Newbie Q: Possible to create dual system DVD?

leohilarious wrote on 4/26/2004, 10:02 AM

OK, sorry if this is an obvious question - but I couldn't find any reference to it anywhere...

I've got a project that I'd like to distribute both in the UK and the USA. The program length is only about 30 minutes, and the original master is in PAL. I hit upon the idea of creating a DVD menu that allows the viewer to select their system (i.e. PAL or NTSC) and the appropriate version will then play. This means I don't have to create two different versions of the disc, since the disc would contain both a PAL version of the video and an NTSC version already.

Is this possible? Is it advisable? Any reason why I haven't seen it being done? Thanks!

Leo

Comments

bStro wrote on 4/27/2004, 7:53 AM

I'm pretty sure you can't put PAL and NTSC on the same disc.

At any rate, most systems in the UK handle NTSC just fine. May as well use that.

Rob

GaryKleiner wrote on 4/27/2004, 8:13 AM

Rob is correct on both counts.

Gary

leohilarious wrote on 4/27/2004, 9:08 AM

Thanks for the reply. I still would like to try this out since whenever you convert PAL to NTSC or vice versa the quality suffers. So why not make a dual system DVD? So putting aside the question of whether it's a good idea or not - can anyone say whether it would work? I mean in theory it should be possible right? Thanks!

Leo

se325919 wrote on 4/27/2004, 9:37 AM

leohilarious
I have not yet found a software that allows NTSC and PAL mixed on the same disc.

Besides that, what format were you thinking of putting the menu in where the user is supposed to choose from????????

dclark3996 wrote on 4/27/2004, 1:37 PM

Sorry, I just posted basically the same question except I'm trying to produce something for Romania. Anyone know what they use?

Then I had an idea, why not just burn 2 DVDs, one for each format and include them both in the sleave?

farss wrote on 4/27/2004, 3:20 PM

You definatley cannot have PAL and NTSC on the one DVD.
You can however have a 24p DVD that'll play on both PAL and NTSC systems.
If your source material is PAL then the conversion to 24p may be feasible although you'll still take some quality hits and endup with a 'film look'. Better idea is to shoot 24 or 25p in the first place.

pb wrote on 4/27/2004, 8:57 PM

I'd do a google search if I were you. They may still be using SECAM.

bStro wrote on 4/28/2004, 12:47 PM

So, I've been wondering...(and before DVDA2 came along, I'd never even heard of 24p, so bear with me)...is there any reason NOT to use 24p? There must be a disadvantage somewhere (there always is, life would be too simple otherwise), but I'm not sure what it is.

For example, I've been working with some NTSC footage from a third party, but I often have interlacing issues which make my final product look like crap (jerky). But if I just render it all as 24p, my problems are solved.

So, what's the catch? I suppose, like everything else, you have to choose your output on a case-by-case basis, but in general, are there disadvantages to using 24p? Space is one, I guess? What else?

Now that we can use 24p in our DVDs, is there a reason to ever use NTSC?

Feel free to just point me to a good 24p FAQ if need be. ;-)

Rob

farss wrote on 4/28/2004, 2:51 PM

Firstly 24p would use less space on a DVD, particularly compared to NTSC. But if the material was shot as 60i NTSC then comverting to 24p will result in quality loss, both spatial and temporal.
If the material started out on film or video at 24p then fine but shoot at 24p introduces a whole new set of issues to deal with. Motion artifacts become a big issue on film, film guys are used to the limitations of 24p but I've noticed a lot of video guys getting some surprises when they start shooting 24p.