Capture > Project > Burn settings

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:31 am

I have read the stickies at the top of the forum and I am seeking some clarification.

If I capture in PAL format to DV AVI am I limited to PAL for final production or can I alter to NTSC at a point down the production path?

The reason for my question ia that I am preparing a DVD to take to my family in the US but I want to test it here in OZ in PAL format?

Thanks,
George

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:18 am

You are not limited since VS 8 and 9 give you the ability to convert a project from one format to another. BUT (there is always a BUT), of course a fair degree of conversion is necessary, particularly with regard to frame format (720 x 576 for PAL and 720 x 480 for normal NTSC) and frame rate 29.97 fps for NTSC and 35 for PAL. So the capacity for things to go wrong is certainly there. But certainly, go ahead and try it.

But also remember that these days, most stand-alone DVD players will play both formats. So when you take your NTSC-converted DVD to the US, make sure you also take the PAL original along, since that is likely to play just as well (if not better) than its NTSC foster brother...!

Post by **lancecarr** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:19 am

Hi George, I pretty much have the same situation. I have a PAL cam but live in Taiwan so need to output alot of things to NTSC. Unfortunately NTSC players wont handle PAL but most PAL players can handle NTSC...damn!

The main problem is the frames per second (fps). Your PAL footage will be 25fps (interlaced) and for NTSC what you want is 29.97fps interlaced. There some tutorials at videohelp.com on this but it is vey complicated and mainly directed at MPEG conversion.
The effect of this framerate conversion is that scenes with a lot of motion in them tend to become jerky.

I have tried the conversion at many points and in many ways so this is what I do.

I capture in PAL DV and do everything I want as far as editing goes following the sticky at the top of this board closely. Then I output to a single PAL DV file.

I then start a new project and insert the PAL DV file and output to an NTSC DV file with the correct atributes, this is the point of conversion.
I then render the NTSC DV file to a DVD compliant MPEG2 file (NTSC of course) and use that to burn a disc.
As long as I take my time and maintain good habits like shutting down unnecessary services and defrag often I can usually get a DVD that plays without any discernable loss of quality or unwanted jerkiness in the motion scenes.

Hope this helps.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:28 am

Thanks for that excellent explanation, Lance. Living here in PAL land, I had been unaware that the converse was not true. I regularly play NTSC DVDs on both my DVD players with no problem, but didn't realise I might not be able to do similarly in NTSC land with PAL discs. At least it seems I was nearly correct in talking of conversion at the project stage, rather than at a later stage in the process!

Post by **lancecarr** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:57 am

Thanks Ken,
Actually my previous cam was a Sony NTSC DVD cam and strangely enough if I did a straight conversion of NTSC to PAL of the MPEGs there was absolutley no difference, not even the dreaded OOS problem. However a trip through Singapore got me a new DV cam but in PAL so I entered yet another learning curve! What I did learn was that a conversion of a PAL MPEG to an NTSC MPEG was a surefire recipe for giving your audience motion sickness or at least a headache. I also have a new and very large collection of drink coasters for the festive season!

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:56 am

Hi Lance & Ken,

Your responses are the very reason I continue with ULead products; This is a Great forum!!

I was aware of the limitations in NTSC land. NTSC > PAL works fine. I have brought many NTSC DVD's back to PAL land with no problem. Unfortunately, and my US relatives won't mind me saying, the US doesn't recognise that the rest of the world exists hence the reverse is not true i.e. I can't take PAL DVD's to the US meaning the NTSC > PAL conversion is not so easy.

Lance, I think I have followed your premise i.e. captured in PAL DVD, edited etc.etc.

I will now output to a PAL DV file. Then I will start the new project as you state and output to MPEG2 NTSC.

I'll let you know.

Thanks again to Ken for his input. This forum relies on the regular input of people like youselves.

George