazingly. I then used COMPRESSOR with the setting: "DVD Best Quality 90 min – 4:3" to create the MPEG-2 for use in DVD Studio Pro. I selcted PAL version and burned the DVD. Is there anyway to test if the burned PAL DVD is working properly, as I don’t have a PAL DVD player?
I was shocked actually that the DVD played in my NTSC DVD player and on my Mac – is that supposed to happen or have I burned it incorrectly?
I selected PAL in DVD Studio Pro so I don’t think that is the issue.
Any suggestions?

Indeed - but mixing PAL and NTSC on the same side of a DVD creates an 'out of spec' disc. In fact, other DVD tools used to claim to let you do the same - the early release of DVDLabPro on a PC heralded this mix and match as a feature, and in fact you could theoretically accomplish it I think, but I would have to wonder why you want to. DVDLabPro no longer allows you to, and I think it's probably wiser to stay within the DVD spec when creating discs that you want to be compatible
Suffice to say that if you are using PAL assets, and have set DVDSP to be a PAL project then it will probably turn out as a PAL disc (or vice versa if you use NTSC)!

Similar Messages

PAL DVD playback issues

Hi all,
I have made a 16x9 PAL DVD. Pretty simple disc - two menus, and a 24 minute video clip with chapters referenced in stories.
The menus are pict files setup with overlays for the button highlights. They are set to 16x9:pan/scan.
The client reported that the DVD did not play in a PAL player and TV. Played OK in a computer. He described the problem that the menu would not let them select any buttons, and that the menu was cut off top and bottom.
Before I sent the DVD, it played fine in my macbook pro, and on a windows laptop. But I don't have a PAL DVD player and PAL TV to test that config.
I burned another DVD today and tried it in a different mac. I saw the menu cutoff issue, and it also appeared that the overlay did not line up correctly so the menu did not work. This was the first time I played the DVD in this mac. Once I reset the view to normal size, it displayed and played fine. I also tried it again at full screen, and that worked as well.
So it appears that it does work, but there is an issue on first play where the menu is not displayed correctly on initial load.
Anyone have any suggests on how to get the first play to work? I'm assuming this is also what's affecting the DVD player / TV combination.
Also - any suggestions on setting up an affordable way to test the PAL DVDs here in the states other than a computer playback?
Thanks,
Bill
DVD SP 4.2.1
MacPro 8 core, OSX 10.4.11

Hi
He described the problem that the menu would not let them select any buttons, and that the menu was cut off top and bottom.
What size did you use to build your menu backgrounds and overlays?
Anyone have any suggests on how to get the first play to work?
It uses to be so simple as selecting what item do you want to run first in DVD Inspector in DVDSP. What element is your first play? The Menu? You cuold try building a very short track (3/5 secs), with just black image and use that as first play (or a simple slideshow with a single black image). I have heard around the forums about some issues with some specific players with a menu as first play.
Hope that helps !
Alberto

Problem with making 16:9 PAL DVD

Hello!
I'm trying to make a 16:9 PAL DVD in Adobe Encore and everything is perfect untill I play the DVD on my TV (it works just fine on my computer). Two videos included in the DVD were made in Adobe Premiere and one of them works without any problems (it is just a slideshow), but part of the other footage isn't shown on the TV - the video is being played on the TV with no black lines around it, but it is like cropped. The video was made in 16:9 and I've also checked the settings on my DVD player, which look just fine to play a 16:9 DVD. I think that this problem had occured while making the DVD in Adobe Encore and I'd like to know how to solve it if anyone of you can tell me how.
Thanks for your help.

