I have been experimenting with converting PAL DVDs to NTSC DVDs. Originally I used TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress and the results were technically acceptable. The downside was that the output is a set of MPEG files. Although these may be burned to a DVD, I found that didn't always work when played in a freestanding DVD player. (It always worked when played in the PC).
Apparently the intention is to use this software in conjunction with TMPGEncAuthoring Works 4. Total cost = $100 + $100 = $200.
Recently I have tried ConvertXtoDVD v4. The results are at least as good as TMPGEnc. The output files are the standard DVD-type (IFO, BUP, VOB). Additionally they provide a menu with a choice of styles, and there is provision for the automatic or manual creation of chapters. (Sadly, the original chapters are lost in the convertion which is common to all such software). Cost = $50.
Standards conversion appears to be difficult to do well. The big problem seems to be the jittery effect caused by the insertion/removal of frames or fields. But the judgement is subjective and depends upon the nature of the recorded material. I find the best test is to observe the rolling captions at the end of films.
You can use various freeware to convert PALDVD to NTSC and get the correct chapter points (chapter point frame number 29.97/25 = 1.1988)
An added bonus is that the audio is untouched thus no pitch change.
No menu though.
Like anything else, it's easier the second time around - and it costs $0.
PgcDemux - demux the subs and chapter times (a text file list of frame numbers) from the PAL source.
Exel or a calculator - multiply the chapter times by 1.1988 and save as a new text file.
DgIndex - demux the PAL video and audio streams
Notepad - create an AviSynth script.
HcGUI - load the .avs script and convert the video to a hybrid video (NTSCresolution at 25FPS)
DgPulldown - pulldown the hybrid video from 25 > 29.97
VirtualDub - optionally test the new video by seeking to the new chapter points to test for scene change.
MuxMan or ReJig - load the video, audio, chapters and subs to create new movie.
DvdSubEdit - load new DVD and adjust sub height if required.
AviSynth must be installed.
File is created in Notepad and saved as .avs file:e.g. myscript.avs
# -= AviSynth v2.5.8.5 script =-
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\DGDecode.dll")
Mpeg2Source("C:\Documents and Settings\Superuser\Desktop\_dgindex\name_of_file.d2v")
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConvertToYv12()
#Hybrid 25fps @ 720x480
Thanks attar, I am always impressed by the extent of your experience.
I understand that DgPulldown requires a *de-interlaced* input. It appears that ConvertXtoDVD de-interlaces the source video, and this might suggest that it uses the same principle of convertion as DGPulldown. So much the better.
I am not certain whereabouts, in your list of stages, such de-interlacing is applied (prior to DgPulldown) ?
Here in the UK we often see live television from the US, usually news feeds. This video is standards converted in realtime and the picture quality is perfect. There are no discernible flaws.
No doubt they use frame stores, perhaps many of them. I ask myself why a hardware-based solution cannot be emulated by pure software ?
The advantage of software is that it runs in unrealtime, by which I mean that it can take as long as necessary to do the job. Perhaps the limiting factor would be the amount of RAM required and 4 GB would be inadequate ? (On the other hand perhaps HD memory might be used, slow but surely large enough ? No, such memory needs to be byte-addressable, and HD memory can be addressed only by filename).
