Mixing NTSC and PAL format in the same edit. at DVinfo.net

Paul Gallagher · March 18th, 2006, 04:33 PM

I wanted to ask is it possible to mix both a NTSC cameras footage and a PAL format cameras on the same edit/timeline?
If you were to capture with say Premiere Pro each cameras footage on a seperate project, can the NTSC be exported out as a PAL AVI file so could be imported into a the other project and both mixed together in the same edit?
I know the DVD for either one can be made region free and thats no problem but I wanted to know if both can be worked on together?
Thanks
Paul

Giroud Francois · March 18th, 2006, 11:19 PM

mixing PAL and NTSC will just give you trouble.
convert one and use a project either in PAL or NTSC.
Making a DVD region free does not change anything.
Regions are just silly BS from marketing dept.
there is no relation between region and content of disc. Since it is expected that region 1 is ntsc and region 2 is PAL, putting region 0 (no region) does not imply that the disc will be read into any equipment. People with NTSC only equipment will not be able to play a PAL DVD even if set to region 0.
If you can, you can provide your project on dual layer/side/disc with each element set with one version.
Usually all PAL owners are able to play NTSC.

Graham Hickling · March 19th, 2006, 12:57 AM

When you create your Premiere project, you are required to specify either PAL or NTSC.

Then, when you import a mix of PAL and NTSC clips into the timeline, Premiere will detect one or other set of clips as requiring re-rendering to conform to your project specification.

Bottom line...you will end up with either PAL or NTSC when you render/export your final project.

(Also....Premiere is not really regarded as having a satisfactory NTSC-PAL conversion ability - Procoder for example does it much better.)

Paul Gallagher · March 19th, 2006, 03:08 AM

I have read you can convert them in after effects, but is there a loss in quality when you do this or is the long and short, stick to one or the other and not mix?

Its a mate of mine who wanted to shoot a 2 camera training sesion but my camera is PAL and his is NTSC, he also wanted me to do 2nd camera for him at some weddings this year as well and I would be the one doing the editing but if the quality is lost maybe I should not bother at all, this is the main reason I wanted to ask.

Pro-coder is a very expensive program but probably the best, I have never used it before.

Giroud Francois · March 19th, 2006, 06:13 AM

probably with the cost of time lost in conversion +the cost of the tools needed, you will find a cheap DV camera in the format you need.
The other solution is to get a SONY HDV Z1, able to shoot both PAL/NTSC.

March 18th, 2006, 04:33 PM	#1
Paul Gallagher Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Omagh Posts: 306	Mixing NTSC and PAL format in the same edit. I wanted to ask is it possible to mix both a NTSC cameras footage and a PAL format cameras on the same edit/timeline? If you were to capture with say Premiere Pro each cameras footage on a seperate project, can the NTSC be exported out as a PAL AVI file so could be imported into a the other project and both mixed together in the same edit? I know the DVD for either one can be made region free and thats no problem but I wanted to know if both can be worked on together? Thanks Paul

March 18th, 2006, 11:19 PM	#2
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	mixing PAL and NTSC will just give you trouble. convert one and use a project either in PAL or NTSC. Making a DVD region free does not change anything. Regions are just silly BS from marketing dept. there is no relation between region and content of disc. Since it is expected that region 1 is ntsc and region 2 is PAL, putting region 0 (no region) does not imply that the disc will be read into any equipment. People with NTSC only equipment will not be able to play a PAL DVD even if set to region 0. If you can, you can provide your project on dual layer/side/disc with each element set with one version. Usually all PAL owners are able to play NTSC.

March 19th, 2006, 12:57 AM	#3
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	When you create your Premiere project, you are required to specify either PAL or NTSC. Then, when you import a mix of PAL and NTSC clips into the timeline, Premiere will detect one or other set of clips as requiring re-rendering to conform to your project specification. Bottom line...you will end up with either PAL or NTSC when you render/export your final project. (Also....Premiere is not really regarded as having a satisfactory NTSC-PAL conversion ability - Procoder for example does it much better.)

March 19th, 2006, 03:08 AM	#4
Paul Gallagher Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Omagh Posts: 306	I have read you can convert them in after effects, but is there a loss in quality when you do this or is the long and short, stick to one or the other and not mix? Its a mate of mine who wanted to shoot a 2 camera training sesion but my camera is PAL and his is NTSC, he also wanted me to do 2nd camera for him at some weddings this year as well and I would be the one doing the editing but if the quality is lost maybe I should not bother at all, this is the main reason I wanted to ask. Pro-coder is a very expensive program but probably the best, I have never used it before.

March 19th, 2006, 06:13 AM	#5
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	probably with the cost of time lost in conversion +the cost of the tools needed, you will find a cheap DV camera in the format you need. The other solution is to get a SONY HDV Z1, able to shoot both PAL/NTSC.