PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though?

Finalheaven · 05-01-2009, 01:54 PM

Hey all. I've been on a quest to get Thirty Short Films about Glenn Gould onto DVD. First, it's out of print. Second, the remaining DVD's on the market start at $200 dollars. I was lucky enough to find someone in the UK who had recorded it and he did me the favor of sending it my way.

Now I have the film, on DVD.... in PAL. I've already used VLC to convert the major VOB files into MPG's. I then used VirtualDubMod to get them into an uncompressed AVI format (thank god my HDD is larger than 200 GB lol) with all the appropriate format changes (25fps to 24fps, audio slowed to compensate, 720x480, deinterlaced, etc).

So, I've got these three, while immensely huge AVI files, they are perfect. IT's the entirety of the movie in three AVI's. What's the best way for me to go about burning these to a DVD. I'm also capable of single layered and Dual layered burning, but considering that the original information came from a DVD5 disc, at 3.45 GB, I don't think I'd need to burn a DL disc.

Thanks a bunch ABXers.

**ctal** · 05-01-2009, 04:14 PM

I'm not particularly familiar with the free or inexpensive programs that may be relevant, because I use professional programs which are somewhat expensive (Sony Vegas Video, DVD Lab Pro, CCE Basic, etc.), but I suggest taking a look at using HC Encoder in conjunction with AviSynth:

HC Encoder | BitBurners.com

HC Encoder

http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page

You would have to write a simple script in AviSynth to enable it to act as a frameserver, which would input your avi files into HC Encoder, which would in turn convert them to NTSC mpeg2 files. As you no doubt realize, you would then have to use a DVD authoring program to "author" the DVD around the mpeg2 files, and a burning program such as Nero to do the actual burning.

Hope that helps,
-- Al

Finalheaven · 05-01-2009, 06:45 PM

It actually does ctal. I've run into a problem though. Apparently, the uncompressed AVI files that I'm working with are useless. When I had saved the stream from my PAL DVD using VLC Player, the audio was put out of sync. It looks like I'm going to have to start from scratch. I'm determined to get this to work.

I might as well look for one of the few people who own 32 Short Films about Glenn Gould on DVD and just get a copy from them.

**ctal** · 05-01-2009, 07:00 PM

Is the audio out of sync by a fixed amount, or does the lack of sync increase as the file is played? If it is off by a fixed amount, a good authoring program would allow you to demultiplex the mpeg2 files into separate video and audio streams (perhaps HC Encode can output separate streams itself), and then you could use a free audio editor such as Audacity to introduce a delay into the audio, or a video editor to introduce a delay into the video (whichever is required).

-- Al

Finalheaven · 05-01-2009, 07:23 PM

The audio on the PAL DVD is perfect. On the AVI files and NTSC DVD's, it looks like it may get worse? Problem is, the converting was done on three separate VOB files, so it's possible that each one starts out ok and then gets progressively worse, which means on the DVD, each of the three sections resets the outsyncing.

It's definitely off by quite a bit at the end of each section. I've resolved to start over and do this the right way, I'll just have to discover how to get the audio to sync with the video when I do the converting with VLC.

FYI, I've been using Convert PAL DVD for PC Playback as a guide the whole time.

Thanks for the help ctal.

**ctal** · 05-01-2009, 08:16 PM

Take some time and read through this lengthy thread, from the Sony Vegas forum. You'll find unfortunately that what you are trying to do is definitely non-trivial, even to the pros and semi-pros who frequent that forum, and the various approaches which are mentioned can be either expensive or quality-degrading or both:

Sony Creative Software - Forums - Vegas Pro - Video Messages

Regards,
-- Al

Finalheaven · 05-02-2009, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the link. I've read through that thread and it seems their needs are far greater than mine. It is clear though that this is no easy task.

That being said, the simplest route tends to be the correct one. VLC "should" be capable of converting the PAL DVD to a PAL MPG. Then VirtualDubMod (or TMPGEnc) "should" be able to re-encode the PAL MPG as an NTSC AVI. And then DVD Flick (or TMPGEnc again) should be able to author the DVD. That's how I understand it.