OK, the PrPro Project/Sequences are set to 16:9 PAL and Exported as that, into an Encore 16:9 PAL Project, right, or did you use Adobe DL for transferring the Assets over?
On a computer, the DVD plays fine, but part of one of the Timelines is black, when the DVD is run on a set-top player, hooked to a TV. The other Timeline is shown much smaller, with black bars around it. Is that correct?
Can you test the DVD on another set-top player, and another TV? Maybe stop by your local electronics store and ask them to play it for you. What happens there?
As there are differences in the setting of both players and TV's regarding wide-screen, it could be as simple as those settings. However, that would not explain why half of one Timeline is black. Now, poor choice of media, or too high a burn rate could account for some of that.
What media did you use, and what was the burn rate?
Good luck,
Hunt

Flash - SD Widescreen PAL DVD

Hey everyone, I did post this one level back as another topic, but then started reading around and figured this may be a better place to post. I apologize for the double post, won't happen again - I'm new to the user forums here and I admit that this is a bit of a desperate plea for help. I apologize in advance.
So, I've been working on a project recently that's been kind of difficult for me to test since I don't have access to the platform I'm trying to develop for. I was hoping somebody might be able to help guide me to the information I need, or let me know outright if I'm on the right track or completely out to lunch with my thinking here.
Anyway, shorthand version of what I'm trying to accomplish: I'm trying to design a 16:9 wide screen video animation. I built the animation using Flash CS3. Originally it was built for NTSC but now needs to be burnt to DVD in a PAL format. I re-sized my animation to be 1024 x 576 (square pixels) at 25 FPS and exported it from Flash as a .mov using the Animation Codec. (Exported with 16:9 PAL settings at 720x576 with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.422.) I brought the new rendered file into Adobe Encore and set up my chapters etc. All footage has been interpreted as SD PAL Widescreen 1.422 PAR.
When I view the Movies I export from flash (off my desktop) they are 1024 x 576 square pixels ... they appear distorted and aliased. After burning the videos to DVD with the footage interpreted as previously mentioned, I tried viewing them on my computer. The screen capture resolution is 720 x 404 ... which is kind of odd to me. I would expect 720 x 480 or even 720 x 576. Overall though the quality is pretty nice and doesn't look greatly distorted.
I guess what I'm trying to ask is: Is that normal? Is that right? wrong? Ultimately though, does anyone know what a Widescreen PAL DVD would look like viewed on a windows XP machine? (In Windows Media Player with a DVD Codec?)
Any guidance or help on this would be greatly appreciated. If there is any other information I can provide you with to help with understanding my plight, please let me know.
I'm a web designer backed into a corner here and really don't have a whole lot of video experience. I'm also living in Canada and don't have access to a PAL system to watch the final product on ... so I'm just trying to get my settings as accurate as I can on my end.
Thanks in advance.

>The screen capture resolution is 720 x 404 ... which is kind of odd to me.
On playback the movie is displayed with square pixels. If the DVD plays 720 pixels wide then the corresponding height will be 405 for a 16:9 movie.

PAL DVD Issues

I'm not sure if this question is for this forum but I'll give it a shot.
My original FCP Project was an PAL HDV Project. Once I finished editing, I put the sequence in a DV PAL sequence, rendered it and outputted as a FCP file. I put that file in compressor to make a m2v PAL file. I took the file into DVD SP as a PAL project and burned it as a SD DVD on the G5.
The DVD tested fine on a several DVD players.
My problem is that I sent the DVD to Europe and they are experiencing major 'strobing' issues. I know there is some jitterness with HDV on motion scenes, but they are seeing constant strobing on their PAL DVD players. Am I doing something wrong. I took the DVD to a post house in Los Angeles, and it plays fine in their PAL systems. It actually play fine in my NTSC DVD player as well.
There isn't much motion in the film, mostly interviews.
Any clues of why this would happen?

It was originally shot in PAL 1080i50 on a Sony Zu1. I am assuming that is true PAL.
I made a DV PAL sequence first because the rendering time and conversion time to m2v files is much less.
Is the DVD burner that are installed on G5's capable of burning true PAL DVD's? I have one of the original G5's.

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.

