Reliable NTSC to PAL conversion???

[Jeremy Garchow]

Look at Graeme Nattress’ Standards Conversion plug in. It works wonderfully.

http://www.nattress.com

I don’t think your Extreme will do a standards conversion on the fly, but I could be wrong.

———–
G5 Dual 2Ghz <> 4GB RAM <> FCP 5.02 <> Kona 2

ATTO 42XS <> Huge Systems 1.25 TB 4105 Fibre

[John Pale]

I have never heard of any capture card being able to do a Standads Conversion on the fly…post on the Blackmagic forum to be sure of that one.

I can attest to the fact that the Nattress plugin does a wonderful job…..not Snell and Wilcox level, but much less expensive. He has a free trial version, so you can test it on your footage.

Compressor 2 also works well, but takes much much longer.

[Gary Adcock]

[John Pale] ” can attest to the fact that the Nattress plugin does a wonderful job…..not Snell and Wilcox level, but much less expensive. He has a free trial version, so you can test it on your footage.”

I agree on quality and ease of use on the Nattress filters also,
but be careful of doing a software conversion to PAL if your content needs to pass a standards test.
In my experience broadcasters like the BBC will not take anything but hardware conversions of content for transmission.

Gary Adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
Chicago, IL USA

[David Roth weiss]

[gary adcock] “In my experience broadcasters like the BBC will not take anything but hardware conversions of content for transmission.”

Gary,

Odd you should mention that, as this is in fact for the BBC… The footage (pink river dolphins underwater) is impossible to get anywhere else, and rather old and funky BetaSP that will never look anything but old and funky. So, maybe the Beeb will accept it under the circumstances, especially since their producers refuse to pay for a proper hardware standards conversion.

BTW, I just did a test using Blackmagic 8-bit QT NTSC converted to PAL using Canopus Procoder on a PC, and it looks like an outstanding conversion. Of course that’s what it looks like on a computer monitor, and I have no PAL broadcast monitor here. So, I’m sending a short clip via http://www.yousendit.com to a friend in the UK to check it for me. I’ve heard Procoder has actually figured this thing out, but I’m always skeptical. If it doesn’t work then I’ll certainly give Graeme’s plug a try…

THNX,
DRW

[David Roth weiss]

THNX Jeremy, its next on my list after Canopus Procoder.

[Gary Adcock]

Just a little experience in PAL land David, the BBC sets the standard for a good part of the EU. (yeah but don’t tell the French government)

On your BMD / Canopus conversion — are you watching it on a PAL monitor? You will not be able to correct check it via a DVD. Most of the NTSC to PAL conversions tend to have frame dupes every couple of seconds – creating a momentary stutter – that is very noticeable to PAL users but not really to us in the limited world of NTSC. Try running frame by frame thru your project to see.

The best hardware standards conversions are done by Ukon (SD & HD) and Alchemist ( SD ONLY) systems by Snell and Wilcox

Gary Adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
Chicago, IL USA

[Lj Corwin]

Hey Dr. Weiss,

E-mail the you-send-it link to me also. I have a PAL monitor and am very interested in your conversion results.

BTW, why aren’t you in NOLA?

Your pal,
LJ

[David Roth weiss]

Hey Laura,

Okay I’m sending the file to you now…

I’m not in New Orleans cuz I stupidly stayed here in order to avoid starting my project…

DRW

[Mitchji]

[gary adcock] “Most of the NTSC to PAL conversions tend to have frame dupes every couple of seconds – creating a momentary stutter – that is very noticeable to PAL users but not really to us in the limited world of NTSC.”

Hi Gary,

Are you sure about this? Why would there be frame dupes when the number of frames are being reduced?

Thanks!

Mitch

[David Roth weiss]

Mitch,

I’m with you on this one… Going the other direction, from PAL to NTSC, dupes would be expected. Frame blending is what I expect going NTSC to PAL.

DRW