PAL > NTSC (and it already looks awful)...

[takearushfan]

Hi again,

I have an AVI that's not only PAL, but also looks beyond terrible. I'd like to know if there's a way (preferably using AviSynth) to convert the video to NTSC, but in doing so sacrificing as little of the video's integrity as possible.

Which method(s) would be the best/most recommended? I'm not sure what to put in to my script.

I doubt it's really of any use, but in case anyone cares, here's the MediaInfo data:

-

General
Complete name                    : C:\FILE.avi
Format                           : AVI
Format/Info                      : Audio Video Interleave
File size                        : 688 MiB
Duration                         : 1h 22mn
Overall bit rate                 : 1 159 Kbps
Writing application              : MEncoder Sherpya-SVN-r26446-4.2.3
Writing library                  : MPlayer

Video
ID                               : 0
Format                           : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile                   : Simple@L3
Format settings, BVOP            : No
Format settings, QPel            : No
Format settings, GMC             : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix          : Default (H.263)
Codec ID                         : XVID
Codec ID/Hint                    : XviD
Duration                         : 1h 22mn
Bit rate                         : 1 024 Kbps
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 5:4
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Standard                         : PAL
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.099
Stream size                      : 608 MiB (88%)
Writing library                  : XviD 1.1.2 (UTC 2006-11-01)

Audio
ID                               : 1
Format                           : MPEG Audio
Format version                   : Version 1
Format profile                   : Layer 3
Mode                             : Joint stereo
Mode extension                   : MS Stereo
Codec ID                         : 55
Codec ID/Hint                    : MP3
Duration                         : 1h 22mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 122 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 44.1 KHz
Stream size                      : 72.5 MiB (11%)
Alignment                        : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration             : 26 ms (0.65 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration     : 515 ms

-

[hech54]

Which method(s) would be the best/most recommended?

None. It's not worth the effort.

[edDV]

If you don't like the PAL why do you want to convert and lower quality more?

[Noahtuck]

If you don't like the PAL why do you want to convert and lower quality more?

I was thinking the same thing, but then i thought maybe i misread it (or he miswrote)

I have an AVI that's not only PAL, but also looks beyond terrible.

If it looks terrible as the original PAL AVI (sic) then what makes you think it will look better converting it to NTSC ?

[AlanHK]

I have an AVI that's not only PAL, but also looks beyond terrible. I'd like to know if there's a way (preferably using AviSynth) to convert the video to NTSC

AVISource("C:\FILE.avi")
EnsureVBRMP3sync()
AssumeFPS("ntsc_film", sync_audio=true)
#next two lines make DVD compliant, skip if not needed.
ResampleAudio(48000)
LanczosResize(720,480)

[takearushfan]

I have an AVI that's not only PAL, but also looks beyond terrible. I'd like to know if there's a way (preferably using AviSynth) to convert the video to NTSC

AVISource("C:\FILE.avi")
EnsureVBRMP3sync()
AssumeFPS("ntsc_film", sync_audio=true)
#next two lines make DVD compliant, skip if not needed.
ResampleAudio(48000)
LanczosResize(720,480)

Thanks you!

Guys, I didn't say I believe that it'll look better by converting it. I merely said it already looks bad. So yes, I know that if anything it'll only look worse, but y'all don't necessarily know what my reasons are

[jagabo]

I'd leave it at 25 fps and add pulldown flags with DgPulldown (assuming you're making a DVD). Then you don't have to change the audio length.

[freebird73717]

I'd leave it at 25 fps and add pulldown flags with DgPulldown (assuming you're making a DVD). Then you don't have to change the audio length.

I agree. If dvd or mpeg is your end product then this is the simplest and most efficient way of doing a pal->ntsc conversion.

[AlanHK]

I'd leave it at 25 fps and add pulldown flags with DgPulldown (assuming you're making a DVD). Then you don't have to change the audio length.

I agree. If dvd or mpeg is your end product then this is the simplest and most efficient way of doing a pal->ntsc conversion.

Well if I may disagree, the pulldown hack is a good way to convert a MPEG2 file as it avoids reencoding.

But when your source is AVI or MKV, etc, and you're running it through Avisynth to encode to MPEG2, AssumeFPS is the simplest. The only issue is the audio is resampled and the speed is changed by a few percent -- but if your audio wasn't 48000Hz AC3 in the first place (and this was 44100Hxz MP3) you have to resample regardless.

Anyway, quite likely the original source was 24 fps film, the 25 fps PAL was probably just speeded up, so going to 23.976fps is getting closer to the original if that's a consideration. I find it imperceptible myself.

[jagabo]

Anyway, quite likely the original source was 24 fps film, the 25 fps PAL was probably just speeded up, so going to 23.976fps is getting closer to the original if that's a consideration. I find it imperceptible myself.

I sometimes notice when the audio is sped up and the pitch has changed. Especially with voices or music that I know well.

[freebird73717]

I guess I missed the part where he said he preferred the avisynth way. After seeing that I guess what what Alan suggested would be appropriate.

Honestly I don't even mess with this stuff anymore anyway. I just play my vids through a networked media player. No conversion necessary.

[jman98]

y'all don't necessarily know what my reasons are

True enough but my feeling is that unless this is something you are going to do at most maybe two times you'd really just be best served to buy a media player like the Western Digital ones or similar players where you don't need to convert at all.

[AlanHK]

Anyway, quite likely the original source was 24 fps film, the 25 fps PAL was probably just speeded up, so going to 23.976fps is getting closer to the original if that's a consideration. I find it imperceptible myself.

I sometimes notice when the audio is sped up and the pitch has changed. Especially with voices or music that I know well.

Easy enough to compare before and after and see if it bothers you.
But as I said, quite possibly this would be restoring the audio to its original speed.