Workflow PAL equipment to NTSC DVD

I want to shoot and edit with PAL gear, but I'd like to create an extra NTSC DVD too.
A. How is that done nowadays in a pro situation, when you could rent or buy whatever you need? What is the ideal source material for dual norm output (PAL & NTSC)
B. What can I do, using just some PAL camera's (maybe HD, maybe SD only) and a HD edit set?
>> Time is not an issue: if I have to render a week for the best PAL to NTSC conversion, no problem. I was thinking After Effects and pixel blending...
>> Please do not reply from hearsay; hands-on pro experience only.

I have tried a number of software methods and none of them are as good as a Alchemist hardware convertor. I send my master PAL tape to a Soho facilities house for conversion. About £275 for 2 hours of material.
Richard Knight

Similar Messages

PAL (25p) - 24p - NTSC DVD

I have two CanonXL1e (PAL) cameras. I am planning to shoot footage at 25p and conform the clips to 23.98fps, edit in FCP on 23.98fps sequences, and then output to NTSC DVDs at 23.98fps.
The audio gets out of sync when I conform the 25p clips to 23.98fps and drop them into a 23.98fps sequence.
The audio stays in sync with the video when I conform the 25p clips to 24fps and drop them into a 24fps sequence. The problem I have with this setup is when I export the 24fps sequence from FCP to Mpeg2 using compressor I seem to drop a frame every once in a while. Is this because it's going from 24fps to 23.98 fps?
What is the correct workflow to get from PAL 25p to 24p to NTSC DVD?

I have not - but instead of conforming to 24, does cinema tools give you the option to conform to 23.98? If not, I'd have to think it's like Dropframe/Non-Dropframe sync issues - stuff drops out at the rate of 2 frames per minute. Not noticeable in the first minute, but definitely discernible after 3.
I don't know of any option other than to run the audio at 99.9% or slipping the audio every minute...
Or is that 100.1%?
Patrick

"PAL" HDV to NTSC DVD

Wondering if I can go directly from "PAL" HDV (only PAL in the sense that it's 25fps) to NTC m2v (and ac3 obviously) using compressor with as much quality as possible? I usually do standards conversion within fcp using Natresses plug in, but wondering if this is a viable workflow and whether I should adjust the resizing and retiming controls in the compressor presets for maximum quality.

thanks RedTruck, i will try this!
quick question:
is JES deinterlacer the best way to convert the NTSC HDV to PAL HDV (or 1080/60i to 1080/50i)?
client also now wants this on PAL digibeta, so i'm thinking maybe the easiest way of doing all this is getting everything to 1080/50i HDV PAL, exporting via the camera back to HDV tape then taking the HDV tape to a dub house and have it downconverted there to DigiBeta. from that, reimport as SD PAL to make the PAL DVDs. how does this sound?

PAL disks in NTSC DVD Players...OT I know!

Hi,
I'm posting this here because you chaps are the oracle on all things video and I know there's many of you guys who live across the pond...
In the UK, it's standard nowadays to have NTSC playback on our DVD players.
How does that work in the US? Is PAL a standard playback format...please don't confuse it with regions...different bag.
I'm having a large amount of DVD's pressed and many are going to America, I'm wondering how many I need to get done as actual NTSC if I discover that PAL isn't really supported in the US.
Help appreciated.
K.

Yes. iDVD is NTSC by default, you have to make it PAL.
I thought you got a warning saying PAL attributes in an NTSC project, but I'm not an expert on anything with an 'i' in front of it.
Play it in Mac DVD player and get the properties for the file, that will tell you for sure, or of course try playing it in a DVD player you know only supports PAL discs.
Message was edited by: Ken Evans

PAL DV footage to NTSC DVD help wanted!

