Successful Conversion from PAL<>NTSC with ffmpegx

[Fezzlekway]

Greetings All!

After a few weeks of Futzing around trying to convert a PAL/Region2 DVD into a NTSC DVD, I have finally succeeded! 8)

Here's what I did...

Using YadeX, I ripped the DVD to my hard drive resulting in a single .VOB file of about 3.9GB.

I made several attempts to convert this file directly to a DVD Burnable VIDEO_TS folder, each attempt never quite made it (either the video was choppy, the sound was out of sync, or there was no sound at all...

Here is what finally worked for me...

1. Use YadeX to rip the DVD and get your .VOB file.

2. Use ffmpegx to convert the .VOB file into a MPEG4 file (I kept the file PAL encoding (25fps, 720x576)) using the ffmepeg encoder (I used AC3 audio encoded to 192bps) and for my filters I used: 2-pass encoding, high quality, and decoded with Quicktime.

3. Take the resulting PAL-MPEG4 file and drop it back into ffmpegx. This time I selected: VIDEO = NTSC-FILM (23.97fps, 720x544) using the AC3 audio (192bps)...again I used the ffmepeg encoder. For my Filters I chose: high quality, 2-pass encoding, Trellis (on).
This time through DO NOT DECODE WITH QUICKTIME .

It took about 7-8 hours (I don't know for sure, I went to bed and it was done when I woke up. It looks like the start time in terminal was about 9:05pm and end time was around 5:21am).

What I was left with is a MPEG4 file. When I checked the file (using Quicktime) the video was nice and clean (no choppiness or pixelation noted) and the audio was in sync from start to finish!

I checked in DVDSP3 and the final MPEG4 file impported without incident and was identified as 720x544 at 29.97fps (this I found confusing because I know I set it for 23.97fps...The only thing I can think happened is that it changed the fps because of the 4:3 aspect ration that was selected).

All I know is...video and audio are sync'd and are playing at the correct NTSC frame rate. 8)

Unfortunately (friggin work ) I didn't have time to burn the DVD yet, I will be doing that this evening and I will post my results...

Thank You to ANY/ALL who have responded to my previous requests for help in this conversion...

[lordsmurf]

I prefer this solution:

STEP 1:
Go to Walmart, Best Buy, Radio Shack, or Fry's

STEP 2:
Buy CYBERHOME DVD player for about $25-40.

STEP 3:
Go home, play DVD.

Takes almost no time at all, and quality is maintained. Becomes especially useful once you start to amass a PAL collection.

Not trying to be mean or anything, but sometimes people completely overlook the obvious/easy solution.

[markatisu]

Also just to add as a long time mac user, I hope you are only doing this because you cannot play PAL, if you can play PAL then Region 2 would easily go away by either using YadeX and reauthoring the DVD in DVDSP3 or just using something like DVDBackup or MactheRipper and burning a new regionless DVD since both those programs remove the region code upon extraction

But I agree having used the Mac since the 80's that if you have the means just get a Cyberhome 300 or other PAL/NTSC player in order to view PAL content since the region code of a copy should be 0

I do commend you on taking the time to figure out a method

[rantanplan]

Most Cyberhome player can be made regioncode free by simply entering a number code.

[Fezzlekway]

Hey All...

I went through this painful procedure because...

A. I have absolutely no intention of "amassing a PAL collection"
B. I have one DVD player that will read the disc, and 1 TV that will accept the resolution difference (they are not connected together and I don't feel like switching my equipment around...I just want to be able to pop it in any DVD player and enjoy...

I only bought this friggin PAL-DVD because the only NTSC copy I could find is from some joker on AMAZON that wants $500.00 for an unopened copy (the disc is in moritorium status and is unavailable anywhere (according to the 200+ websites I looked at to find it...)
I got this copy for $30.00 (new-unopened) from eBAY, I just want to convert it and put the PAL-DVD right back on eBAY...

I appreciate the suggestions of purchasing new equipment, but it seems a little frivolous to go out and buy new hardware for 1 disc. That would be like building a Pro Football team around the Punter (if you take my meaning (you build around the quarterback, the punter is a supporting player only...The DVD player is the Quarterback, the Disc is like the punter)).

I dont want to sound like a Jackass or like I'm ungrateful, but I have seen threads similar to this one in the forum before, and it just seems like people aren't reading the actual questions. The question is always for help in converting a file and the answers all seem to be 'go buy new equipment'.

I do appreciate the responses, it at least indicates that there is life in the forum and that people will attempt to help if they can...

Thanks Again to Any/Everyone that Responded!


PS...I had a small glitch after burning the DVD...It played ok, but a little pixelated and I am getting a Green Bar across the top of the screen. I thinnk this is my fault I think my resolution setting did not match up for the NTSC-4:3 ratio...I was set at 720x544 (s/h/b...720x540). I am goinf to re-do the final conversion listed in my original post though I am going to reset the resolution to 640x480). I will post my results...


Have a GREAT Weekend Everyone... 8)

[sdm]

640x480 isn't a valid ntsc resolution... Try 720x480.

-sdm.

[markatisu]

Like I said bravo on finding a solution or workaround, we were merly stating that if you were going to be doing this a lot then a new dvd player would be a easier solution...see you got to read what we said as well

Also if you can choose this resolution 352x480 for NTSC if you wanted to experiment that way, its DVD compliant, it also is a bit smaller in case you are trying to smoosh a big movie or video file on a DVD

But again we are not chiding you or saying what you did was wrong, just merely pointing out that if you were going to do this on a broad scale (or anyone for that matter) its less time consuming to get a new dvd player but for 1 DVD or even a small collection of say maybe 5-10 this would probably be sufficient for most since they do run it while they sleep and not even see the time it takes

[Fezzlekway]

mark...

Thanks for the reply, like I was saying I don't want to sound like a jerk but it really doesn't make alot of sense to buy a new Player or TV for my situation. I apologize if I came off like a jackass...

I do have a question...you suggest trying 352x480 resolution...

Will that look normal when displayed on a standard NTSC TV?

It seems like it would be too small...