importing PAL video with NTSC system

[Lily Keber]

I'm just back from a working trip overseas, and I need to digitize footage a co-worker shot on her European-model Panasonic. I usually digitize on my consumer-grade NTSC Panasonic video camera, but also have a DVX I could use. The only discussion forums I can find online address converting PAL to NTSC once you have it into your computer, but I'm not sure how to actually get it to that point.

Is there any way to use an NTSC camera to digitize PAL? What are my options?

Thanks!

[Ben Balser, ACT]

Connect the PAL camera, launch FCP, use Easy Setup to select DV-PAL, capture your footage as normal. The only point is that in FCP, you simply use the DV-PAL capture preset, that's all.

Then, use Compressor to convert it to DV-NTSC. Compressor does a great job with this.

[Lily Keber]

Ben-

Thank you so much! I hadn't even thought of using Compressor to convert. Good to know.

However, what I meant in my post (I don't think I worded it quite correctly) is that I don't have a PAL camera, only an NTSC consumer-grade camera and an NTSC DVX100A. Short of having a PAL camera, is there any way to get this footage into the computer?

Thanks again.

[Ben Balser, ACT]

"Short of having a PAL camera, is there any way to get this footage into the computer?"

Short answer, "No".

Long answer, you can look up the company in N.O. that rents equipment, I forget their name. I'll check it and post it here. Unless someone has a deck or camera they can lend you.

[Ben Balser, ACT]

www.verrents.com

[Lily Keber]

Thanks! It's not the answer I was hoping for, but it is what it is..

However, it's good to know that FCP can handle PAL so easily. At least I've got that going for me..