Authoring PAL DVDs from NTSC source

[jackfalbey]

I've had a request to do some clean-up and revision editing to an existing DVD set (not copy-protected, currently in NTSC format), and author it to PAL. I have a few questions:

1) The master tapes and files are unavailable, so all I have are the DVDs. Normally, I would use the Media Downloader in PE3.0 to rip the VOBs, then export them as DV-AVI to bring into PPro. Is there a better way to import the VOBs into PPro to maintain maximum quality?

2) After editing, what is the best way to convert it to PAL video? Start with a PAL project and bring in the NTSC clips, edit in an NTSC project and export to PAL specs, or edit & export in NTSC and let Encore transcode it to PAL?

3) Will the PAL DVDs produced by my North American versions of software and hardware play in PAL players overseas? The client has also asked about region coding; should I just leave it set for "Enable: All Regions"?

[Bobby]

Jack, I don't have any answers, but I do have more questions!

I have to send one of my recent DVDs to the UK. I really don't want to completely re-do the project from start as a PAL project. I guess I could export the project as AVI and then just read the AVI into a PAL project?

The question is: would it be reasonable to expect that UK DVD players can in fact actually play NTSC? I have read elsewhere that the chipsets are the same and handle both formats. Any ideaas?

[Chuck Engels]

Jack, In most cases NTSC plays fine in Europe, it is playing PAL here in the U.S. that is the problem.
As far as conversions go, it is much easier to convert PAL to NTSC than the other way arounds.

[jackfalbey]

My client wants PAL... some of their customers are in third-world countries as well as Europe and Asia and they have had trouble playing the NTSC version.

BTW, it's a series on farming techniques produced by a Christian missions group, before anyone starts having unsavory thoughts about the content!

It'll be sunrise in the UK soon; maybe Paul or Twosheds will have some answers...

[RJ Johnston]

Using AVISYNTH, you can convert NTSC to PAL with the code at bottom of this page:

http://avisynth.org/InterlacingAndDeinterlacing

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

Chuck is correct when he states that most (all?) PAL players handle NTSC.

But if you want absolute confirmation, Jack, you can always snail mail me a DVD sample, or post a short, completed file that I can download and burn here (we may need Ron's help for that) then I can check it for you on a variety of players.

The second option sounds good to me because this question arises with some frequency and we will be able to share certainty on the forum and have a point of reference for the future should the query arise again.

[jackfalbey]

Okay, the situation is a little different than I originally thought...

The DVD-set is currently in PAL Standard (720x576, 25 fps), although they have PAL Widescreen menus. I've copied the VOBs using PE3.0's Media Downloader in a PAL Standard project, and renamed the extension to .mpg so they will import into PPro CS3.

Most of the client's requested edits involve audio clean-up, leveling, and noise removal, all of which I will do in Soundbooth. They have requested a few video transitions to be added, but nothing else major video-wise except for converting to NTSC as well as re-authoring PAL versions of the corrected videos. Rather than rebuild the menu (since I don't have the original assets), I'm just going to use it as a video intro clip and set the DVDs to auto-play.

My proposed workflow is:
-rip VOBs using PE3.0 Media Downloader in a PAL Standard project
-rename file extensions to .mpg
-import clips into PPro CS3 PAL Standard project
-edit audio tracks in Soundbooth
-add video transitions
-export/encode as PAL to Encore and burn a DVD image
-export/encode as NTSC to Encore and burn a DVD image

Does anyone have any suggestions where I could do it any better, faster, or retain higher quality in the finished videos?

[Chuck Engels]

That is exactly what I would do Jack, I am interested to hear how the quality turns out.