Converting 1920×1080 25p Prores LT to NTSC SD

[Shane Ross]

Don’t compress, then compress. That’s and extra step, and an extra layer of compression. Just export a movie from FCP, self contained, and then use the DVD presets.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Paul Nevison]

Hey Shane

when you say use the “DVD presets” do you mean the ones in Compressor or the compression controls within DVDSP?

I’m not 100% sure where the PAL-NTSC conversion would happen as the presets generally just convert your film to MPEG2 but keep the frame rates etc of the native file…which in my case is PAL 25p

can you clarify?

thanks

[Shane Ross]

Oh, wait, PAL to NTSC…I missed that part. That’s more complex. How about making a PAL DVD? NTSC players will play them.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Paul Nevison]

hey shane

usually I thought it was the other way round ….PAL dvd players play back NTSC fine….NTSC dvd players struggle with PAL discs??

In the past I’ve used compressor to convert my PAL QT to NTSC then in a second step encoded the new NTSC QT to Mpeg2 for NTSC dvd creation.

I’m all for missing out an encode if I can.

[Shane Ross]

Test and see.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Eric Pautsch]

Most NTSC players wont play PAL. Most PAL will play NTSC though

[Paul Nevison]

Hey Eric

yes that’s been my experience in the past. I’m in PAL land so am unable to test to see if the discs I make will play on NTSC players etc…

I guess I’ll stick with plan A ….standards convert first, then encode to mpeg2

thanks all

Macpro Duel core 3Ghz
4.0G RAM
OS 10.4.11
QT 7.5
FCP 6.0.4
AE CS3 8.0.1.8
BMD Decklink HD Extreme 6.6
PAL Land

[John Pale]

Very few NTSC players play PAL. Most modern PAL equipment will handle NTSC, but not all.

If you want to make a PAL disc (without purchasing the Nattress plug in or getting a hardware conversion)…export from your timeline as Quicktime (same as source)

Take that into Compressor and do the standards conversion/downconversion first. Choose the NTSC preset for 8 bit uncompressed in the Advanced Format Conversions folder. You need to turn on the frame controls…change the Resize to Better (or Best..but Better is often sufficient and much faster), set Output Fields to same as source since you are progressive. Set the Rate Conversion to Better or Best. Leave the Deinterlace on Fast (if you are using Progressive footage, it won’t actually do anything if you leave it set for that).

Take the resulting NTSC SD 8 Bit Uncompressed file and use the appropriate MPEG-2 DVD presets.

Do not try to do the standards conversion, downconversion and MPEG encode all in one step.

You did not state the length of your project, but many people find that creating your own preset using CBR (constant bit rate) at 7 will look better and encode much faster. If you are unhappy with the results of the presets (which are VBR–variable bit rate), you might want to try that.

Be sure to encode your audio to AC-3.

[Paul Nevison]

Hi John

Thanks for the clarification.

I have the Nattress plugin which in the past has given brilliant results. I just wasn’t sure if the prores issues had been resolved yet. I had a few problems a year or so ago and Graeme was looking into it.

I’ve emailed Graeme and will await to hear before using the plugin for this job.

the Film is 16mins long so there shouldn’t be any issues fitting it on the dvd.

thanks again all

Macpro Dual core 3Ghz
8GB RAM
OS 10.6.4
QT 7.6.6
FCP 7.0.3
AE CS4
BMD Decklink HD Extreme 6.6
PAL Land

[John Pale]

Nattress should be the way to go for you then.

I wasn’t aware there were ProRes issues. I have never had a problem.

Good luck.