Re: PAL to NTSC Studio Pro

I've been unsuccessful in my attempts to produce NTSC DVDs from my PAL DV master programs. I made a QT movie from the FCP timeline. I converted it using Compressor to make an NTSC DV master which I used as an Asset to make a DVD which plays on my computer but when played in the US has poor color. So I'm wondering if someone has a better way of making NTSC DVDs from PAL. A friend suggested using Toast as I could slow the burn rate - but I hoped I might be able to get what I've got to work? (G4 FCP 6.0.2 DVD Studio Pro 4.2.1) (I would be happy to send a sample to someone in America - I can't test the result on a 240volt DVD player)
Stewart Mudge Bywong Australia

many thanks.

Stewart
If you can source a hardware conversion that will give you better NTSC results. (Even better than Nattress)

Don Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Stewart
> If you can source a hardware conversion that will
> give you better NTSC results. (Even better than
> Nattress)

Of course, depending on the hardware converter, but even better than Nattress, using the optical flow technology in Compressor's frame controls tab, the extra NTSC frames are actually made, not interpolated, = the best software conversion.
The downside? very very slow unless you can cluster some spare Macs.

Cheers
Alexander

I’ve attempted to convert a DV movie from Pal (4:3) to NTSC in the hope that it will play on NTSC DVD players. (yes it does take 20+ hours) I had left the Set Duration to 100% but I now think that the frame rate should be set to replay at 29.97 to suit DVD Pro (set to NTSC) and your DVD-TV system?

Can anyone confirm these as reasonable these settings?
I selected the “H.264 DVD Studio Pro option” and some “Frame” settings and the Duration play source at 29.97?

Name: “NTSC optical master” (from the custom NTSC conversion setting)
Description: DV/DVCam NTSC with 48kHz stereo audio
File Extension: mov
Estimated file size: unknown
Time remapping:
source frames play at 29.970 fps
DVD type: HD DVD (???? for SD DVD?)
Partial sync: 0.5 seconds
Frame sync rate: 2 seconds
Field dominance: Progressive
Video Encoder
Format: QT
Width and Height: Automatic
Pixel aspect ratio: Default
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: 29.97
Frame Controls On:
Retiming: (Better) Motion Compensated
Resize Filter: Linear Filter
Deinterlace Filter: Better (Motion Adaptive)
Adaptive Details: On
Antialias: 0
Detail Level: 0
Field Output: Progressive
Codec Type: H.264
Multi-pass: On, frame reorder: On
Pixel depth: 24
Spatial quality: 50
Min. Spatial quality: 50
Temporal quality: 50
Min. temporal quality: 50
Average data rate: 7.34 (Mbps)
Maximum data rate: 23 (Mbps)
Audio Encoder
16-bit Integer (Big Endian), Stereo (L R), 48.000 kHz

update – I now realize that the H.264 setting is for HD DVD so I’m back to the DV NTSC setting for Standard conversion
I have changed the Scan mode to Progressive – or should I stay with interlaced for DVD players?

File Extension: mov
Estimated file size: 12.22 GB/hour of source
Audio Encoder
16-bit Integer (Big Endian), Stereo (L R), 48.000 kHz
Video Encoder
Format: QT
Width: 720
Height: 480
Pixel aspect ratio: NTSC CCIR 601/DV
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: 29.97
Frame Controls On:
Retiming: (Better) Motion Compensated
Resize Filter: Linear Filter
Deinterlace Filter: Better (Motion Adaptive)
Adaptive Details: On
Antialias: 0
Detail Level: 0
Field Output: Same as Source
Codec Type: DV/DVCPRO - NTSC
Multi-pass: Off, frame reorder: Off
Scan Mode: Progressive
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Pixel depth: 24
Spatial quality: 99
Min. Spatial quality: 50
Temporal quality: 0
Min. temporal quality: 50

For SD DVDs stay with interlaced.

--ken

Thanks Alexander, thanks Ken yes the progressive setting ment that it has taken 22 hrs to render 20mins of the hour program. I'll start it again using interlaced. Yes, it is in the manual - but I find your experience connects the relevent bits in the manual. Can I note that "you have to have the hooks in your brain" to hang the info on and I find it difficult to see the most logical pathway from the manual. I'm grateful for the insights into the "frame" settings. I assume the other benefit of being able to ask dumb questions, is that I now realise that the DVDs I was producing were being poorly cut by Tiger (G4) at a higher speed. Having bought Toast through which I can slow the burn speed - I may be able to produce a more robust product. Thanks.

wow! I'll read the info on Frame Control in the Compressor manual and give it a shot. Thanks.