Menu

PAL or NTSC?

Help
gmarco
2017-02-12
2018-08-20
  • gmarco

    gmarco - 2017-02-12

    It is not a matter closely related to DVDStyler but I submit to some expert.
    In Italy, doing edit movies to create an mp4 output which is best framerate to set for the output in the two cases?
    case1a) original movies all with framerate 29.97
    case2a) mixed original movies (25 and 29.97)

    and then, editing and burning video files to DVD, what standard (NTSC or PAL) is recommended in the two cases?
    case1b) original movies all with framerate 29.97
    case2b) mixed original movies (25 and 29.97)

    Visually an inexpert eye does not notice differences even viewing the two different MP4 / DVD even on TV HHD, but probably by the two different ratios for resolution / framerate follows some differentiation in rendering on Italian 50 Hz equipment, so, being able to choose the setting, the choice is indifferent? are both fine?
    Thank you
    Marco

     
  • Manolito

    Manolito - 2017-02-13

    Generally you should avoid standards conversion if you can. In Europe virtually all hardware DVD players have no problems playing NTSC DVDs.

    In DVDStyler the frame rate conversion is done by FFmpeg, and FFmpeg does this in a very rough way: it just drops or duplicates whole frames. This will cause motion judder on horizontal pans. There are more elaborate methods for fps conversion, but you would need AviSynth to do this.

    Cheers
    manolito

     
    • gmarco

      gmarco - 2017-02-15

      Thank you, it is not a matter of DVD players, and I know there are endless discussions about which standard is better (it is said that NTSC has discoloration ...) but I tried to figure out, having to convert, which fps is to be preferred.
      I refer in particular to cases 2 (mixed original movies).
      Regards
      Marco

       
  • Manolito

    Manolito - 2017-02-16

    Why don't you convert each source movie with its original frame rate and put them into different title sets? AFAIK a DVD can have VTSs with different frame rates and aspect ratios and can also mix progressive and interlaced titles. You just cannot have the different formats in the same VTS (which DVDStyler tries to do by default).

    I know that mixing PAL and NTSC on one DVD is officially not allowed by the DVD specs, but so far all hardware DVD players I tried it with had no problems (they were all European players, not US).

    Cheers
    manolito

     
    • gmarco

      gmarco - 2017-02-16

      I think it is better to clarify the case I mean.
      Input source: various clips (some 25fps, some 30fps) to be mixed to obtain a single movie.
      Output: could be a DVD file (only 1 titleset), but also possibly an mp4 file.
      Having to set output characteristics (resolution and frame rate) is preferable to set 25fps or 30fps?
      Thanks
      Marco

       
  • Manolito

    Manolito - 2017-02-16

    This depends entirely on how you will watch it...

    For an MP4 output it does not matter at all, but of course you should not convert it to a DVD first and then convert the DVD output to MP4. You can use Handbrake for MP4 conversions, and Handbrake creates VFR (variable frame rate) output by default

    For DVD output the difference is like this:
    1. Convert everything to NTSC will mean that the 25fps source clips will have lots of duplicate frames.
    2. Converting everything to PAL means that the 29.97fps sources will suffer from dropped frames.

    If you prefer duplicated or dropped frames is a matter of taste, you need to watch it carefully on your TV. And I already mentioned that FFmpeg is not a good choice for frame rate conversion. There are much better methods, but FFmpeg cannot do this, you would have to use AviSynth instead.

    Cheers
    manolito

     

    Last edit: Manolito 2017-02-16
    • Barr

      Barr - 2018-08-20

      I agree with Manolito except for the point of MP4 conversion. I don't like Handbrake because its interface is too complicated. For better dvd-to-MP4 conversion I would recommend VideoSolo BD-DVD Ripper.
      Although I am not a VideoSolo fan, this product really pulls me with its ultra ease of use and powerful winning features.

      For better DVD-to-MP4 conversion, suggest you to read Best Way to Rip/Convert Blu-ray Movies to MP4.

       
  • JMJ

    JMJ - 2017-02-16

    If you have an AviSynth script you can use it in DVDStyler by using Avisynth Virtual File System

    Cheers

     
  • Manolito

    Manolito - 2017-02-16

    In most cases this is not even necessary, because FFmpeg handles AVS scripts as input just fine.

    You need to watch a few things, though:
    If your input clip is not encoded with square pixels (i.e. an anamorphic MPEG2 file from a DVD) then you need to set the correct aspect ratio manually. The same is true for a virtual AVI, because AVI files cannot signal the aspect ratio.

    Cheers
    manolito

     

    Last edit: Manolito 2017-02-16
  • gmarco

    gmarco - 2017-02-17

    Thank you all for the suggestions, from which I gather that there is not a solution certainly better than the other.
    Since I do not have to create prestigious films and, as mentioned, not seeing evident differences between the two different results, I think to opt for 30fps in the case of mixed inputs.
    Cheers

     
  • Barry

    Barry - 2017-03-08

    Pls excuse a total newby, I am confused by the Pal/NTSC parameters.
    I expected it to be digital ? However what I am wanting to do is put a number of power point files onto the VD and use a menu.
    Is my intention silly ?
    Barry

     
  • Manolito

    Manolito - 2017-03-09

    Of course you can use PowerPoint files, convert them into a video format like WMV, and then import these video files into DVDStyler. If you google for "PowerPoint to Video" you will get plenty of tutorials.

    What I do not understand is how this is related to PAL/NTSC.

    Cheers
    manolito

     

Log in to post a comment.