Hi there, apologies if this has been tackled elsewhere, but I couldn't locate it!
I have a finished PAL edit of around 90 minutes in FCP 4.5 that I have output to a PAL DVD via DVD SP 4/Compressor 2. Following this, the client has also asked for an identical NTSC DVD to send to the USA. Luckily I have the edit still loaded in FCP - therefore: This is the first time I have needed to do a standards conversion. Can anyone advise what the best method/workflow for creating this NTSC DVD is?
Many thanks in advance for your time, TP
PowerMac G5, Dual 1.8 ghz, 3GB Ram, 250 GB HD Mac OS X (10.4.6) FCP 4.5, DVD SP4, Motion, Toast 6 Titanium

You didn't understand what my last post said.
I said go from his PAL DV edit in FCP to a DV tape (DVCam preferrably). Then have the PAL DVCam tape transferred to another DVCam tape in NTSC.
PAL is better quality that NTSC so there will be some loss just because there is less resolution in NTSC than PAL, but keeping it on a DVCam tape is fine.
Then log the footage back into FCP with NTSC settings and then edit/export/author.
I said nothing about tranferring it to analog or VHS. I don't know where you got that one. He said his original footage was edited in DV.
And YES, if you take it to a "professional" dub house it will turn out better than most software conversions is what i meant. I have used Lightning Media in Hollywood for years and their stuff turns out great.

NTSC DVD material: Client wants PAL version, how?

Client now wants to know if the NTSC DVD we just did can be made into a PAL version using the same assets...I don't think so, correct? So what is best to do with this scenario - NTSC DVCPRO HD 720p60 material (and one HDV 1440x1080i seq) in my many FCP timelines. Do I just change every seq to PAL? How? Then use Compressor to make PAL mpeg 2's for DVD SP 4?
What's best workflow, or thing to do?
Thanks greatly
K

many PAL DVD payer and TV combinations are not able to play NTSC discs
and if they do the video picture area is aways smaller and always reduced in picture resolution.
When I recieve a DVD I expect it to play properly in full resolution and quality and not to rely on substandard work arounds.
If your client asks for A PAL DVD, give them what they asked for and convert the assets to PAL.
if you have the budget, get a facility house to convert using a Snell & Wilcox:
http://www.snellwilcox.com/products/conversionrestoration/conversionSD.php#alchemistphcip
or for inhouse conversion use this excellent FCP plugin:
http://www.nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconversion.htm

Easiest way to produce NTSC DVD from PAL encore project?

I have a PAL Encore project with 25fps assets and subtitles. What's the easiest way to make an NTSC DVD from this project? Encore won't let me edit the quality settings to change from NTSC to PAL. These settings are greyed out. I take it they are dictated by the assets. Can anyone suggest how to make an NTSC project easily from this Encore project? I don't want to go back to the original footage. I want to just convert it from these Mpeg-2 files in the Encore project.
Any help would be much appreciated.

What Richard said. I'll add three things.
Encore won't let me edit the quality settings to change from NTSC to PAL. These settings are greyed out. I take it they are dictated by the assets.
They are dictated by your selections when you created the project. And NTSC vs PAL are not settings that can be changed in the project settings once created.
Regarding reusing menus. The files accessed by the Encore library for DVD projects are different for NTSC vs PAL. They have NTSC or PAL in the filename, but you don't see this from inside Encore. (They do not vary for Bluray menus.) You can take your NTSC project menus, "save as file," and then "import as menu" into a new PAL project. They will be the "wrong" pixel size and aspect ratio, but Encore may correct the par. I have never tried this. But if you get oddities doing it this way, in the new PAL project, add a PAL menu, edit in photoshop, and copy the button groups and such from the NTSC version of the menu to the PAL menu. That might work.
What I see in most of these "convert PAL from NTSC" threads is that virtually all NTSC disks play on current PAL equipment. Many users asking your question decide not to convert. that is especially true, because Richard's "export as NTSC" is not as simple as it seems.

Creating NTSC DVD in DVDStudio Pro from PAL material

I am UK based and normally work in PAL. I have used Final Cut Pro v5 and DVD Studio Pro v 4 quite a bit for making PAL DVDs and am pretty comfortable with the process.
But I now need to create an NTSC DVD and make copies to be played in the US. . The end product is a DVD, with a menu and twelve, chapters each only 1-2 mins long, to send to US clients so needs to look reasonable. I only have to run a few copies so will not be using a duplication/replication facility.
The source material is DVCAM PAL supplied to me as PAL MOVs.
How can I convert the material to NTSC and at what stage in the process do I do this?.
Will I need other software to convert and achieve a reasonable quality DVD?
Is there anyway I can test the final result to see if it is really NTSC?

