PAL > NTSC DVD

Renton Maclachlan · April 23rd, 2008, 05:11 AM

I asked re this before, and thought I had the issue solved, but I am not sure I have.

I live in PAL land and so my projects are done as PAL in Vegas.

I thought I could take my PAL .avi files into DVDA and convert to NTSC when I 'made' the DVD. But I question now whether this is so. Am I right to so question?

Or...do I have to go back to Vegas, change the properties of the project, render out from that project an NTSC .avi file, which I then would bring into a DVDA project with NTSC properties?

How do I even know if I have an NTSC file?

Can the .vob files be checked to see if they are NTSC?

Mike Kujbida · April 23rd, 2008, 05:28 AM

Change your Vegas project settings to NTSC and then render an NTSC MPEG-2 file & an AC-3 file.
Load these into DVDA, change properties to NTSC and render.

Renton Maclachlan · April 23rd, 2008, 01:27 PM

Thanks Mike,

In the Properties>Video>Template drop down list for choosing format, it doesn't say anything about MPEG-2 (or any other such format), just NTSC and PAL and gives various options.

I assume choosing one of these options is what you refer to - not that I need specifically choose 'MPEG-2'.

I have made quite a few DVD's now and wouldn't have a clue what specfic format I made them in because I just made my selection from this drop down list - mostly PAL DV widescreen.

Mike Kujbida · April 23rd, 2008, 03:33 PM

Renton, sorry about the confusion.
Yes, you'd choose the "NTSC DV (720x480, 29.970 fps)" or the "NTSC DV Widescreen (720x480, 29.970 fps)" template in the Vegas Properties window.
It's the render template where you'll choose the "DVD Architect NTSC video stream" or the "DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen video stream" templates.
Then, in DVDA, choose either the "NTSC (720x480)" or the "NTSC Widescreen (720x480)" templates.
Hope that helps clarify things.

Renton Maclachlan · April 23rd, 2008, 05:15 PM

Thanks Mike, I assumed that - its made, packaged, and ready to send to the US...

Renton Maclachlan · April 23rd, 2008, 08:12 PM

Is there any way you can know if an .avi file is in NTSC format or not?

Edward Troxel · April 23rd, 2008, 08:35 PM

In Vegas, right-click the file and choose Properties. You can also try a program such as GSpot.

Renton Maclachlan · April 23rd, 2008, 09:24 PM

Thanks Edward. One other question:

Can you tell whether or not a .VOB file on a dvd is NTSC?

Mike Kujbida · April 24th, 2008, 04:42 AM

GSpot will do that as well.
Look about 1/2 way down on the right side menu and you'll see a Frames box and a Fields box.

Renton Maclachlan · April 24th, 2008, 05:18 AM

So...if it shows 29.970 pics/sec, 29.970 frms/sec and 59.939 flds/sec in those boxes, it is NTSC? Right?

If so, it means you can create NTSC files from DVDA without bringing an NTSC file in from Vegas. That simplifies things somewhat...if I'm right.

Edward Troxel · April 24th, 2008, 06:38 AM

29.97 is NTSC.

I can see no reason why DVD Architect could not create an NTSC MPEG2 file no matter the format of the original file. However, Vegas allows you to get to the individual parameters so you may be able to get a better result using it instead.

Renton Maclachlan · April 24th, 2008, 02:34 PM

Thanks guys...another thing learnt...

April 23rd, 2008, 05:11 AM	#1
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	PAL > NTSC DVD - Architect I asked re this before, and thought I had the issue solved, but I am not sure I have. I live in PAL land and so my projects are done as PAL in Vegas. I thought I could take my PAL .avi files into DVDA and convert to NTSC when I 'made' the DVD. But I question now whether this is so. Am I right to so question? Or...do I have to go back to Vegas, change the properties of the project, render out from that project an NTSC .avi file, which I then would bring into a DVDA project with NTSC properties? How do I even know if I have an NTSC file? Can the .vob files be checked to see if they are NTSC?

April 23rd, 2008, 08:35 PM	#7
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	In Vegas, right-click the file and choose Properties. You can also try a program such as GSpot. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

April 24th, 2008, 06:38 AM	#11
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	29.97 is NTSC. I can see no reason why DVD Architect could not create an NTSC MPEG2 file no matter the format of the original file. However, Vegas allows you to get to the individual parameters so you may be able to get a better result using it instead. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

April 23rd, 2008, 05:28 AM	#2
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	Change your Vegas project settings to NTSC and then render an NTSC MPEG-2 file & an AC-3 file. Load these into DVDA, change properties to NTSC and render.

April 23rd, 2008, 01:27 PM	#3
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Thanks Mike, In the Properties>Video>Template drop down list for choosing format, it doesn't say anything about MPEG-2 (or any other such format), just NTSC and PAL and gives various options. I assume choosing one of these options is what you refer to - not that I need specifically choose 'MPEG-2'. I have made quite a few DVD's now and wouldn't have a clue what specfic format I made them in because I just made my selection from this drop down list - mostly PAL DV widescreen.

April 23rd, 2008, 03:33 PM	#4
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	Renton, sorry about the confusion. Yes, you'd choose the "NTSC DV (720x480, 29.970 fps)" or the "NTSC DV Widescreen (720x480, 29.970 fps)" template in the Vegas Properties window. It's the render template where you'll choose the "DVD Architect NTSC video stream" or the "DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen video stream" templates. Then, in DVDA, choose either the "NTSC (720x480)" or the "NTSC Widescreen (720x480)" templates. Hope that helps clarify things.

April 23rd, 2008, 05:15 PM	#5
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Thanks Mike, I assumed that - its made, packaged, and ready to send to the US...

April 23rd, 2008, 08:12 PM	#6
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Is there any way you can know if an .avi file is in NTSC format or not?

April 23rd, 2008, 09:24 PM	#8
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Thanks Edward. One other question: Can you tell whether or not a .VOB file on a dvd is NTSC?

April 24th, 2008, 04:42 AM	#9
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	GSpot will do that as well. Look about 1/2 way down on the right side menu and you'll see a Frames box and a Fields box.

April 24th, 2008, 05:18 AM	#10
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	So...if it shows 29.970 pics/sec, 29.970 frms/sec and 59.939 flds/sec in those boxes, it is NTSC? Right? If so, it means you can create NTSC files from DVDA without bringing an NTSC file in from Vegas. That simplifies things somewhat...if I'm right.

April 24th, 2008, 02:34 PM	#12
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Thanks guys...another thing learnt...