What SVCD format should I make this?

[eronnero]

Hey all. I just downloaded a 700mb AVI of the net with the following - Bitrate=937kbit/s, Width=576, height=240 and a framerate of 23.98. I wanna burn it as a SVCD, and was wondering if this source is PAL or NTSC? (So I know which format to burn it as).
Cheers again. lol

[banjazzer]

Look to the left at "What is SVCD" and all should become clear. The framerate is the clue.

[Knut_Norw]

Hello.

The framerate indicates that it's a NTSC Film source.

BUT: To burn it as a SVCD you can make it whatever you like. Use TMPGEnc and choose the type you like. I prefer PAL, but it's a question of where you live and what your TV will handle. Older TV sets in Europe will not play NTSC, only PAL.

[banjazzer]

BUT: To burn it as a SVCD you can make it whatever you like.

Indeed you can, but encoding NTSC(film) source with a PAL template introduce a jerky effect, particularly in motion scenes. Some people notice this more than others.

It is always best to match your encoding template and source so the framerate is the same. If you want a better result with PAL you must convert the framerate of the avi first, and then shrink the audio to fit before encoding.

[eronnero]

I wasn't to sure about the NTSC film format (whether it was any good or not). I thought I would have to change it to either PAL or NTSC, and PAL having a frame rate closer to the 23.9 than NTSC I figured that it would be PAL?. But as always I have been shown the way! Thanks guys.
Now in peoples opinion should I use NTSC film or just NTSC?
Later.

[banjazzer]

If your source is NTSC(film) (which it is), there is no reason not to use the NTSC(film) format. The only possible reason to use a PAL format would be if you lived in a PAL region and your player/TV was not compatible with NTSC.

NTSC(film) is the framerate used to make movies. NTSC is the framerate used by TV. If you use the NTSC(film) template, the SVCD will get played back at NTSC framerate. This is catered for by the encode mode, which is 3:2 pulldown on playback. If you use the NTSC template I would reckon the result will look awful!

[eronnero]

Cheers for your help and advice, it was much appreciated.
Thanks again.

[sterno]

If you find that you do need to convert it to PAL you can use avisynth and besweet to change the frame rate without adding or removing frames. It will just make a change in length, and changing between 23.976 and 25 usually won't be noticable. The added/dropped frames that tmpgenc uses are what makes playback jerky. I think avisynth2 also has some "intelligent" tools for doing an actual frame rate conversion, but for a small change like 24<->25 it's probably not worth the extra processing time.