Q. re: creating PAL format DVDs

[ppost]

Using VS9, I have successfully created NTSC DVDs after capturing video from my digital camcorder. I captured using DV format (when I wanted to do some editing) and DVD format when I did not need to edit. When working with DV captured files, I then created a video file in DVD format. I would now like to create PAL format DVDs for these videos. My first attempt was to open a new project, and change the Project Properties/Compression/Media Type parameter to PAL DVD. I then went to Share to create a disc, added one of the previously created .mpg files, and clicked Burn. After 20 minutes, the process was not yet 1% done, so I stopped it. My second attempt was to again open a new project and set Project Properties/Compression/Media Type parameter to PAL DVD, and re-do the capture into DVD format. When I attempted to Burn, I again stopped the process after 20 minutes because it was not yet 1% done. I’m obviously missing something. Any help greatly appreciated.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
Use the movie manager to make your own template.(tools – make movie manager)

Settings similar to these should make a video file up to 90 minutes long.


MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: 6000 kbps constant
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

After editing using Dv-Avi captured files, go to share create video file select your template.

Trevor

[ppost]

Trevor

Thanks for the help - the DVD was created in what appears to be a normal fashion. I say "appears" because I'm in the US, and don't have access to a PAL TV to test it. The true test will be when my daughter receives the DVD in Prague.

Have you tried creating a PAL-compatible .mpg file during the Capture - i.e., without first capturing in DV mode, and then using your procedure to create the PAL .mpg video file in the Share step? I ask because I have some videos that don't require any editing.

Peter

[heinz-oz]

I have never tried this myself, but to my understanding, the NTSC format, even DV, is different from PAL in manya aspects. For starters, the framerate differs, so does the frame size and the color information is stored differently. I don't think that you can actually capture NTSC analog or DV to PAL project settings. You may need to capture as NTSC DV or MPEG and in an extra step convert this to PAL.

On the other hand, I'm not sure about the situation in Prague, here in Australia most DVD players are NTSC compatible. I would check with your daughter first if I were you. Maybe you don't need to do any conversion.

[Trevor Andrew]

I
On the other hand, I'm not sure about the situation in Prague, here in Australia most DVD players are NTSC compatible. I would check with your daughter first if I were you. Maybe you don't need to do any conversion.

Before you do to much work on converting Ntsc to Pal try heinz-oz recommendation.

Most players this side of the atlantic will play Ntsc format.
My two dvd players both play Ntsc, the Samsung required some menu changes before it played.

If you have successfully made a Pal version, why not send both to Prague as a test.

I would be surprised if the Ntsc didn’t play.

Trevor
Ps I am in England Pal country.

[Telgaladhion_Greyskye]

They're using PAL in the Czech Republic. Check this site out for TV systems used by different countries around the world.

http://kropla.com/tv.htm

[ppost]

Trevor & Heinz

I'll take your suggestion and send both PAL & NTSC versions to Prague as a test. Thanks for your help.

Peter

[jizlobber]

Peter,
Let me know how it works. I made a DVD for my in-laws who are also in Czech, and it didn't work 100%. They have a region-free player so it'll do both NTSC and PAL. The video worked, but the audio didn't. I got some answers on another thread that some audio standards aren't compatible with PAL (mpeg, I think). If your daughter can play (and hear) the DVDs I'd like to know what you did so I can get mine to work.

Ben..

[skier-hughes]

heinz-oz is correct in that if you want a proper conversion of ntsc to pal then you need a proper standards convertor.
In the UK, most, if not all new dvd players and tv's will play out a pseudo pal signal from an ntsc dvd. The quality is generally good enough to watch for friends and family. The dvd player and tv need to be capable of dealing with this signal, not just the tv.

jizlobber, mpeg audio is not that compatible with both ntsc and pal dvds, it being down to the dvd player whether it can decode the mpeg audio or not. PCM and AC-3 being the best to use.

Graham

[jizlobber]

jizlobber, mpeg audio is not that compatible with both ntsc and pal dvds, it being down to the dvd player whether it can decode the mpeg audio or not. PCM and AC-3 being the best to use.

Graham

D'oh! I don't know what I did. I'll have to research this. Thanks for the input though.

[ppost]

Attention Jizlobber:
As stated earlier in this thread, an NTSC DVD does work just fine in the Czech Republic. I created a video file in VS9 using the NTSC DVD format option, with the default settings. The audio setting is LPCM. I then burned the video file to a DVD. My daughter had no problem playing it in Prague.

Apparently just about any DVD player these days handles both NTSC and PAL seamlessly. As a test I created a PAL format DVD using the procedure outlined earlier in this thread. Just for grins I tried it in my DVD player, and it worked fine. Nowhere in the manual for my DVD player (a two year old Zenith) is there any mention of PAL.

Pete

[THoff]

jizlobber, mpeg audio is not that compatible with both ntsc and pal dvds, it being down to the dvd player whether it can decode the mpeg audio or not. PCM and AC-3 being the best to use.

MPEG2 Audio is REQUIRED for PAL DVD players. NTSC does not require MPEG2 Audio, thought many people say it works just fine with their recent and/or inexpensive DVD players.

The most compatible audio format is LPCM, albeit at the expense of lots of disk space. AC3 would be my preference for compatibility and efficiency.