Importing a PAL tape via NTSC camcorder

Chris Tann

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Jan 13, 2003, 4:57:55 PM1/13/03

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Hi all,

I have some PAL mini-DV tapes that I want to transfer to Adobe Premiere via firewire, using my NTSC Sony TVR25. The tapes
were recorded on a PAL Sony TRV6E, in LP mode.

When I play the tapes, the LCD-image looks fine. I can also
transfer the tape to my computer using USB streaming (but with
poor quality of course).

When I access the camera via Firewire using Premiere, the video is scrambled on the PC. I can
vaguely make out the image, but it is pixelated and
ghosted. Sound is OK. I tried playing around with all the options, but to ne effect. Video out (to a multi-standard projector) does not work either.

The DV link works fine using some old tapes I recorded on a Canon
Camcorder (NTSC SP mode), and I also have the same problem with
some other PAL tapes I have.

So, the question - is there a plugin or converter that will allow
me to read these PAL tapes via an NTSC Camcorder? I know there
are plenty of PAL <=> NTSC conversions, but they rely on having
a correct video file to start with...

Thanks,
Chris.

Dave

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Jan 13, 2003, 6:57:20 PM1/13/03

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"Chris Tann" <chris...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:1de75...@WebX.la2eafNXanI...

No!

Fred Mann

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Jan 14, 2003, 9:27:17 AM1/14/03

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The pixel format and the frames/second are different. So no joy!
Fred

RGBaker

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Jan 14, 2003, 10:01:05 AM1/14/03

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Though I haven't done what you want -- I believe it is possible. Though the frame rate & pixel array differ between NTSC & PAL, that shouldn't be a problem in a bit-for-bit transfer via Firewire ...

The most likely problem is that your system is wrapping the incoming PAL material with a header that tells the player it is NTSC data -- my Canopus system can switch between PAL & NTSC but requires a reboot to 'anchor' the change. Start by examining the properties dialogue of one of your PAL clips after transfer, and see if the system describes it (incorrectly) as an NTSC file. Then search for a way to change the system.

GB

Rexford Smith

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Feb 9, 2003, 2:05:21 PM2/9/03

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Chris,
Did you ever find out how to import a PAL Mini-DV in an NTSC Camcorder into Premiere?

Chris Tann

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Feb 9, 2003, 5:23:45 PM2/9/03

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Hi,

No, I didn't. I did a lot of fiddling around, and the next step was going to be going in and manually hacking the file header - but I gave up at that point!

Chris.

SLG !

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Feb 9, 2003, 5:59:16 PM2/9/03

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There is no theory or solution that should work. PAL is PAL and NTSC is NTSC and they just don't work the same way.

Borrow a PAL camcorder and capture the PAL AVI into Premiere, take it into After Effects, or buy Procoder, and convert to NTSC. Then export to a NTSC camcorder.

Steven

Johan Bergquist

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Feb 9, 2003, 9:39:57 PM2/9/03

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I have tried to do the opposite - recording an NTSC DV signal on a PAL camcorder (Sony DCR-TRV10). It is recorded without problem and I can watch the material on both the LCD screen, analog PAL output, and capture the PAL DV output in iMovie (Mac). However, Premiere (at least 5.1c) does not recognize the signal. Has anybody tried this with version 6.x?

Johan

Chris Tann

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Feb 10, 2003, 11:45:23 AM2/10/03

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Hi,

There is no theory or solution that should work. PAL is PAL and NTSC is
NTSC and they just don't work the same way.

Well, I would have just resigned myself to that, except that when I was experimenting, the PAL tape played back fine on the camera LCD, and using USB capture also worked fine. I am sure some hacker out there would be able to achieve what I wanted to do - but thats not me unfortunately...

Chris.