NTSC to PAL DVD? at DVinfo.net

Mark Hendren · November 3rd, 2010, 10:13 AM

Okay, so I just got a call from a bride who has a lot of family in the Wales area and wants a DVD for them. My question is, can I make a PAL DVD from my NTSC edits? I know it's possible to convert from one format to the other. I just want to see how difficult it would be.

I'm shooting on a Sony Z5U and can do true 24p if that makes it easier. Editing in Final Cut.

I would also have to produce the same DVD in NTSC as well for the American part of the family.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Mark

Mark Morreau · November 3rd, 2010, 11:47 AM

Virtually every PAL DVD player will play back an NTSC disc just fine to a TV here in the UK. The quality will be as good as you could make your own NTSC to PAL conversion, short of having the footage professionally converted with an Alchemist PhC or something. I would just not worry about producing a PAL version at all.

HTH

Mark

Dean Sensui · November 3rd, 2010, 11:55 AM

If you need to convert, you can use Compressor in Final Cut Studio to do it. There's a preset to convert NTSC to PAL.

Mark Hendren · November 3rd, 2010, 02:07 PM

I told the bride I would get answers here! I appreciate the advice. I may just make her a PAL copy to send over there and they can get it copied once it gets there.

Thanks!

Mark Morreau · November 3rd, 2010, 02:22 PM

Honestly, copying a DVD is just copying digits: makes no difference if it's PAL or NTSC. Just as easy to copy an NTSC DVD here as a PAL one. Chances are they'll get better quality playback from an NTSC DVD on PAL equipment than the NTSC to PAL conversion that you can do. Especially if you use Compressor, which does not do a great job. If you are going to go to that trouble, at least get it done decently. Procoder on the PC does a good job, and it's possible to get good quality results via Virtual Dub. There are some recipies on the Doom9 forums. Or, as I said, a hardware conversion like Alchemist. Otherwise, really, don't bother.

Peter Manojlovic · November 3rd, 2010, 06:21 PM

Ditto....

Sent many an NTSC disc to Europe, without one complaint...
This should be a sticky somewhere...

Sam Mendolia · November 5th, 2010, 10:18 AM

I have sent my mother-in-law, many NTSC discs, as it seems that Europe is more prgressive, and their equipment will handle the NTSC signal.

I have also sent her NTSC to PAL versions of the same thing, with no issues.

I have edited alot of footage in Premiere, in NTSC, exported it as either NTSC or Pal.
Used Encore, opened a PAL project, imported the NTSC, works fine, and exported the PAL version, no issues to date.

Sam

November 3rd, 2010, 10:13 AM	#1
Mark Hendren Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 70	NTSC to PAL DVD? Okay, so I just got a call from a bride who has a lot of family in the Wales area and wants a DVD for them. My question is, can I make a PAL DVD from my NTSC edits? I know it's possible to convert from one format to the other. I just want to see how difficult it would be. I'm shooting on a Sony Z5U and can do true 24p if that makes it easier. Editing in Final Cut. I would also have to produce the same DVD in NTSC as well for the American part of the family. Any help is appreciated! Thanks, Mark __________________ Mark Hendren, Mark Five Productions www.markfiveproductions.com

November 3rd, 2010, 11:55 AM	#3
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	If you need to convert, you can use Compressor in Final Cut Studio to do it. There's a preset to convert NTSC to PAL. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

November 3rd, 2010, 02:07 PM	#4
Mark Hendren Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 70	Thanks! I told the bride I would get answers here! I appreciate the advice. I may just make her a PAL copy to send over there and they can get it copied once it gets there. Thanks! __________________ Mark Hendren, Mark Five Productions www.markfiveproductions.com

November 5th, 2010, 10:18 AM	#7
Sam Mendolia Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 217	I have sent my mother-in-law, many NTSC discs, as it seems that Europe is more prgressive, and their equipment will handle the NTSC signal. I have also sent her NTSC to PAL versions of the same thing, with no issues. I have edited alot of footage in Premiere, in NTSC, exported it as either NTSC or Pal. Used Encore, opened a PAL project, imported the NTSC, works fine, and exported the PAL version, no issues to date. Sam __________________ I was told I have no vision, but boy do I see great!

November 3rd, 2010, 11:47 AM	#2
Mark Morreau Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kentish Town, London, UK Posts: 157	Virtually every PAL DVD player will play back an NTSC disc just fine to a TV here in the UK. The quality will be as good as you could make your own NTSC to PAL conversion, short of having the footage professionally converted with an Alchemist PhC or something. I would just not worry about producing a PAL version at all. HTH Mark

November 3rd, 2010, 02:22 PM	#5
Mark Morreau Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kentish Town, London, UK Posts: 157	Honestly, copying a DVD is just copying digits: makes no difference if it's PAL or NTSC. Just as easy to copy an NTSC DVD here as a PAL one. Chances are they'll get better quality playback from an NTSC DVD on PAL equipment than the NTSC to PAL conversion that you can do. Especially if you use Compressor, which does not do a great job. If you are going to go to that trouble, at least get it done decently. Procoder on the PC does a good job, and it's possible to get good quality results via Virtual Dub. There are some recipies on the Doom9 forums. Or, as I said, a hardware conversion like Alchemist. Otherwise, really, don't bother.

November 3rd, 2010, 06:21 PM	#6
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Ditto.... Sent many an NTSC disc to Europe, without one complaint... This should be a sticky somewhere...