definitive HDV NTSC to PAL workflow at DVinfo.net

Brian David Melnyk · July 3rd, 2008, 05:34 AM

i have spent the last 5 hours searching posts, researching, and experimenting, but have not yet found a definitive answer.
What is the best workflow HDV shot NTSC to PAL SD? Canon XH-A1 and FCPS2.
Shoot and edit HDV (frame rate with smoothest convert?) and then export with compressor to HDV 50i or DV PAL Anamorphic? and then to mpeg 2 best quality 90 min?
i tried suggested settings here: http://www.macworld.com/article/4930...rchcreate.html
but the results looked better with the straight settings for DV PAL Anamorphic, and there were horizontal lines like mad. both still very jerky...
would the Nattress converter have better results than Compressor?
If anyone has had excellent results with a workflow from shooting to output, could you post?
i'm sure it has been covered, but i can't find the magical post...
thanks!

Robert Lane · July 3rd, 2008, 07:02 AM

Brian,

Here's your magic bullet. With respect to "Frame Controls" you could use the "Best" setting but that will turn on Compressors Optical Flow filtering and encoding times will increase exponentially and might be painful to wait for depending on the length of your sequences.

Remember that once you make your encoded DVD's for PAL that unless you have a DVD player that supports the multiplexed playback options (NTSC and PAL) you won't be able to view the content except on your Mac DVD player.

Brian David Melnyk · July 4th, 2008, 02:54 AM

Robert,
Thanks much for that! I did so much experimenting that all the quicktime players on my screen made my head spin (more than usual...). Your settings are, i believe, the clear winner. i am posting a few screen shot comparisons: your settings on left vs 1.macworld settings 2. vs. dv pal anamorphic stock compressor settings 3. your settings without pal convert vs. best qual 90 min.
the differences are very subtle in the 90 min best qual comparison, but i see the background as richer and titles slightly clearer. and the other PAL SD converts would have to be transcoded AGAIN for DVD, i believe... but head still spinning slightly...
still wondering if Natress would do better?
and best Frame rate for convert to PAL? i think, for me, 24f looks jerky on pans and zooms in the first place, soooo 60 or 30...hmmm...

Robert Lane · July 4th, 2008, 10:24 AM

Ever since Compressor 3 was released it is the absolute best encoder for the Mac, a close second is Episode Pro however to get it's full functionality you have to spend about $900 - 3/4th's the cost of FCS2.

Compressor now has a plug-in available (again, very pricey but the results are stunning) from: http://www.omni-cinemacraft.com/prod...ncodermp.shtml . Right now that would be the best software-only encoder that could come close to a hardware encode for the Mac.

Nattress simply doesn't have the same amount of controls that C3 does nor does it's quality of output match the ultra-clean results you get from C3.

Takeshi Fukushima · September 12th, 2008, 12:56 AM

Hi,
I am curious on how different these software are.
I still have a Compressor 2. is the PAL conversion on this version THAT bad? will it be usable?
Thanks,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Lane

Ever since Compressor 3 was released it is the absolute best encoder for the Mac, a close second is Episode Pro however to get it's full functionality you have to spend about $900 - 3/4th's the cost of FCS2.

Compressor now has a plug-in available (again, very pricey but the results are stunning) from: CINEMA CRAFT Encoder SP2 - OMNI-CINEMA CRAFT . Right now that would be the best software-only encoder that could come close to a hardware encode for the Mac.

Nattress simply doesn't have the same amount of controls that C3 does nor does it's quality of output match the ultra-clean results you get from C3.

July 3rd, 2008, 05:34 AM	#1
Brian David Melnyk Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Winnipeg Canada Posts: 532	definitive HDV NTSC to PAL workflow i have spent the last 5 hours searching posts, researching, and experimenting, but have not yet found a definitive answer. What is the best workflow HDV shot NTSC to PAL SD? Canon XH-A1 and FCPS2. Shoot and edit HDV (frame rate with smoothest convert?) and then export with compressor to HDV 50i or DV PAL Anamorphic? and then to mpeg 2 best quality 90 min? i tried suggested settings here: http://www.macworld.com/article/4930...rchcreate.html but the results looked better with the straight settings for DV PAL Anamorphic, and there were horizontal lines like mad. both still very jerky... would the Nattress converter have better results than Compressor? If anyone has had excellent results with a workflow from shooting to output, could you post? i'm sure it has been covered, but i can't find the magical post... thanks!

July 3rd, 2008, 07:02 AM	#2
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,823 Images: 15	Brian, Here's your magic bullet. With respect to "Frame Controls" you could use the "Best" setting but that will turn on Compressors Optical Flow filtering and encoding times will increase exponentially and might be painful to wait for depending on the length of your sequences. Remember that once you make your encoded DVD's for PAL that unless you have a DVD player that supports the multiplexed playback options (NTSC and PAL) you won't be able to view the content except on your Mac DVD player. Attached Thumbnails

July 4th, 2008, 02:54 AM	#3
Brian David Melnyk Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Winnipeg Canada Posts: 532	Robert, Thanks much for that! I did so much experimenting that all the quicktime players on my screen made my head spin (more than usual...). Your settings are, i believe, the clear winner. i am posting a few screen shot comparisons: your settings on left vs 1.macworld settings 2. vs. dv pal anamorphic stock compressor settings 3. your settings without pal convert vs. best qual 90 min. the differences are very subtle in the 90 min best qual comparison, but i see the background as richer and titles slightly clearer. and the other PAL SD converts would have to be transcoded AGAIN for DVD, i believe... but head still spinning slightly... still wondering if Natress would do better? and best Frame rate for convert to PAL? i think, for me, 24f looks jerky on pans and zooms in the first place, soooo 60 or 30...hmmm... Attached Thumbnails

July 4th, 2008, 10:24 AM	#4
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,823 Images: 15	Ever since Compressor 3 was released it is the absolute best encoder for the Mac, a close second is Episode Pro however to get it's full functionality you have to spend about $900 - 3/4th's the cost of FCS2. Compressor now has a plug-in available (again, very pricey but the results are stunning) from: http://www.omni-cinemacraft.com/prod...ncodermp.shtml . Right now that would be the best software-only encoder that could come close to a hardware encode for the Mac. Nattress simply doesn't have the same amount of controls that C3 does nor does it's quality of output match the ultra-clean results you get from C3.