Standards Conversion Web Page

[Xesdeeni]

I'm putting together a web page to provide step-by-step methods of converting video from one standard to another (PAL->NTSC, NTSC->PAL) and from one media to another (DVD->VCD, etc.).

My goals are to provide a relatively simple approach to each conversion (aimed at newbies), but to provide decent quality output without using too many tools. You should be able to tell what I'm after by looking at what is already there.

Currently the page is little more than pre-alpha. So, I would like to open a discussion here about the conversions I have already added, and the other conversions as well. I reserve the right to determine what actually makes it to the page ;), but I'm looking for feedback on quality and ease of use, as well as suggestions on improving either of these.

http://www.geocities.com/xesdeeni2001/StandardsConversion/index.html

Xesdeeni

[wotef]

I look forward to when you have completed all the guides for the conversions to PAL :p

Also, in addition to mpeg guides, would you aim to have guides where the destination format is avi?

[Xesdeeni]

I look forward to when you have completed all the guides for the conversions to PAL :pI could certainly use some help with the conversions to PAL. I don't have access to any actual PAL equipment, so without some input my conversions will be best guesses.

For example, for interlaced to interlaced conversions (50 fps to 59.94 fps), I will be using the AVISynth script I developed for the purpose (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=35387). The video is converted from interlaced to 50 Fps progressive, and then to 59.94 Fps (still progressive) before being converted back to interlaced. I find that I prefer the look of replicated frames (effectively fields) to temporal interpolation, which exhibits "jutter."

However, when converting the other way (59.94 fps to 50 fps), doing so would actually drop frames (fields) completely. I have a strong suspicion that this would be much more noticable than the replication of frames (fields) from PAL to NTSC.

I need some input from PAL-land to let me know whether this is true.Also, in addition to mpeg guides, would you aim to have guides where the destination format is avi?Maybe you can help me understand why you would want this. As I see it, you would want AVIs for only two reasons:

1. For transferring and viewing on a PC. I.e. Divx etc. And in this case, since the PC display doesn't match either PAL or NTSC, and either stream will view on a PC, I don't know why you'd want to make the conversion.

2. To a DV AVI so that you can transfer the results to a DV camcorder and then to an analog medium (probably VHS). That requires a standards conversion, so I've included it in the page.

What am I missing?

Xesdeeni

[wotef]

my tv's pal, and i'd be happy to help you with quality testing :P

one issue i notice (though don't really understand the reason for) is that when i watch any 24fps avis (or svcds), everything's fine on my monitor, but when i use tv out, panning is jerky and motion in general is yuk

conversion to avi guides are useful cause of tv out; i rarely use svcd

[Xesdeeni]

Thanks for the offer of help. I guess you'd want to start with NTSC film to PAL VCD?

I'd need to know the technical details of your TV out setup to figure out what you are seeing. But my first guess would be that there is more frame rate conversion going on in your setup than you might expect. If your monitor refresh is set to 72Hz, then you can just show each frame of a 24fps film 3 times and everything is great. But going from 24 fps to 50 Hz, especially if the display goes through 72Hz (or whatever your PC refresh is set to) first, it will look much worse.

Xesdeeni