How to capture NTSC and transfer into PAL

[Baltazar]

I have a NTSC VHS and a borrowed VCR that can playback NTSC videos in PAL 60Hz format.

I wonder if it's possible to capture this movie with my MSI G4 TI-4400 graphic card using video-in and the program VirtualDub?

I have heard something about a setting called "PAL-J" which is 60Hz PAL and the official TV standard used in Brazil and Argentina.

Is this setting available on my card, and if so, where?

[Poplar]

In VirtualDub, go to Capture --> Source, it should be there, as it is with BT 8x8 cards. Or you can always change fps in post-processing......

[Dragonsf]

It's not that easy, you have to adjust the BT chip with DScaler to PAL60 (which is neither PAL-M or PAL-J).

[SatStorm]

PAL 60 is a nightmare! In the matter of fact, it is NTSC covered for playback on PAL TVs.
Better capture as NTSC and then inverse Telecine, split audio / video and boost them to 25 fps, IF you can.
If you can't do this (because your VCR turns automatic NTSC to PAL 60), then you need to do this:
Grabb (cap) at 720 X 576. There gonna be a bottom screen issue but it gonna work. Use Huffyuv or even an Mjpeg codec (PIC Video for example).

Now, you need heavy post-processing....
First of all, you have to add some filters. Use the standard 3: Dynamic Noise reduction, Static Noise reduction and 2D Cleaner (on a very low value!).
Now crop to 720 X 480 and resize to the framesize of your target format. For example 352 X 576 for CVD or 480 X 576 for SVCD.
Now save to a new avi and the same time Inverse telecine PAL 60 like you do with NTSC. The best method from Virtualdub is reconstruction from adapting fields for this task.
Your new file gonna be @ XXX X 576, interlace and on a framerate about 24 fps (or 23.97).
Now, extract the audio from this file and use besweet (or whatever) to boost it at 25 fps. For video, use avifrate to boost the fps to 25 also.
Now encode with your favorite encoder your avi, as always (TMPGenc plus is wonderfull for this task), using for video source the patched avi and as audio the extracted audio after the convertion to 25fps.

This is the best method I know, using mainstream technology and free (or cheap) software.

[Baltazar]

Thanks SatStorm I will try your advice!

Perhaps should your explanation be published here at vcdhelp as a guide, I know lots of people who has wondered about this question on the web.

[SatStorm]

I want to do many things, I just don't have the time!

Just to add that you better grabb with virtualdub and lock the audio with the video. About frame loss, one frame every 2 min ain't big deal if it happens while your grabbing. You have problem only if it is 2 - 3 frames per min.

[Baltazar]

If you can't do this (because your VCR turns automatic NTSC to PAL 60), then you need to do this:
Grabb (cap) at 720 X 576. There gonna be a bottom screen issue but it gonna work. Use Huffyuv or even an Mjpeg codec (PIC Video for example).

- Yes, the VCR turns automatic NTSC to PAL 60 and there are a flickering stripe a bit below the top and a bit above the bottom screen. Also the preview is only in black and white color. I tried capture in different fps but I got a huge amount of frames dropped. I always have this problem if I go for a "wrong" fps capture or if I capture in a too high frame size (too slow computer), the largest I always do is 480x576 for SVCD so this is the frame size I will use.

Now, you need heavy post-processing....
First of all, you have to add some filters. Use the standard 3: Dynamic Noise reduction, Static Noise reduction and 2D Cleaner (on a very low value!).

Now crop to 720 X 480 and resize to the framesize of your target format. For example 352 X 576 for CVD or 480 X 576 for SVCD.

- Post-processing is this done as well i VirtualDub? Couldn't find thoose filters you mentioned. I checked under Video/Filters (sorry, I'm a newbie). And cropping at the same time as adding filters?

Now save to a new avi and the same time Inverse telecine PAL 60 like you do with NTSC. The best method from Virtualdub is reconstruction from adapting fields for this task.
Your new file gonna be @ XXX X 576, interlace and on a framerate about 24 fps (or 23.97).

- Another step in VirtualDub? Inverse telecine?

Now, extract the audio from this file and use besweet (or whatever) to boost it at 25 fps. For video, use avifrate to boost the fps to 25 also.
Now encode with your favorite encoder your avi, as always (TMPGenc plus is wonderfull for this task), using for video source the patched avi and as audio the extracted audio after the convertion to 25fps.

- Extract the audio from the avi file, how? And then boost it with besweet to 25 fps, ok. and video with avifrate to 25 fps, ok.

- Last encode, as usual, with TMPGenc using the two different boosted audio/video files (25 fps), ok.

[spiderman2k1]

If its vhs yu culd use a world wide VCR. If you want to capture and convert to pal I think TMPG can do it but I would read up a little before doing so