Sending MP4 from UK to USA

[terrypin]

I made a short, 120 MB 1920x1080 MP4 video (in my NLE, Magix Movie Edit Pro 17 Plus), which I can view fine at home here on my PC and on my PAL TV. I want to upload it (using my Dropbox space) so that my son and family can watch it in the USA. Obviously he should be able to do so with no problem on his PC or laptop. But he has a 'home network' which lets him view all his stuff on the lounge TV, an NTSC type in his case. Do I need to do anything special to allow for this? At an extreme, should I perhaps make two versions of the movie, one for UK viewing and one for USA?

This NTSC/PAL/framerate stufff is all a bit obscure to me, so I'd appreciate a bit of advice please.

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[jman98]

What's the frame rate of your video? If it's 24 fps or 29.97 fps or 60 fps it should be OK for him, but knowing nothing about his actual setup there's no way to be 100% sure that there wouldn't be some weird problem he'd face. You can always make the video available and if he has issues he could convert the video on his end. If he is actually using a media streamer such as a Western Digital or similar player then almost certainly your video will be fine as it is.

[terrypin]

Thanks. The video is rendered here at my usual 25 fps. I'll find out more about his setup.

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Terry, UK

[jman98]

Thanks. The video is rendered here at my usual 25 fps. I'll find out more about his setup.

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Terry, UK

Post back what he's using because 25 fps MIGHT be an issue on some playback devices in the USA. It shouldn't be for any worthwhile media streamer though. If he's using an Xbox or PS3 I would expect major playback problems.

[edDV]

Thanks. The video is rendered here at my usual 25 fps. I'll find out more about his setup.

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Terry, UK

The majority of "major brand" HDTV sets in the USA specifically block 25 Hz and 50 Hz and lack analog PAL decoders. They do this to discourage gray market export of US models to higher taxed "PAL" countries.

Some 2nd tier Chinese brands like select Vizio models display 25/50 Hz and some have analog PAL decoders. This is not stated in the TV spec sheet. One must test the TV or projector with a "PAL" DVD player before purchase.

A home theater PC (HTPC) will play 25/50 Hz source and scan convert to 60Hz in the display card. Some hardware media players play 25/50 Hz source but may not make the conversion to 60Hz.

Select DVD players (e.g. many Philips models) will play 25/50 Hz discs or files and internally convert to 60 Hz.

Worst case, the 25Hz file can be played on a modern laptop and passed to the HDTV as 60Hz over HDMI, analog component or S-Video.

[terrypin]

Thanks both, very helpful. I'll discuss further with my son and try some test MP4s as next step. may be back after that.

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK