OT - Attn: Farss - PAL to NTSC

kevgl wrote on 5/3/2004, 11:09 PM
Hi Farss (or indeed anyone else who may know).

I'm asking here even though it isn't a Vegas question but because I recall you saying you had done this process before.

I've got to send one of our cartoons to the USA on DVD-R.

It is currently on a Matrox Digisuite using Premiere 6.5 in PAL format 720x576 even field first.

My plan was to use After Effects to de-interlace, resize to 720x480 then reverse the field order and re-interlace it to a lower field first DV-AVI then use that to create the DVD.

The difference here is that because we don't use Vegas here (I do at home) I'm concerned about the difference in field order that wouldn't be an issue if it were in DV format.

Once we create the DVD we can't really check here that itwill play OK on an NTSC system as we don't have an NTSC-only system here.

Anyone else had to deal with this issue? (I've posted this to other forums as well, but need to get this done pretty soon and don't want to bungle it).

Cheers

Comments

kevgl wrote on 5/3/2004, 11:22 PM
And of course, frame rate from 25 to 29.97 ....
farss wrote on 5/4/2004, 5:01 AM
Why oh why are you trying to change the field order?
Both PAL and NTSC are lower field first!
To check the finished DVD you could use a PAL DVD player (one that'll play NTSC) and feed it into a studio monitor that'll do both PAL and NTSC. I've done that a few times to check that I'm truly getting NTSC, monitor shouldn't accept the NTSC signal until you switch it to NTSC. Make certain the DVD player isn't doing a NTSC to PAL conversion, not all of them can pull that trick anyway but just make certain.
If you're really stuck trying to do a NTSC<->PAL conversion the Sony 1024 scan converter seems to do a half decent job. Really haven't had a chance to compare its output compared to doing it in Vegas, should do that one day.
kevgl wrote on 5/4/2004, 4:21 PM
PAL is lower field first only in DV - this isn't DV.

PAL on the Digisuite is upper field first, as is most older analogue equipment including my DPS Perception (plus all broadcast reel to reel VTRs).

I've found a few software packages that seem to do the job reasonably well at reasonable prices so hopefully that will do the trick.

Cheers
kevgl wrote on 5/4/2004, 5:31 PM
Actually - I've given up :-)

I can't find a solution that looks any good so I'm getting the digiBeta converted at a dubhouse to DVCPro in NTSC and then the DVD made from there.

Still intrigued that I can't find a good software solution.

Cheers
farss wrote on 5/4/2004, 8:32 PM
As far as I know the stuff I've done using Vegas / DVDA has turned out just fine.
I know some apps do upper field first, but as far as I know all analogue formats and broadcast standards for both NTSC and PAL are lower field first.
kevgl wrote on 5/4/2004, 8:45 PM
I don't have access to Vegas here, only at home so I can't go that option.

I have to disagree with you on the field order though. I've had too many headaches in the past with field order issues.

When we render here in 3DS Max or Lightwave I have to reverse its normal field order because it is standard set to NTSC. At home I have to field reverse to go from my DPS Perception for anything to work in DV in Vegas. Stuff I get off Betacam that is captured to the Perception or Digisuite will be in the wrong field order for DV.

RCA 2 quad VTRs were upper field, but if I recall correctly the Ampex quads were lower for some reason. Ampex and Sony PAL 1 inch helical scans are upper field ...

Anyway - tape's at a dubhouse getting converted, easiest way out :-)

Cheers