[alex720l]

Can anyone tell me what software will accomplish this. I have Pal mini dvs I need to convert to NTSC

[Uncle Skeleton]

it's going to be very difficult, because the two have different vertical resolutions and they're usually interlaced, you're going to have to deinterlace and then resize. Also they're different framerates which is a very hard thing to adjust (and have it look acceptable). You're usually better off finding a solution where you don't have to convert, like find a VCR or DVD player that plays both formats

[dlefebvre]

I do a lot of short films on mini DV in an group called Kino. There are 33 cells around the world, including one in Madison, Wisconssin. And we do many festivals where filmakers from evrey cell get togheter and do films in 48 hours. So we shoot with our NTSC equipment in Europe and the Europeans shoot with their PAL equipment when they come here. So we have to do convertions on the spot, it's not that complicated and we do this on a regular basis.

The main thing is to get the PAL footage in your computer. Usually, most DV decks can read both NTSC and PAL, even some cameras. For this you will have to try. Just import or edit your film in PAL format with FInalCut Pro (Be sure to create a PAL Project) and create the NTSC version within FinalCut. There is two ways. You can simply export a Quicktime in NTSC format. Or create a NTSC project and simply drag your PAL sequence in a new NTSC Sequence and render. It does work pretty well. You wont get as good a result as if you get the tape converted with a good $25 000 converter, but it's a lot less expensive. It also means that once your tapes are digitized you can also simply convert them using only QuicktimePro or a software like Cleaner.

[alex720l]

I tried converting PAL to NTSC with Quicktime Pro and I keep ending up with a PAL DVD.
After submitting my post I ran across a program called DCFilm Atlantis at http://www.dvfilm.com/atlantis/index.htm
This seems like a reasonably priced solution. Has anyone tried this program to convert PAL DV to NTSC DVD??

[dlefebvre]

The other day, I digitized a dozen short films from PAL DV tapes. I simply dragged the PAL Quicktime movies to iDVD 3 and burned it. I can play this DVD on my 4 years old home DVD player with no problems. I can't tell if it's a NTSC DVD, but it plays on my NTSC player hooked to my NTSC TV.

[alex720l]

Thanks, I'll try that.
Being that your in Canada, your DVD player may play both PAL and NTSC discs as european players do. But thanks for the suggestion.

[dlefebvre]

My Sony DVD Player has a North-American model number, part number and serial number. Since the European players are Zone 2 and plug-in a weird 220 volts outlet, they are a different beast.