Converting NTSC to PAL?

[jparnold]

Looking at the differences of frames per second and vertical lines of NTSC and PAL I am wondering if video recorded in AVCHD NTSC can be successfully converted to PAL or will there be a noticable difference in picture height and speed?

[RobertOZ]

I shoot everything In NTSC format 60fps, I have found over the years using other NLE's that NTSC tends not to have as many issues when editing compared to PAL. As most DVD players can play both NTSC and PAL normally I render as NTSC, occasionally I do render as PAL and have not noticed any significant change in quality.

Make a few test videos and compare

Robert

[BrianCee]

there is a topic here which may be of help to you John :-

http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php ... 24&start=0

[skier-hughes]

You also need to take into account the different way chrominance, luminance, black burst etc is handled.

[lata]

Hi John

There will be no difference in the picture height, both use 16:9 widescreen and that’s the shape you will see for both versions.
The duration of the video is kept the same so will play at the same rate, this is achieved by removing frames, 29.97fps Ntsc to 25 for Pal.
If you convert from Pal to Ntsc frames will be added keeping the overall duration the same.
Removing or adding frames may be noticeable as a slight stutter or blip, but is only slight and depends on the video content, steady panning may show the stutter.

Most players nowadays play both types, I know my DVD Player is capable of playing both.

[jparnold]

Thanks everyone for your replies and explanation.

Yes I realise that most if not all players will play ntsc as well as pal.
The possible 'stuttering' concerns me and I guess that must happen if frames are lost or added to change from 25 to 29.97 and vice versus.
The main reason for the post was because I was considering purchasing an ntsc camera even though I live in Australia (pal) but I guess I could always just work in ntsc since my player and probably, all my relatives and friends, play ntsc as well as pal.

[lata]

Hi John

You could convert your project to NTSC and burn a disc, then try to play on your’s and friends players.
At least you will know if that is possible before purchasing.

You can test the NTSC Pal effect by converting a VS sample video which uses Ntsc to Pal, yep I know it’s the wrong way round.
The sample V10 or V14 are a good choice as they scrolls up the screen, very smooth, but convert that to pal using 25fps and you will see the difference.

Your video will not show as bad as this, but it gives a good example of the stutter.

[BrianCee]

in my installation of X6 there are two sample NTSC videos and two sample PAL ones - on my PC they are in a folder here :-

C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel VideoStudio Ultimate X5\Content\Video


perhaps you could just try setting up an NTSC project and importing those two very short NTSC samples and burning an NTSC DVD - that would allow you to see whether your player has any problems with them.



...

[jparnold]

Thanks Brian,
I don't think that my player would have a problem as it is a Panasonic (recorder/player) and the user manual states pal and ntsc but I guess I could try.

Strangely though the Panasonic dvd/blu-ray recorder/player CANNOT be set to region free like the previous dvd recorder/player. I have some dvd's which are region 1 which I could play on my previous dvd player which I had to pass through dvdshrink and burn as region free so that I can watch them.
Also recently when I attempted to record a Neil Diamond concert (that's showing my age eh?) from a cable tv channel I got a message "recording not permitted". I had never seen that before either with my previous recorder/player.
It seems that Panasonic and perhaps other well known reputable electronics manufacturers are ensuring that 'protection' is maintained.

[skier-hughes]

I wouldn't buy an NTSC cam.
NTSC is inferior in quality to PAL, same as VHS is inferior to Betamax.

[Ken Berry]

Strangely though the Panasonic dvd/blu-ray recorder/player CANNOT be set to region free like the previous dvd recorder/player.

Have you done a Google search for the code numbers which can be entered for that model which resets it to accept all discs i.e. making it region free? Most (all?) DVD players have such a code though the manufacturers don't publish them... Not sure about Blu-Ray players, though...

[jparnold]

Hi Ken

YES (I have done a Goggle search without success).
My previous recorder/player had a single region (4) but I quickly found the code to make it region free at http://www.videohelp.com.
A search at Videohelp only results in - No region hack for this player. Post region code/hack here. It is Panasonic's latest blu-ray recorder/player so maybe someone will work it out in the future.

Strange too that (it seems) that tv stations can send out a code during broadcast to prevent my recorder being able to record them (ie "recording not permitted" when I try to record certain broadcasts which I have never seen before). I always though that users were able to record any show for later viewing (time shift). And what about those recorder/players which have live 'pause' which is obviously results in the live broadcast being recorded while in pause mode. Maybe someone will work out a code to get around that one too as.

Regarding the statement "same as VHS is inferior to Betamax" it is strange though that tv studios always used Betamax cameras for outside news coverage. There always has been controversy on which one is best but why did the tv studios use Betamax?

[skier-hughes]

Regarding the statement "same as VHS is inferior to Betamax" it is strange though that tv studios always used Betamax cameras for outside news coverage. There always has been controversy on which one is best but why did the tv studios use Betamax?

I think you may have misread my comment.................. VHS is indeed inferior to Betamax, they used betacam (pro version of betamax) as it was better quality, everyone knew that, there has never been any controversy, it's just that JVC had much better marketing than Sony so won the war, not so with Bluray, Sony had that one sewn up in no time.

[jparnold]

Sorry Graham
My mistake. Yes I have now determined that I misread your post. Reason (I guess) - read things too quickly (and make mistakes) and/or my eyes don't work like they used to (getting old)

[jparnold]

Yes I have more questions.
Firstly the reason - I am contemplating purchasing a Prosumer video camera from Japan which is the NTSC version.
I realise that I can burn my movies as NTSC as most if not all DVD players play both types.
The camera records in AVCHD so I just don't understand how there can be a NTSC and PAL version of the camera. Is AVCHD NTSC or PAL? I didn't think that it was either.
Also I don't think that Blu_Rays are either NTSC or PAL. Is that correct?
Wouldn't the normal way of transferring movies to didk be by burning Blu_Ray disks?

I have compared the specifications of both the NTSC and PAL versions of the camera and I can't see anything which is different.

Maybe someone can explain how this all works. Thanks

And the reason for all this? There is no PAL version of the camera available (well not presently).