Video Recording/Playback/Editing/Converting/etc.

Ralph,
The program I have doesn't do what I thought it did, sorry. The advice already given is probably best :)

ralphm1999 wrote:BMW,

Did you ever get my first Ulead subtitle output?

Oh yeah, I did... Haven't looked at it, though. Sorry.

Too busy pushing out Geezer's DVDs.

I tried converting a 4 minute music video from NTSC to PAL with vobblanker. It said it was successful. How can I prove it since PC s play everything.
I tried to play it on my Panasonic DVDR and it does not recognize it. Good sign. I was able to play it on my antiquated GE 1101P DVD player in which I have installed a bypass menu to bypass macro and region codes. I think years ago I read that it will play PAL but the manual says no. It's possible my bypass loop also allows PAL.
Is there a utility that will tell me what format it's in?

Ralph,
Not sure about that. You could try just opening the file with one of the ripping programs like DVD Shrink and seeing what it tells you about the DVD?

Anime Dad wrote:Ralph,
Not sure about that. You could try just opening the file with one of the ripping programs like DVD Shrink and seeing what it tells you about the DVD?

Or try MediaInfo ;)

Nice find, Saito san.

ralphm1999 wrote:Is there a utility that will tell me what format it's in?

I use AVICodec: http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=AVIcodec

It'll give you all the info on the video stream. :victory:

Saito_Hajime wrote:

Or try MediaInfo ;)

Got it. Now I'm more ocnfused. Media Info says all files are PAL EXCEPT the VOB file is NTSC.

bmwracer wrote:
I use AVICodec: http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=AVIcodec

It'll give you all the info on the video stream. :victory:

used it just now. 29.97 fps and 720 x 480 which of course is NTSC. so much for vobblanker.

ralphm1999 wrote:used it just now. 29.97 fps and 720 x 480 which of course is NTSC. so much for vobblanker.

Back to Le Drawing Board. :sweat:

Not to belabor a point, but have you checked the videohelp.com forums? There are a number of NTSC>PAL and PAL>NTSC threads on this difficult conversion task...

I think one of the conversion methods there involves shaving one's head and converting to Buddhism while chanting "PAL is good, PAL is great." :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:

I think one of the conversion methods there involves shaving one's head and converting to Buddhism while chanting "PAL is good, PAL is great." :beaten:

Well, according to most things i've read, that would be correct (that PAL is better than NTSC).

You would think there would be an easier way to do it though.

bmwracer wrote:
Back to Le Drawing Board. :sweat:

Not to belabor a point, but have you checked the videohelp.com forums? There are a number of NTSC>PAL and PAL>NTSC threads on this difficult conversion task...

I think one of the conversion methods there involves shaving one's head and converting to Buddhism while chanting "PAL is good, PAL is great." :beaten:

As a matter of fact I made a "ntsc to pal" search on that site and came up with filmmachine which I d/l but have not installed yet.

Anime Dad wrote:You would think there would be an easier way to do it though.

You'd think.

But no one's come up with it yet.

Probably one of the BIG difficulties is that the frame rates are not a nice multiple, so changing the frame rates is one of the big nasty hurdles... Maybe THE biggest. :sweat:

ralphm1999 wrote:

Got it. Now I'm more ocnfused. Media Info says all files are PAL EXCEPT the VOB file is NTSC.

I guess the method (or the programs for conversion) that you used wasn't perfect for this kind of conversion. :sweat: I haven't tried doing that kind of conversion, as bmwracer have suggested, it would be better if you look for some articles in videohelp or post your queries in their forum regarding this stuff.

Saito_Hajime wrote:

I guess the method (or the programs for conversion) that you used wasn't perfect for this kind of conversion. :sweat: I haven't tried doing that kind of conversion, as bmwracer have suggested, it would be better if you look for some articles in videohelp or post your queries in their forum regarding this stuff.

From everything I've read, I've reached the conclusion there is no perfect software to convert NTSC to PAL. The frame rate difference is insurpassable. The only way is via the hardware route.... converting the NTSC digital to an analog output and reconverting the analog stream to PAL. In other words I would need to buy a PAL recorder and feed the analog signal to it from my DVD player.
:banghead:

ralphm1999 wrote:

From everything I've read, I've reached the conclusion there is no perfect software to convert NTSC to PAL. The frame rate difference is insurpassable. The only way is via the hardware route.... converting the NTSC digital to an analog output and reconverting the analog stream to PAL. In other words I would need to buy a PAL recorder and feed the analog signal to it from my DVD player.
:banghead:

Damn, you need to buy a PAL recorder just for that? I don't know, it doesn't seem practical if you would buy that recorder and use it only once (for this conversion only) :sweat:

Saito_Hajime wrote:

Damn, you need to buy a PAL recorder just for that? I don't know, it doesn't seem practical if you would buy that recorder and use it only once (for this conversion only) :sweat:

You're right. I've decided to put this effort on the far backburner possibly forever. :beaten: :beaten:

I finished subbing Kekkon using Ulead. :dancing: I am satisfied with the result for my first attempt. I'm still having trouble leaving in just enough frames during the tempgnc author commercial excising phase to allow Ulead to cut off 3 or 4 frames from each title episode that the programmers were unable to program correctly. I wish Tmpgenc had a fade out capabiltiy which would resolve my problem. Then I could create a nice 6 or 7 frame fadeout and never worry about Ulead's inability to leave in all the frames.
I could do it with several passes through tempgenc adding some blank frames but then the additional passes might degrade the quality. :grumble:

Ralph, i'm almost sure that DVDLabPro2 will convert NTSC vobs to PAL when compiling a DVD project... I'll have to try it..... I think you can also import menus too, so that may be a way to do what you want.(??)

ralphm1999 wrote:

You're right. I've decided to put this effort on the far backburner possibly forever. :beaten: :beaten:

I hope your friend will not blame me for making you decide to abandon this project :sweat: :beaten:

You could try Anime Dad's suggestion as a last resort for this conversion.