PAL and NTSC help at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion

Open DV Discussion
For topics which don't fit into any of the other categories.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 17th, 2004, 11:42 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 184
PAL and NTSC help

I know that this is going to be a very amature question, but I am still quite new at all of this, but could someone shed some light as to what exactly PAL and NTSC formats are. What is their quality and anything else that might be helpful. Please.
Mitch Buss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 17th, 2004, 01:50 PM   #2
Outer Circle
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Hope, BC
Posts: 7,524
You can read up about these 2 major broadcasting types here:

http://www.adamwilt.com

You indicate, "WI" USA as your location. North America uses NTSC so I wouldn't worry about PAL.
Frank Granovski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 18th, 2004, 02:44 AM   #3
RED Code Chef
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Holland
Posts: 12,514
For a quick technical comparison see this page.

Basically NTSC operates at a higher framerate but lower resolution
than PAL does.

Or to keep it a bit geared towards DV:

NTSC: 720x480 at 29.97 frames per second (or 59.94 fields per second)
PAL: 720x576 at 25 frames per second (or 50 fields per second)
__________________

Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com
DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef

Join the DV Challenge | Lady X

Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors
Rob Lohman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 18th, 2004, 11:41 AM   #4
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 184
Thanks for your replies. Now I have another question, what are the fields that are scanned? I did not understand this and have been wondering about it. Thanks for your help.
Mitch Buss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 18th, 2004, 11:48 AM   #5
Retired DV Info Net Almunus
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,943
Video is composed of two sets of lines, called "fields". Analogously, the lines are like teeth in a comb. Each field's lines fit between the others', just like taking two combs and meshing their teeth together. This is called "interlacing".
__________________
Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission.

Hey, you don't have enough stuff!
Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really!

See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com
Ken Tanaka is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 18th, 2004, 11:55 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 184
Thanks Ken, I appreciate the help.
Mitch Buss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 19th, 2004, 02:26 AM   #7
RED Code Chef
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Holland
Posts: 12,514
To futher expand the thought:

We think in full still frames most of the time. Ie, a picture we take
is one full frame of content.

Analog video we see on a TV is interlaced (the reason lies in the
problems they had when developing TV systems and signals way
back, especially with color). What they do is send one half of your
picture first and then the second half 1/60th (NTSC) of a second
later. Each picture "interlaces" the other, so you get:

line 1 is line 1 from picture 1
line 2 is line 1 from picture 2
line 3 is line 2 from picture 1
line 4 is line 2 from picture 2
... etc.

But each half of the picture is acquired at a different point in time
(1/60th of a second apart which yields a 30 frames per second rate)
and thus if you have small movement it will produce interlacing
jaggies where a line can be in a different place from field to field
due to it moving.
__________________

Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com
DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef

Join the DV Challenge | Lady X

Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors
Rob Lohman is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:55 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network