An HD question.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 05 Jan 2007, 03:37

Is there still PAL and NTSC for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray? Is one going to run faster than the other like DVD? I'm not bothered about difference of resolution lines between the two, but the speed difference does bother me.

Thanks.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 05 Jan 2007, 03:41

Good question. I suppose if there was one global format, who is going to decide which framerate will be used? People will be used to different speeds, especially when it comes to sound. I'm sure if I watched say "LotR" in NTSC, the music would seem a little slower than I'm used to it.

I guess the companies know that and in order not to get any complaints, I'm sure they're gonna stick with all the NTSC and PAL thing.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 05 Jan 2007, 05:56

With blu-ray/HD-DVD there is no difference. NTSC & PAL are SD formats.

Broadcast is a different matter. Some HD broadcasts are still 25fps, SkyHD for one. Apparently this is just easier for them.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Jan 2007, 15:01

Yep. NTSC and PAL are technically dead.
All HD-DVDs and Blu-Rays will be 1920x1080@24 or 25 frames per second.

I think it is inaccurate to call 1920x1080@25 "PAL".

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 05 Jan 2007, 16:10

Thanks guys, that is great news then. I don't mind if HD broadcasts differ, just as long as the films run at the correct speed.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Jan 2007, 16:25

Well... they won't.

If a studio uses a PAL master print to make its HD-DVD (it's likely to happen, especially in Europe) then PAL speed-up will already be there.
The only way to avoid PAL speed-up is to forbid the use of 1920x1080@25 (which won't happen).

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 05 Jan 2007, 16:44

The only 25fps material we'll see on the HD formats is stuff shot AT 25fps. And that's bascially material shot for TV.
Anything sped-up is extremely unlikely as there's just no reason for it. You don't have sped-up masters.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 05 Jan 2007, 17:32

Lourdes wrote:The only 25fps material we'll see on the HD formats is stuff shot AT 25fps. And that's bascially material shot for TV.
Anything sped-up is extremely unlikely as there's just no reason for it. You don't have sped-up masters.

Exactly.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Jan 2007, 18:34

Even Broadcast HD isn't PAL/NTSC it's just not the same HD as Discs use.

Remember NTSC/PAL just means resolution, frame rate, fresh rate etc...

tom2681 wrote:I think it is inaccurate to call 1920x1080@25 "PAL".

I've found people really mean UK/Europe etc... when they say PAL and America when they say NTSC but agreed it just makes things confusing.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Jan 2007, 19:21

Lourdes wrote:Anything sped-up is extremely unlikely as there's just no reason for it. You don't have sped-up masters.

Wait a second...

Are you implying that PAL masters aren't sped up ?
A 35mm PAL copy of an NTSC film is already sped up, isn't it ?

I remember that The Fellowship of the Ring was only 170 minutes (instead of 178) when I watched it at the theater.

Or am I talking rubbish ? (which is always a possibility)

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 06 Jan 2007, 12:40

They only make PAL masters to transfer to DVD and TV in the UK (and other countries), surely :S

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 06 Jan 2007, 13:30

tom2681 wrote:Or am I talking rubbish ? (which is always a possibility)

Yes, you've very confused. What you see at the cinema is the same worldwide.

Speedup is only for stuff not shot at 25fps to be broadcast/put on home video. Of course you can technically have a PAL master for non-25fps content but it will have come from another master in the first place.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 07 Jan 2007, 02:59

Lourdes wrote:Yes, you've very confused. What you see at the cinema is the same worldwide.

Yup, us lucky bastards here in the UK get the used film prints which have already been shown in America loads of times, so we get to see the films in decreased quality.