Converting NTSC to PAL

Ron Stoole · April 2nd, 2004, 01:53 PM

I have produced a video for a client and provided them with a NTSC DVD. They now want a version in PAL for their European market.

Obviously the video was shot in NTSC and the whole production chain (capture, editor, transcoding and writing DVD) was set for NTSC.

How would I now convert this to PAL? Can I just take the rendered AVI file (from Premier Pro) and then set the transcoder (TMPGEnc) and DVD Authoring program (Adobe Encore) to PAL?

Or, do I have to go right back to the source footage and start again with PAL settings the whole way through?

Or... is there a better way??

Any advice appreciated...

Thanks

Ron

Frank Granovski · April 2nd, 2004, 02:28 PM

A VHS NTSC/PAL conversion would be easier.

Ron Stoole · April 3rd, 2004, 08:19 AM

Can anyone add to Frank's comment?

Ignacio Rodriguez · April 3rd, 2004, 11:04 AM

I work on another platform so I can't help much with the technical details related to your exact setup... however you might want to consider rendering the project again in your NLE for PAL. You will gain spatial resolution if there are stills and titling, and you will gain temporal resolution if there are any slow motion kind of effects. You will need to set the clips to motion blur in someway so that there is no stuttering from the frame rate change and you will need to make sure the NLE correctly handles the change in pixel aspect ratio. All this can be done in FCP so I assume your NLE can probably do it too. Of course this will take a LONG tieme to render. But if you have the time, the end result will probably be of better quality then transcoding the rendered AVI.

Julian Luttrell · April 3rd, 2004, 11:58 AM

Just try the NTSC DVD in a PAL player - you will probably be pleasantly surprised.

Most PAL DVD players, together with modern PAL TV sets, can play NTSC DVDs OK. There will be a few people with older systems who have problems.

Computer playback will work fine - computer players can play both NTSC and PAL OK.

Julian

PS shouldn't this be in the DVD forum, Mr Moderator?

Frank Granovski · April 3rd, 2004, 03:45 PM

For conversions, I use a AIWA MX100 multi-system converting (VHS) VCR. For best results, record via AV-out from your mini-DV cam straight to the target format (in VHS). It's clean and simple.

Ron, I posted 2 article links by Peter Utz here that may be of inerest:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=24009

For other good links go here: http://www.dvfreak.com/links.htm

Ron Stoole · April 3rd, 2004, 04:59 PM

Thanks everyone. Looks like Julian's suggestions is the most appropriate....just do nothing!!! I like that.

Ron

Arnaldo Paixao · April 6th, 2004, 05:35 AM

Use Canopus Procoder or Procoder Express.

Export your timeline into an AVI file, than use Procoder to convert it from NTSC to PAL.

Convert it to MPEG-2 and author your DVD.

Arnaldo

Ronald Lee · April 9th, 2004, 01:36 AM

This is similar to a question I also have.

What about mixing and matching NTSC and PAL footage, shot on two different PDX10s (or take your pick for camera).

PAL has an extra 100 lines of resolution,....how will the two formates hold up when you:

1) output to NTSC
2) output to PAL?

Frank Granovski · April 9th, 2004, 01:38 AM

Quote:

What about mixing and matching NTSC and PAL footage, shot on two different PDX10s

Why would you want to do this?

Ronald Lee · April 9th, 2004, 01:51 AM

Well, actually I don't WANT to do this, haha, but there may be the case where someone (I) brought my PDX10 to Germany and used it to shoot as a B camera to another PDX10 and we want to edit it all together...

Frank Granovski · April 9th, 2004, 03:02 AM

Why would you want to do that?

Stick with either NTSC or PAL but don't mix the 2 when you don't have to.

April 2nd, 2004, 01:53 PM	#1
Ron Stoole Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 27	Converting NTSC to PAL - Help please I have produced a video for a client and provided them with a NTSC DVD. They now want a version in PAL for their European market. Obviously the video was shot in NTSC and the whole production chain (capture, editor, transcoding and writing DVD) was set for NTSC. How would I now convert this to PAL? Can I just take the rendered AVI file (from Premier Pro) and then set the transcoder (TMPGEnc) and DVD Authoring program (Adobe Encore) to PAL? Or, do I have to go right back to the source footage and start again with PAL settings the whole way through? Or... is there a better way?? Any advice appreciated... Thanks Ron

April 3rd, 2004, 08:19 AM	#3
Ron Stoole Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 27	Yes but.... Can anyone add to Frank's comment?

April 3rd, 2004, 11:04 AM	#4
Ignacio Rodriguez Contributor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 932	I work on another platform so I can't help much with the technical details related to your exact setup... however you might want to consider rendering the project again in your NLE for PAL. You will gain spatial resolution if there are stills and titling, and you will gain temporal resolution if there are any slow motion kind of effects. You will need to set the clips to motion blur in someway so that there is no stuttering from the frame rate change and you will need to make sure the NLE correctly handles the change in pixel aspect ratio. All this can be done in FCP so I assume your NLE can probably do it too. Of course this will take a LONG tieme to render. But if you have the time, the end result will probably be of better quality then transcoding the rendered AVI. __________________ Ignacio Rodríguez in the third world. @micronauta on Twitter. Main hardware: brain, eyes, hands.

April 2nd, 2004, 02:28 PM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	A VHS NTSC/PAL conversion would be easier.

April 3rd, 2004, 11:58 AM	#5
Julian Luttrell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 164	Just try the NTSC DVD in a PAL player - you will probably be pleasantly surprised. Most PAL DVD players, together with modern PAL TV sets, can play NTSC DVDs OK. There will be a few people with older systems who have problems. Computer playback will work fine - computer players can play both NTSC and PAL OK. Julian PS shouldn't this be in the DVD forum, Mr Moderator?

April 3rd, 2004, 03:45 PM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	For conversions, I use a AIWA MX100 multi-system converting (VHS) VCR. For best results, record via AV-out from your mini-DV cam straight to the target format (in VHS). It's clean and simple. Ron, I posted 2 article links by Peter Utz here that may be of inerest: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=24009 For other good links go here: http://www.dvfreak.com/links.htm

April 3rd, 2004, 04:59 PM	#7
Ron Stoole Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 27	Thanks everyone. Looks like Julian's suggestions is the most appropriate....just do nothing!!! I like that. Ron

April 6th, 2004, 05:35 AM	#8
Arnaldo Paixao Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vimeiro - Portugal Posts: 255	Use Canopus Procoder or Procoder Express. Export your timeline into an AVI file, than use Procoder to convert it from NTSC to PAL. Convert it to MPEG-2 and author your DVD. Arnaldo

April 9th, 2004, 01:36 AM	#9
Ronald Lee Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 435	This is similar to a question I also have. What about mixing and matching NTSC and PAL footage, shot on two different PDX10s (or take your pick for camera). PAL has an extra 100 lines of resolution,....how will the two formates hold up when you: 1) output to NTSC 2) output to PAL?

April 9th, 2004, 01:51 AM	#11
Ronald Lee Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 435	Well, actually I don't WANT to do this, haha, but there may be the case where someone (I) brought my PDX10 to Germany and used it to shoot as a B camera to another PDX10 and we want to edit it all together...

April 9th, 2004, 03:02 AM	#12
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Why would you want to do that? Stick with either NTSC or PAL but don't mix the 2 when you don't have to.