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PAL to NTSC conversion, last try
I’ve tried several ways of converting PAL to NTSC and as yet haven’t found a suitable solution, and was wondering if anyone can offer me advice on the problems I have experienced.
I tried the SLOW-PAL method mentioned here https://www.macworld.com/article/49306/2006/02/marchcreate.html but I found it turned all my graphics and stills to pixelated messes. Can anyone explain why?
I tried the trad method mentioned in the link above, same problem, graphics and stills came out pixelated (and it was going to take 18 hrs!)
I tried using JES deinterlacer, but found after running the converted movie through compressor, any shots with movement had this jagged appearance. It appears that every 5 frames, there are 2 frames of footage that appears interlaced, this giving the jagged appearance on dvd.
Can anyone suggest how to get rid of this?I have given this a good go, I have mastered 18 test dvd’s and have been on the case full time for nearly a week. I’m beat!
Surely I can convert PAL to NTSC on a mac using FCP studio.
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5 Replies
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Hi
Both the Nattress Standards Converter and Compressor give excellent results on good movie footage.
Without knowing what your graphics look like it is likely that they may not be optimised for video compression.When the article’s Slow-PAL 23.98 fps conversion is used, its usual to burn the DVD that way – with a 23.98fps NTSC movie, and let the DVD player add the pull-down.
With standards conversion it is ESSENTIAL to have a proper video monitor that displays the resulting signal correctly – PAL60 or NTSC 4.43 monitors will show a badly degraded scaled result.
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I agree that the Nattress Converters work really well on good footage. However, I sometimes remove titles & graphics from the final edit, pre conversion, and then recreate them to match the final standard (e.g. if done in Photoshop for example), and then edit them back along with the Nattress converted video. Graham Nattress the creator of these filters, is usually pretty helpful if you contact him with problems using his filters. They are not free, but then probably good value as compared to your time…
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You could also think of sending the PAL master to a facility with a Teranex or similar hardware converter and doing a real time standards conversion.
Given that you have wasted a week with software solutions, it would have been cheaper to outsource this job properly to a hardware based conversion.
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[Mark Shea] “Surely I can convert PAL to NTSC on a mac using FCP studio. “
The best way to do this is in FCP is the Nattress Standards Converter, but even there it’s not perfect and you MUST follow the instructions precisely.
The best way to do this period is through Terranex hardware.
We do both depending on the project. Nattress is a great plug-in and works well for some situations. The Terranex does a perfect job.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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I have had excellent results using compressor. Make sure you check your settings as described in that link and you’re on lower field dominant on the output. In saying that though if there’s graphics in conjunction with fast movement in picture, the graphics get distorted and pixelated in a weird way. This does not happen all the time and it’s un-predictable.
I tested the Nattress but haven’t found it better than compressor’s output. Nattress results are very soft and film like compared to crispness of compressor. Maybe I am doing something wrong.Oh, and all this using Uncompressed 10 bit video.
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