Trouble burning a PAL DVD

Hi, I am having issues with trying to burn PAL DVDs.
We have a distributor that requires PAL DVDs as screeners with & without TC burn.
They required we take our masters (HDCAM, 1920 X 1080, progressive, 23.98 fps) & send it to a post house that could do an Alchemist conversion & make 1080 50i, 25 fps masters on HDCAM.
This was done & we have captured the tape to FCP in a PAL project. Exported out & files went through compressor using DVD Best quality - 90 min template.
Confirmed that files are correct size & speed in inspector.
In DVDSP i set the project up as PAL.
There are no menus - just the program with 5-6 chapter markers.
PAL DVD was created as region free.
When we check the DVD on a region free deck the playback is very jerky.
Have tried playback tests with commercial PAL DVDs & they play back fine.
Anybody have any idea what I might be doing wrong?
Using a 12 core macpro with FCS 3
If you need more detail please let me know .
THANKS.

Russ: Converting the standard is not an option through Compressor as they absolutely need the timing to be the same. I am the post person, so it is not my call. The producer's have determined that this what they have to do (right or wrong). I can do a test with the master file in compressor to see if I get better results, but it is something that I cannot deliver.
Nick: Again it is not my call. I have pointed it out to the producers & was told that is not acceptable to them. So it is my hoop to jump through. I have told them about the NTSC DVDs vs PAL & their response is that is not acceptable. We don't need worry about DVD replication anymore as all of our sales will become either digital, or delivery through this means by the distributor from the HDCAM 50i masters & using the PAL DVDs as reference.
Michael: We are monitoring the video from FCP with an AJA KONA 3G card to a broadcast monitor thru SDI (dont remeber the exact model - think it is a panasonic monitor). I will try your test as well, but I think that if I can't get the DVDs to work the way they want them then they are going to get the post house that made the 50i masters to make the PAL DVDs for them as well. They would rather not do this as all I am told is it is expensive, so they would rather not. If it comes to it, and it might based on our deadline, then they will go that route if they feel forced to.
Thanks to all three of you for the suggestions.

HDV to NTCS DVD works... is it the same for a PAL DVD?

Hello
I created a DVD from HDV material using these settings with compressor:
http://www.larryjordan.biz/articles/bkhdvconvert.html
basicallythe options are: DVD Best Quality 90 min 16:9
Video Format Tab in the Inspector to manually set filed dominance to "botom first"
It worked fine.
Now i need to create a PAL DVD. what would i need to change?
just set the video format to PAL in the inspector window? and then in DVD studio pro set it to PAL again?
thanks.
Leon.
thanks.

let me see if I can help out a little here.
The problem with converting 1080i to SD in software is that FCP seems to do a not-very-good job of downsampling the image, particularly when you are going directly to DV. Details get blurry, and other compression artifacts become quite noticeable. I have also experienced trouble with the HDV fields not getting processed correctly if I go to SD mpeg directly from an HDV timeline or movie file.
Your best bet is one of the following workflows:
Export a 1080i HDV or AIC movie file and re-import to FCP. Place this clip into an anamorphic SD sequence. It doesn't matter if the sequence is DV or Uncompressed if you send the sequence directly to Compressor from FCP, because this will ignore any rendered material and use an uncompressed image buffer as it encodes the mpeg. Do not letterbox your widescreen video if you are going to DVD - widescreen DVD video should always be full-frame anamorphic.
Your other option is to attempt to use Compressor to down-res the sequence or a self-contained movie of your HDV, starting with one of the advnace format conversion presets in Compressor. However, you'll have to cutstomize the preset by turning on the frame controls, and testing the settings to make sure you are happy with the result. Turning on frame controls will increase the ratio of your encoding time anywhere from 4 to 20:1.
I have tried all of these methods, and none of them look as good as capturing the downconverted video from the deck after mastering to HDV tape.
Hope this helps -
Max Average

PAL DVD to NTSC DVD CS5

I`m using CS5 Production premium and I have edit movie (1440x1080 25fps 1,3333). Pal DVD and blu-ray is ready, but now I need to make Nort American festifal copy NTSC DVD and Blu-ray. Is that so simple that I took squence to media encoder and pick up Format: MPEG2-DVD Present: NTSC 23,976p widescreen and after that I open NTSC project on Encore and burn DVD. Same thing with Blu-ray? I make test clip this way and it`s look fine VLC player, but I can`t test DVD or Blu-ray because I don`t have pure NTSC stand alone player. Does anyone know this issue? I don`t want to send copy that is not working
properly. Thank you.

