Authoring targeting PAL and NTSC in parallel

[BobAchgill]

I like what I see with the trial of Tmpgenc Authoring Works but one last thing on the wish list...

Once I finish setting up a project I need to compile the setup to both NTSC and PAL. The trial wants me to start a whole new project when I select to change from PAL to NTSC. Is that just an artifact of using the trial version? Or will the full version let me copy the finished NTSC project over to PAL?

If the full version will let me output both PAL and NTSC versions of the same project what will happen to the chapter markers? Are the markers going to be totally way off as the video gets further into the clip (because the chapter markers are counting frames)? Or are the chapter markers going to be somewhat the same (because they are timecode based)??

I expect to have lots of chapter markers (1000's) in a disk project so I am looking for the least painful way with out having to redo each disk project twice ... once for PAL and once for NTSC.

Thanks!

Bob

[edDV]

A workflow plan for both NTSC and PAL from a common edit is best done from 16:9 24P 1280x720* acquisition. Import 24p, edit a 24p master, then speed 4% and audio process to 25p for a "PAL" HD print. Then downsize to 720x576 wide for DVD.

For "NTSC", frame repeat 3:2 to 59.94 fps for an HD print. Down size 24p original (specified 23.976p) to 720x480 wide for a progressive DVD.

Almost any format can be created from a 1280x720 24p master without need for destructive interpolated frame rate conversion.

*This can also be done from 1080 24p acquisition but the processing load is much greater.

[BobAchgill]

Thanks EdDV.

I am more interested in how I can one click have Tmpgenc Authoring Works (or some other authoring system) spit out both PAL and NTSC out put to separate disks. I don't want to have to build two separate projects that have all the same chapter points and tracks. It seems such a waste of my time when all I need is the same project going to both PAL AND NTSC disks.

I am not worried about the quality at this point. The trial I did with Tmpgenc Authoring Works trial version showed me I don't need to worry about quality. I loaded what was NTSC content into a PAL project and the conversions internal to Tmpgenc Authoring Works did a fair job of getting the content over to PAL.

Hope this clarifies my need.

Bob

[Disco Makberto]

Hello, Bob (or fellow reader)!

I am exactly in the same situation as you are (or you were), namely "Authoring targeting PAL and NTSC in parallel" in a way that two discs (one PAL and one NTSC) are the final products resulting from a common ground (same project). Is there a software that can do this?

Cheers,

Carlos Albert D-M
Disco Makberto

[Disco Makberto]

Hi, there!

Yes, there is a software to accomplish this: Sony DVD Architect 3.0 (and newer ones, I guess). It works like this, assuming that the original video is in PAL:

1) Import your original PAL file
2) Pre-author a PAL DVD just prior to the point of burning (this means after creating menus and extras)
3) Save the PAL project (which has menus and extras)
4) Re-open the PAL project and burn a PAL DVD (with menus and extras)
5) Re-open the PAL project, change the settings to burn a NTSC DVD, and burn a NTSC DVD (with menus and extras)

Needless to say is the fact that Sony DVD Architect will change PAL menus and extras to NTSC menus and extras in step 5. Also, the PAL to NTSC conversion here is probably not the best of all alternative conversion methods. However, since my PAL DVD is my "main" one or sort of my "master" one, I am fine with the sub-qualiy of my "secondary" NTSC DVD.

If you have any comments, please post to the group.

Finally, is anybody aware of a similar program to Sony DVD Architect 3.0 that can achieve what we are trying to do here?

Cheers,

Carlos Albert D-Mak
Disco Makberto