I guess the thread is mislabeled now, as I'm starting back to square one with VLC. As far as VLC goes, any suggestions on converting the DVD while ensuring the audio stays synced? Thanks for all the help though, Al

05-01-2009, 01:54 PM	#1
Finalheaven Donnie Darko lives Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,890	PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? Hey all. I've been on a quest to get Thirty Short Films about Glenn Gould onto DVD. First, it's out of print. Second, the remaining DVD's on the market start at $200 dollars. I was lucky enough to find someone in the UK who had recorded it and he did me the favor of sending it my way. Now I have the film, on DVD.... in PAL. I've already used VLC to convert the major VOB files into MPG's. I then used VirtualDubMod to get them into an uncompressed AVI format (thank god my HDD is larger than 200 GB lol) with all the appropriate format changes (25fps to 24fps, audio slowed to compensate, 720x480, deinterlaced, etc). So, I've got these three, while immensely huge AVI files, they are perfect. IT's the entirety of the movie in three AVI's. What's the best way for me to go about burning these to a DVD. I'm also capable of single layered and Dual layered burning, but considering that the original information came from a DVD5 disc, at 3.45 GB, I don't think I'd need to burn a DL disc. Thanks a bunch ABXers.
(Offline)

05-01-2009, 04:14 PM	#2
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,903	Re: PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? I'm not particularly familiar with the free or inexpensive programs that may be relevant, because I use professional programs which are somewhat expensive (Sony Vegas Video, DVD Lab Pro, CCE Basic, etc.), but I suggest taking a look at using HC Encoder in conjunction with AviSynth: HC Encoder \| BitBurners.com HC Encoder http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page You would have to write a simple script in AviSynth to enable it to act as a frameserver, which would input your avi files into HC Encoder, which would in turn convert them to NTSC mpeg2 files. As you no doubt realize, you would then have to use a DVD authoring program to "author" the DVD around the mpeg2 files, and a burning program such as Nero to do the actual burning. Hope that helps, -- Al __________________ "I didn't say I didn't say it. I said that I didn't say that I said it. I want to make that very clear." -- George Romney, in 1968, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. Last edited by ctal; 05-01-2009 at 05:25 PM..
(Offline)

05-01-2009, 06:45 PM	#3
Finalheaven Donnie Darko lives Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,890	Re: PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? It actually does ctal. I've run into a problem though. Apparently, the uncompressed AVI files that I'm working with are useless. When I had saved the stream from my PAL DVD using VLC Player, the audio was put out of sync. It looks like I'm going to have to start from scratch. I'm determined to get this to work. I might as well look for one of the few people who own 32 Short Films about Glenn Gould on DVD and just get a copy from them.
(Offline)

05-01-2009, 07:00 PM	#4
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,903	Re: PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? Is the audio out of sync by a fixed amount, or does the lack of sync increase as the file is played? If it is off by a fixed amount, a good authoring program would allow you to demultiplex the mpeg2 files into separate video and audio streams (perhaps HC Encode can output separate streams itself), and then you could use a free audio editor such as Audacity to introduce a delay into the audio, or a video editor to introduce a delay into the video (whichever is required). -- Al __________________ "I didn't say I didn't say it. I said that I didn't say that I said it. I want to make that very clear." -- George Romney, in 1968, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
(Offline)

05-01-2009, 07:23 PM	#5
Finalheaven Donnie Darko lives Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,890	Re: PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? The audio on the PAL DVD is perfect. On the AVI files and NTSC DVD's, it looks like it may get worse? Problem is, the converting was done on three separate VOB files, so it's possible that each one starts out ok and then gets progressively worse, which means on the DVD, each of the three sections resets the outsyncing. It's definitely off by quite a bit at the end of each section. I've resolved to start over and do this the right way, I'll just have to discover how to get the audio to sync with the video when I do the converting with VLC. FYI, I've been using Convert PAL DVD for PC Playback as a guide the whole time. Thanks for the help ctal.
(Offline)

05-01-2009, 08:16 PM	#6
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,903	Re: PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? Take some time and read through this lengthy thread, from the Sony Vegas forum. You'll find unfortunately that what you are trying to do is definitely non-trivial, even to the pros and semi-pros who frequent that forum, and the various approaches which are mentioned can be either expensive or quality-degrading or both: Sony Creative Software - Forums - Vegas Pro - Video Messages Regards, -- Al __________________ "I didn't say I didn't say it. I said that I didn't say that I said it. I want to make that very clear." -- George Romney, in 1968, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
(Offline)

05-02-2009, 05:21 PM	#7
Finalheaven Donnie Darko lives Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,890	Re: PALtoNTSC: Time to author DVD, with what though? Thanks for the link. I've read through that thread and it seems their needs are far greater than mine. It is clear though that this is no easy task. That being said, the simplest route tends to be the correct one. VLC "should" be capable of converting the PAL DVD to a PAL MPG. Then VirtualDubMod (or TMPGEnc) "should" be able to re-encode the PAL MPG as an NTSC AVI. And then DVD Flick (or TMPGEnc again) should be able to author the DVD. That's how I understand it. I guess the thread is mislabeled now, as I'm starting back to square one with VLC. As far as VLC goes, any suggestions on converting the DVD while ensuring the audio stays synced? Thanks for all the help though, Al
(Offline)

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