View Full Version : Producing DVD for NTSC and PAL - what format to shoot?


Zsolt Gordos
August 19th, 2011, 11:29 PM
I will produce DVD-s for both NTSC and PAL countries. I cannot take the shots twice, I will have to use the same footage for both versions.
I will shoot in HD with Sony EX1r and Canon 60D and 5D MkII,

Editing would be made on a Mac with FCP

I wonder what would be the best camera setting for this, to make DVD production for both system fast, easy and hassle free. For the Canons I am considering 30p but I cannot do that with the EX1.

What would be a good workflow for this?

thanks for all suggestions

Rob Wood
August 29th, 2011, 06:58 PM
how about shooting in 24p since it's available on both PAL and NTSC DVD players.

Andrew Smith
August 30th, 2011, 03:34 AM
Shoot and edit in PAL as this will give you better consistent colour as well as the filmic look that people love. (25fps PAL is practically the same as 24fps film in terms of the frame rate).

Also, standards converting from PAL to NTSC will mean that you are going from a slightly higher frame resolution downwards ... which should give you a nice image quality compared to the other way around (which would be effectively uprezzing a little).

So ... shoot and edit in PAL. Output your master video file from the edit and then standards convert it. Then make your NTSC DVD master from the conversion. (And the PAL DVD master from the PAL edit export.)

Andrew