Yes I know, so if that work here that should work and look same
way in pure NTSC player there? Does anyone have experience?

PAL DVD from NTSC video

I am doing a project pro bono for a friend of video I shot for him at his daughter's 4th birthday. They want to send the DVD to Russia for the grandparents to see.
This is the first PAL DVD I have attempted with Encore CS4 using NTSC footage. Here is the workflow proposed in hopes to get a properly formatted and viewable DVD.
Open a new PAL Encore project, then using the dynamic link, bring in the NTSC edited video.
The menu I used in the NTSC version of the DVD for the parents used a 4:3 NTSC frame which I saved as a menu and will import to the PAL project to avoid having to create it again (which contatined about 12 buttons for selecting various shots).
There is no PAL menu in Encore so I am wondering if the NTSC menu will be stretched when viewed in PAL.
More imporntantly, I am wondering if the video will be re-sized correctly in the PAL Encore project, since I have no way to test it.
Would very much appreciate input on this effort.
Thanks!!

You could just send them an NTSC DVD - nearly all PAL DVD players can play NTSC discs.

PAL DVD framerate not working

Hello,
I recently released a DVD in both NTSC and PAL formats. All of the footage was shot using AVCHD cameras, and edited in HD in FCP. Here was my workflow for compressing/converting:
1) Export .mov file from FCP in HD
2) Compress in compressor using 120 minute DVD compression. I compressed once in NTSC, and once in PAL.
3) I then built my DVD in DVD Studio Pro using NTSC format. Once the NTSC was completed, I saved a copy of my project, removed all video clips, and then changed the format to PAL and reimported all the PAL clips and reassigned them to their assets. This SHOULD work I would think, and for the most part it did. Most PAL customers have had no issues.
The problem I am having is kind of baffling me. I am in the USA, so I have no true way to test the PAL version other than seeing that it plays in my Mac and not in my TV and DVD player. About 80% of the customers have had no problems with the PAL DVD, but others have had issues where the framerate was severely messed up and unwatchable. Can anyone shed some light on this? It was not one country specifically... I have had this complaint from Europe and Australia. I have had no problems at all with NTSC customers.
I know that most PAL players can play NTSC also, but sending everyone NTSC is not the ideal solution. I want to fix the actual problem so PAL works as it should.
Thanks in advance!

Shooting and editing was 29.97, HD 1440x1080i. I compressed to PAL using 16:9 aspect ratio. In quicktime, everything plays fine. The m2v files are fine and the DVD plays fine in DVD Player. Only 10-20% of people have this issue, while its fine with others. The DVD is burned region free if that matters.

How do I convert an entire PAL DVD to NTSC, menus and all?

Hello everyone,
I've been given a set of PAL DVD's which need to be converted into NTSC. Now, from my understanding, there is no one program available that can do this, so I've had to rip all the video tracks off, convert them to NTSC mp2's and author the DVD from the ground up in DVDSP, build a VIDEO_TS file, then use Toast to compress to a single layer DVD and burn. If anyone knows a program that can convert an entire PAL DVD to NTSC, that would be greatly appreciated.
The next problem is that when I burn any of the DVD's and put them in a duplication tower (I'm not sure if that's the actual name, but it's one of those machines where you just put the original disc in the top drive and fill the other 8 or so drives under it with blanks), it says that the burn has failed. I have tried another duplication tower and end with the same result. One option I have not tried just yet is to change the brand of media I'm using to burn, but will do so next chance I get.
I'm not sure if the two problems are related or not, but I just thought it would help.
Thanks in advance.

