PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

I have never dealt with PAL footage. A couple that had there video in Spain called upon us to create a highlight video. They gave us the raw footage with the copyright release from videographer. I use final cut. They don't want any ambient sound to it. Before I turn this into prores 422 light and start cutting away is there anything I need to be aware of. Would it look better if I turn this into 24p instead of 25Pal? And what is the best method to turn into 24p? They will want this dvd playable in the US (NTSC)

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

Hi Joshua,

I'm in PAL land and sometimes have to provide an NTSC DVD for U.S.A clients.

I shoot and edit in PAL (25p), output a single PAL AVI file. Use Canopus Procoder to convert this final output file into NTSC (30p) and then suck this 30p file into an NTSC project for final authoring.

Don't go 24p.

So you would capture and edit this in a 25p PAL project and convert the final file to NTSC (30p) before burning.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

Very easy to do with no quality loss, as long as the original video is progessive not interlaced.

Edit it on a 25p timeline and render it out. Then use cinema tools to conform it to 24p.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

Why do you say this? Going to 30p you are going to have to either duplicate frames or blend frames and this will ruin the flow and cadence of the film as well as possibly introduce ghosting.

Going to 24p however, requires only a 4% speed shift - such a tiny adjustment that the audio pitch change will be un-noticed. You can hardly say this method is not acceptable when it is exactly the same (though reversed) process that is used to broadcast films in PAL countries. Before 24p was popular, many NTSC film-makers shooting for a film output would use PAL cameras, then deinterlace and adjust the speed in post to get 24p.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

Hi John. I've tried it. 24p looked like rubbish. 30p converted with Canopus Procoder and authored in an NTSC project looked perfect. Results obviously will vary dependant on tools and workflow, but this has been my experience.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

So if I just edit in a 25p timeline and lay an audio track (highlight song) and then cut it in Final Cut, export quicktime and take to cinema tools and conform the final edit the audio will stay in cadence with my cuts if conformed to 24p? Or 30p? Will be roughly 5 minute highlight.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

Since you are not using any ambient sound conform to 24p first. Then edit and mix the sound, this way there is no pitch shift in your music soundtrack when you master the 24p NTSC DVD.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

ok...so conform to 24p then prores 422 light, then cut and drop song. that makes sense to me. thanks.

Re: PAL footage to NTSC dvd
 

Yep if you're not trying to sync any live sound then this is the best way to go about it.