PAL to NTSC questions

Videot wrote on 11/10/2004, 6:25 PM
I shot some video on my PAL camera of some overseas visitors & though that I would give them a DVD in NTSC format. Do I select NTSV DV or NTSC Standard for the project type? Do I have to change the field order as well or not?

I actually captured a clip dragged it to the timeline with the settings at NTSC DV 720 x 480 29.97 only to find that the picture in the preview window look to be more 5 x 3 ratio instead of the xpected 4 x 3 ratio. What's happening? The preview window is set to preview auto.

Comments

farss wrote on 11/10/2004, 7:21 PM
Vegas does an excellent job of standards conversion. Doesn't matter what the project properties are, that just determies how you view it. If it's PAL footage leave the project as PAL.
Set de-interlace method to Merge, set Reduce Interlace Flicker to ON for all events (I know, don't aks me why but it does work) and then render out using NTSC template. If you're going to DVD then encode using DVDA NSTC template at whatever bitrate you need.
Never failed me and the results are excellent and that's not my opinion. that's after some very critical eyes have looked at it on a broadcast monitor.
The only reason your preview AR looks wrong is you were seeing NSTC with PAL pixel AR. Follow instructions above and all will be just fine.

Bob.
alfredsvideo wrote on 11/11/2004, 2:08 PM
Where do you find these settings?
Lula wrote on 11/12/2004, 4:26 AM
Hi,

I am also trying with those settings.
I am using DVD NTSC template since DVDA template yields only a vidoe stream ( no auidio ).
On File Properties you can find Deinterlace Methods, with 3 options : none, blend fields, interpolate fields. I don't see a "merge" option.
Right click over the video stream on the timeline and go to Switches, then check Reduce Interlace Flicker.
farss wrote on 11/12/2004, 4:41 AM
Sorry that should have read "blend fields"!
Use DVDA NTSC template and render separate audio as .wav or if that will not fit render audio audio as Dolby Stereo, turn of both preprocessing options or your levels will be a low.
Bob.
Lula wrote on 11/12/2004, 7:36 PM
Hi farss,

"turn of both preprocessing options or your levels will be a low."

Can you explain where to find those preprocessing options ?

"Use DVDA NTSC template ..."

What is the advantage of using it instead of DVD NTSC template which gives a Finished MPEG stream (video and audio ) ?

Thank's.
farss wrote on 11/12/2004, 11:11 PM
1)
Only applies if encoding audio to ac3. Under custom, Preprocessing tab, set Line Mode Profile and RF Mode Profile to none. If you have a film type soundtrack with huge dynamic range and the material is for broadcast then you need these but if your material is already compressed for loung room listening then you can turn them off.
2) Probably none, I always render audio and video seperately so I'd have to have a play around with that option to see what difference it makes, maybe I owe you a thank you for saving me some time.
Bob.
NickHope wrote on 11/16/2004, 11:40 AM
Haven't tried PAL -> NTSC in Vegas yet. When I was a Premiere user I splashed out $700 just for Canopus Procoder to make NTSC MPEG2's from my PAL footage. Is Vegas REALLY that good? Does this mean I can now throw my Procoder in the bin?
farss wrote on 11/16/2004, 12:27 PM
Unless Procoder does motion compensation for the de-interlacing part of it I'd say yes.
But please do some tests. You don't need to hire/buy a PAL/NTSC camera to test things. Generated media is an excellent way to run tests. Create some objects and animate them, create a PAL/NTSC avi and convert to NTSC/PAL. It's much easier to see what's going on with generated media.
Bob.