2 options.
1) Best option - only available if you have the source material - Convert source material from PAL to NTSC using the Nattress standards converter.
http://www.nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconversion.htm
or the JES deinterlacer:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeschot/home.html
It's also possible to do this in Compressor but not as good quality and longer render times.
2) If you don't have the source footage, you'll need to demux the file in MPeg Streamclip:
http://www.squared5.com/
then transcode the file as described here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1946985&#1946985

How to create a PAL DVD from a NTSC camera

Hi,
I have a Canon HF10 which I have bought in the US, so it is a NTSC camera. I am living in Europe, so I would like to create a PAL dvd from the footage which I have recorded.
The footage have been shot using 1080/24p and I have imported it into iMovie. Do I need to do something extra or can I just export it and burn an dvd from iDVD?
Best regards
Henrik.

Henrik Skak Pedersen wrote:
.. The frame rate is 30 which is a surprise because I recorded it at 24.
no surprise.. the ccd of you device is read-out 24p, but the camera records upsampled in 30i ..
24p on consumer devices is mostly marketing blabla..
in Europe, a 25p more is more interesting..
you have a NTSC device. full stop.
in iDVD, set prefs to 25fps (=PAL), relaunch iDVD, import iM project..
so, you record in 24p, got 30i on tape, anc convert again in 25i (=PAL) ... happy landing..
aside: better results in standards-conversion with free app JES Deinterlacer ...

How to produce a progressively encoded PAL DVD?

I've been tearing my hair out trying to get a conclusive answer to this. I'm trying to learn how to produce a PAL DVD that is encoded "progressively" and is not interlaced.
First I posted about it here in the Compressor forum, and then over at Ken Stone's forum.
To summarise , here's what I've been doing:
1. Export from FCP using Compressor
2. Apply the DVD preset
3. In the Inspector window, click the Frame Controls tab
4. Set the Resize Filter to Better or Best
5. Set Output fields to Progressive
6. Set Deinterlace to Better or Best
7. Uncheck Adaptive Details
8. Hit Submit and give your job a name
9. Import .m2v and .ac3 to DVD Studio Pro
10. Author and burn DVD
However, this is not producing a proper progressive encode - inspecting the .m2v asset (using VidoSpec) tells me that it is "lower field first."
Can anybody please advise? This is driving me crazy, and each time we issue a DVD reviewers pick up on the fact that it is not "flagged for progressive". Is this something that needs setting up as an option in DVDSP?

I need to read up about this topic also. I release Retail DVDs and have always shot in interlaced mode and released that way up until now
Now I am doing my first proper feature. I am advised to shoot progressive scan.
I am assuming from this thread that to produce commercial DVD that will play on all TVs and with all DVD players I will need to encode the final film to DVDStudio pro in Interlaced mode. (in other words in order to be played on all TVs the DVD needs to be interlaced not progressive scan. But to achieve a "Film Look" I need to shoot progressive. (I have not yet considered whether 24 fps or 25)
The film is aimed at a wide film fest, probably using a digital print, but I doubt we will get as far as transferring from High Def video to film (because of the expense) But I imaging the major market for the film internationally will be on DVD.
I am hoping to use a DOP, so hopefully will get more technical help there.
Best
Ian
Corolo Film & Video

NTSC to PAL DVD

I am attempting to make a PAL DVD in DVDSP 3. I changed the disc and encoding settings to PAL and encoded my stand alone movie from media 100 which was 720x480 as PAL.
I watch the DVD on my g4 apple dvd player and it's fine, but when I watched it on my apex dvd player, I saw these lines running across horizontally. Thick lines, mostly on fast motion, but other places too.
When my client watches the same dvd on his computer, (mac 0s 9 i believe) he sees what I see on the apex.
Question: Is this normal, since my monitor is NTSC to see these lines? Normally when I've watched a PAL piece on a PAL player on an NTSC monitor, I see color problems and tracking problems... but not these lines...
Also: What is good for a stand alone program, to convert files from NTSC to PAL?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me.

You can't just encode from one standard to another
You need to use a standards converter, or have original PAL footage
What do you mean by "I changed the disc and encoding settings to PAL and encoded my stand alone movie from media 100?"
Just changing to PAL in DVD SP if the original footage is NTSC doesn't change the source footage and creates a PAL DVD.

Testing a PAL DVD

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