NTSC DVD shorter than PAL??

[chickster25]

Hi all,

I have created a DVD with about 12 bits of video in PAL version and when I look at the disc preferences it says it lasts about 39 minutes in total.

As someone in the USA wantyed the same video I redid all the menus and used the same original video etc.. But when I looked at the preferences for the NTSC version it said about 33 minutes, although all the video files are present.

where have 6 minutes gone or is it just a bug that the NTSC template does not add up properly ( or the PAL adds too much??)


Also, when i viewed the NTSC DVD, although I recorded it at high quality and used the original VOB files, it still looked very jerky and quite poor whereas the PAL was crystal clear.

I know NTSC is not as good quality as PAL but this is quite extreme? Is this right? Would an NTSC DVD look partically bad watched oin a PAL tv??

Thanks
Also, I have been

[Devil]

It is a cardinal sin to take a PAL VOB and translate that to NTSC. Of course the quality will suffer. You should have used your original input files.

[chickster25]

My original files are VOB files !!

I am using one of the new camcorders with the mini-DVD that records straight into DVD format so I jsut copy them onto the HDD and then import into DVDW2 to use.

??

[Devil]

In that case, you will never have the same quality. I think your best bet would probably be to download one of the many freebie VOB>AVI converters (e.g., http://www.free-press-release.com/news/ ... 22723.html, but there many others) and make a PAL AVI in good quality, such as DV type 1. Then use your editor to make a NTSC AVI of the same type and then use that to make your NTSC DVD. I think you will lose less in quality, despite the multiple conversions.

[GeorgeW]

My original files are VOB files !!

I am using one of the new camcorders with the mini-DVD that records straight into DVD format so I jsut copy them onto the HDD and then import into DVDW2 to use.

??

How are you copying them Just a cut/paste (and a rename)

Or are you using the "Import from DVD" function

[chickster25]

Thanks.

I am just cutting/pasting them into a folder on the HDD (so I dont use the original DVD anymore) from the DVD, then going into DVDW2 and and using the "Import DVD" option from the Edit menu.

[SierraNomad]

Could the different frame rates of NTSC & PAL be the problem?

[the britisher]

SierraNomad is right, I've just converted an NTSC DVD to a PAL DVD with edits. I know it seems like a cardinal rule being broken but first you have to convert your VOB file to an AVI and that AVI has to be the correct format ie. resolution and frame rate NTSC is 29.97 fps and PAL is 25. this is why you're getting the jerky motion. It's true for PAL > NTSC and for NTSC > PAL.

The best software for this is Canopus Procoder, it will automatically create the correct format AVI for you using a 3:2 pulldown (I say automatically, for me it was three days of trial and error ). Your AVI file can then be re-encoded as an MPEG 2 compliant file at the correct frame rate and resolution: PAL = 720 x 576 pixels, NTSC = 720 x 480 pixels.

If you want to know more about the technical issues of DVD I highly reccomend this website: http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

FYI, this proccess worked perfectly and with the help of Premier I was able to sharpen up the footage a tiny bit, do my edits and the new DVD is essentially indistinguishable, in terms of quality, from the original, I hope this helps.