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NTSC to PAL master
I know this isn’t completely a Final Cut question, but read on…
The company I work for has just entered into Australia. For the video guys, this is bringing new challanges as that is a PAL country. I have really never dealt much with PAL.
I was given the assignment to take one of our existing productions (we have on NTSC DVCAM master) and turn it into a PAL DVD that can be played at some kind of event in Australia. We realize that the purchase of some new gear will probably be essential. I know that we will probably need a standards converter. How)ever, even with a standards converter, I know that we would need a deck that records PAL. That is kinda pricey…
HERE IS MY QUESTION:
Can we just get a standards converter with component outs and go directly into final cut via an analog capture card (blackmagic)?
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
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5 Replies
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For DV/DVCAM, the Sony DSR-11 and DSR-25 are both dual standard, in that they can play or record PAL or NTSC. They cannot convert between them, but they do function as a great deck for either standard. There’s a little switch on the back which flips you between operating in each standard. They work great with FCP.
Affordable hardware standards converters tend to be poor, mostly designed with VHS in mind. Great converters like the Snell & Wilcox Alchemist are super and terribly expensive.
I make a software converter for FCP that’s not quite in the same league as the Alchemist, but it’s very, very good, and quite fast considering what it’s doing. You should try the demo and see.
Also, I’d guess all Australian DVD players will play NTSC, and TVs there too will accept NTSC, so no conversion might be necessary.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP
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I’ve actually been looking into getting this for a while now. I think now is a a better time than ever.
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Graeme is right, NTSC plays fine here downunder where PAL rules,
however all newish players and TVs accept NTSC.
Send a test and save headaches, BUT the res is not as good as PAL, so you may want to consider future workflowsCheers
Alexander -
Yes, you just need a very high quality de-interlacer in PAL.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP
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I was talking about PAL in general, as 50i, needing a great deinterlacer to get a film look. If you’ve got the capability to shoot 25p, then you don’t need a deinterlacer. Sorry for the confusion.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP
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