PAL DVCAM to PC to NTSC

[iantresman]

1. Does DVCAM have the same format as mini-DV so that I can plug a firewire into my PC and transfer the digital video?

2. If I convert PAL 720 x 576 video to NTSC 720 x 480, presumable I will be resampling the height of the frame, and although the storage aspect ratio will change, the display aspect ratio will still be the correct 4:3 and appear at the correct size.

3. Although frames can be inserted to bring PAL 25fps up to NTSC 30fps (29.97fps), presumably "better" software will interpolate the missing frames?

Regards,
Ian Tresman
Derby, UK

[bugster]

1. Does DVCAM have the same format as mini-DV so that I can plug a firewire into my PC and transfer the digital video?

Not sure but I believe so.

2. If I convert PAL 720 x 576 video to NTSC 720 x 480, presumable I will be resampling the height of the frame, and although the storage aspect ratio will change, the display aspect ratio will still be the correct 4:3 and appear at the correct size.

Yes, you will have to resize vertically. As DV is interlaced, this will require de-interlacing 1st (AFAIK). This is not usuaully a good idea quality wise. You might want to consider simply cropping the top and bottom instead.

3. Although frames can be inserted to bring PAL 25fps up to NTSC 30fps (29.97fps), presumably "better" software will interpolate the missing frames?

To convert PAL 25fps to NTSC, if your final destination format is mpeg-2, then simply slow the PAL footage down to 23.976fps and then add 3:2 pulldown when you encode to mpeg-2. No inserting frames of interpolation required. Of course if you need it to stay in DV format, this won't work.

[iantresman]

To convert PAL 25fps to NTSC, if your final destination format is mpeg-2, then simply slow the PAL footage down to 23.976fps and then add 3:2 pulldown when you encode to mpeg-2. No inserting frames of interpolation required. Of course if you need it to stay in DV format, this won't work.

Thanks for that, I've never heard of 3:2 pulldown, despite several days of reseach. Anyone else who wants to learn more, can look at:

• DVDFILE.COM: What The Heck Is 3:2 Pulldown?
  
• 3:2 Pulldown Explained

Now I just need to find some software to help me do this. A glance at the DVD Help tools shows something called:

• Pulldown

Regards,
Ian

[iantresman]

To convert PAL 25fps to NTSC, if your final destination format is mpeg-2, then simply slow the PAL footage down to 23.976fps and then add 3:2 pulldown when you encode to mpeg-2. No inserting frames of interpolation required. Of course if you need it to stay in DV format, this won't work.

I've had a read through, and note that the main disadvantage of 3:2 pulldown is that movement can cause the resulting DVD image to appear blurred.

To you have any words of wisdom for converting PAL DV to NTSC, that will ensure that hightest possible quality (other than high bitrates). I'm transfering an art film.

Regards,
Ian

[erratic]

You can use these programs to convert interlaced PAL to interlaced NTSC with very good results:

Sony Vegas.
I assume the much cheaper Vegas Movie Studio can do it as well, but I haven't tried it.

Canopus ProCoder (or its little brother ProCoder Express).

Avisynth (free, but not user-friendly).

I'm sure there are a few other options, but Vegas, ProCoder and Avisynth are the ones I have tried.

[bugster]

I've had a read through, and note that the main disadvantage of 3:2 pulldown is that movement can cause the resulting DVD image to appear blurred.

It won't look any worse (and probably better) than trying to make it 29.976fps by creating new frames by interpolation!