Hi,
I'm working on transcoding PAL to NTSC. I've been weighing the many pieces of software which seem to do some part of this including Hawkeye, Mpeg2 Works4, Nattress, and even Toast Titanium, but I think I've settled on doing it with Compressor 3, mostly because I already have it, and I read this Macworld article:
http://www.macworld.com/article/49306/2006/02/marchcreate.html
My first question is regarding something Drew said:
"I find converting first to PAL/NTSC in the original Codec then encoding that to m2v seemed to give better results than converting straight from PAL/NTSC to the m2v stream."
I'm not sure what that means. Can you explain a little more about what are you converting and what are you using to convert it?
For my purposes, I'm starting out with a PAL video_ts folder (region free). I've cobbled together a best-guess workflow from sources all over the internet. Would you kindly check this and steer me away from any cliffs?
I can't import the folder directly into compressor, right? So my plan is to use MPeg Slipstream to
1. Open DVD
2. Export a Quicktime movie using the "Apple DV-PAL" settings
Now I have a .mov file which Compressor will recognize, and which I can convert to NTSC by following the directions in the article, right? I don't want the audio or movie length changed, so I think I want to use the traditional method instead of "Slow-PAL". The result will be an NTSC .mov file, right? Will this .mov file contain the dvd menus, subtitles, and alternate audio tracks? Do I need to use DVD Studio Pro to fix anything?
Thanks a lot for your advice.

NTSC DVD doc for PAL Europe. Updated Advice on IF I need to convert & HOW?

I have read with interests several posts on playing NTSC, all region DVDs on PAL DVD players. I hope someone may have some updated advice for my situation. In brief, I would like to give out DVD copies to festival goers in France where my Doc will play in April. I thought to produce DVD-Rs on my Mac.
With a film acquired documentary(24fps), transferred to NTSC video (29.97 fps) sitting as both Avid and Final Cut Pro Media on my trusty G-4, I am now ready to export a Quicktime Movie and then encode to MPEG-2, and "author" a DVD in DVD Studio Pro.
Will an NTSC DVD now play on most DVD players and Televisions in Europe? (A contact stated their "players are bi-standard NTSC and PAL", but I'm still uncertain this means my DVD-R or replicated NTSC will play).
Should I make a PAL DVD?
IF I try a PAL DVD is it really as simple as exporting a Same as Source Quick Time Movie from Avid or FCP then using the QT MPEG-2 exporter and selecting "PAL" from within Quick Time? Then I just create a new Pal project in DVD Studio Pro?...... Even if it is that simple to create PAL from QT and my media, I don't see how my 24 fps/29.97 fps doc now magically becomes PAL 25 fps / 59.97 fps just because I converted it to MPEG-2.
Do you all recommend I try to make my own PAL DVD or should I just take my already authored NTSC DVDs and cross my fingers.
I really appreciate any newer thoughts on this topic. I'm an old pre-digital film guy so be kind.
Thanks, Rob
G-4 Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Yes, although the vast majority of newer European DVD players and TVs have no problems with NTSC DVDs, the only way to be sure (well, almost sure) is to burn a PAL DVD. You can't legislate for the fact, however, that not all DVD players can play all DVD-R authored disks, but that's a seperate problem!
I generally use After Effects for quick and dirty (but good quality) standards conversion. Whatever you do don't just try exporting your project via Quicktime using a PAL as this will only change the colour space and not the frame rate or frame size. If you use QT to change frame rate it will simply repeat every fifth frame to get to 30fps which will give you jerky motion.
Here's a step by step guide to doing the conversion in Compressor 2, using "optical flow" to interpolate to get the extra frames :
http://www.macworld.com/2006/02/secrets/marchcreate/index.php?pf=1

Will DVD studio pro convert PAL for an NTSC project

Greetings. I am trying to create NTSC showreels from material that was filmed and captured as PAL. Will importing the PAL asset into an NTSC DVD-SP project mean that it will then encode an NTSC MPEG. Or should I convert the original movie in FCP? I am looking for the solution that requires the least time, as these showreel are needed urgently in the states.
The reason I ask is that as a result of technical inexperience of my colleauges a whole hard drive of PAL assets has been sent to the states in order to make showreels for the production companies directors. This included master Showreel Projects which are in PAL. I am not sure of the best way to unf*£$k the situation but hoped it would be as simple as changing the Disc setting to NTSC. Thanks so much for your help. Also If you know of any sites which could help clear this up with information or software...
Sorry I realise this is a fundamental question
Thanks again
Peter Stenhouse

I'm afraid not. It may even be the case that if you have your project set to NTSC it won't import PAL assets (We do all our encoding outside of DVD-SP and if you try and import PAL m2v's into NTSC project it won't do it).
The PAL assets will need to be converted either professionally by a facilities house which time base correctors and all those doodads or you could try using something like Graeme Nattress's convertor for FCP
http://www.nattress.com/standardsConversion.htm
never used them but heard they bare good (and not too expensive) though time consuming
It may be that you can do it directly in FCP but I seem to remember somewhere that it wasn't very satisfactory. At least you have the advantage that you have PAL resolution going to NTSC res and not the other way (which we have to deal with all the time in the UK - not hugely satisfactory)
Hope this helps
Steve Kirkham

Will PAL dvd player play my NTSC DVD-r?

I'm trying to figure out if I need to convert several NTSC dvd's into PAL format to send to a friend's mom in Israel (she's very sick and would like to see these soon).
Since I've never converted between these formats, I've been doing lots of research and keep getting more confused. I downloaded JES Deinterlacer (i think thats what its called) but I'm not sure I need it since I read the following on an imovie FAQ website:
"I have an NTSC project and want a PAL DVD.
The good news is: You can just send an NTSC disc. Any PAL set top DVD player capable of playing DVD-R discs can also play NTSC discs. All that is needed is a fairly new TV, built in the last 8-10 years or so."
Could this be true? Can I really just send the NTSC dvd's to her? I hate to waste time here...please help...
Thanks so much in advance.
Jenny

That´s right; NTSC DVDs will always work on PAL players when the player is compliant to the DVD specs. Those players do give out the regular NTSC signal and/or convert to PAL60. Some players can even convert to PAL50. The problem is the TV set.
My German TV is 14 years old and cannot handle PAL60 or NTSC; I would need one of those rare players that convert to PAL50 (usually with poor results).
But NTSC DVDs will always work on a PC (when it is an all-region DVD).

Switch NTSC DVD slideshow to PAL

Good morning,
my wife and I recently received a DVD Slideshow made on a PC in the NTSC format from our Wedding photographers.
My family lives in Europe and cannot watch NTSC format. Is there a way to make a copy of my slideshow but in the PAL format?
Thank you very very much.
P

Hi
Usually - NTSC-DVDs plays well in PAL players - but not the other way around.
So here is my notes on PAL to NTSC. Just think the other way around.
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)
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

Producing NTSC dvd's from PAL projects

Hi
I'm in Australia (PAL) but would like to produce dvd's that can be viewed in the USA.
If I produce a NTSC version of my PAL filmed project in idvd, will it work in NTSC dvd players in the USA?

when you set iDVD to NTSC/29.97 and import a PAL iMovie, iDVD will convert your material and creates a NTSC videoDVD ...
... my experience, going vice versa, NTSC >>PAL, told me, that the underlying QTengine doesn't show a good result.. so, the long way for a probably better result is:
export your iM as 'QT/Full Quality' ..
download and use for free JES Deinterlacer
open your iMexport, choose 'Project, conversion' and let JESDI do the conversion..
drop THAT new file into a NTSC iDVD project..

Is this true?? NTSC dvd projects will play in PAL players

From The "Unofficial" imovie FAQ
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6017.shtml
States:
The good news is: You can just send an NTSC disc. Any PAL set top DVD player capable of playing DVD-R discs can also play NTSC discs. All that is needed is a fairly new TV, built in the last 8-10 years or so.
So is this true? I can send my project made in idvd to a country that uses PAL and my NTSC project will play?
Thank you for your time.

my Sony TV is 12 years old and does accept the "strange" signal, my DVDplayer (and multinorm VHSplayer) offers while NTSC playback... (colorful pix, stereo audio)
..This has been VERY helpful. ..
as Original Poster of this thread, don't hesitate to make use of the marker functions in this forum...

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.

Workflow PAL equipment to NTSC DVD

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