Best Shooting Settings for NTSC + PAL DVDs at DVinfo.net

Nathanael Iversen · September 7th, 2010, 12:33 PM

I have a shoot coming up that has three deliverable:

1) Files of my choosing for Website use
2) PAL DVD (will receive broadest distribution)
3) NTSC DVD

The shoot is talking heads and some clips of a band playing. The shoot is in North America under 60Hz tungsten lights and also under CoolLights fluorescents for the talking heads (supposed to be flicker free, and certainly are under 24p).

Based on research to date, I am wondering if I shoot 1080p25 so that I have the PAL framerate, or should I shoot at 1080p24. I gather that shooting 1080p30 would be my worst choice to get into PAL DVD's image quality wise.

Post will be on a MAC, CS5, and the option of using Cineform as editing intermediate, so any other workflow comments related to the goal of PAL and NTSC DVD are welcome. To date, I have released primarily HD for web distribution.

Liam Hall · September 7th, 2010, 02:41 PM

Since PAL is your most important delivery I'd go with that.

Shoot 1080p25 with a 1/60th shutter under the tungsten lights and you're good to go. I have the CoolLights and they are flicker free and work really well.

Nathanael Iversen · September 7th, 2010, 03:26 PM

Perfect. Thank you for the quick and clear answer. I'm sure that will work well. Thanks!

September 7th, 2010, 12:33 PM	#1
Nathanael Iversen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 34	Best Shooting Settings for NTSC + PAL DVDs I have a shoot coming up that has three deliverable: 1) Files of my choosing for Website use 2) PAL DVD (will receive broadest distribution) 3) NTSC DVD The shoot is talking heads and some clips of a band playing. The shoot is in North America under 60Hz tungsten lights and also under CoolLights fluorescents for the talking heads (supposed to be flicker free, and certainly are under 24p). Based on research to date, I am wondering if I shoot 1080p25 so that I have the PAL framerate, or should I shoot at 1080p24. I gather that shooting 1080p30 would be my worst choice to get into PAL DVD's image quality wise. Post will be on a MAC, CS5, and the option of using Cineform as editing intermediate, so any other workflow comments related to the goal of PAL and NTSC DVD are welcome. To date, I have released primarily HD for web distribution.

September 7th, 2010, 02:41 PM	#2
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	Since PAL is your most important delivery I'd go with that. Shoot 1080p25 with a 1/60th shutter under the tungsten lights and you're good to go. I have the CoolLights and they are flicker free and work really well. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

September 7th, 2010, 03:26 PM	#3
Nathanael Iversen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 34	Perfect. Thank you for the quick and clear answer. I'm sure that will work well. Thanks!