Apple DVD Studio Pro 4 - Manual (Page 55)

Many DVD players in PAL countries can also play NTSC DVD-Video titles. It’s important
to understand that these players often do not convert NTSC video to PAL—they simply
output the NTSC sources. You must connect an NTSC or dual-standard video monitor to
view the output. Additionally, be aware that all DVD players have a region code that
prevents them from playing DVD-Video titles not intended for the player’s region.
Using 24 fps Video
Often the video content for a DVD project originates from film shot at 24 frames per
second (for NTSC this is actually 23.976 fps, which is more commonly referred to as
23.98 fps). The DVD specification allows you to include 24 fps MPEG-2 assets as long as
they are properly flagged so the DVD player can decode them by either using a 3:2
pulldown (for NTSC DVD players) or playing them 4% faster (for PAL DVD players). The
video resolution also must match those allowed for the intended video standard. See
Choosing a Video Resolution for details on supported video resolutions.
This means that there are NTSC and PAL versions of 24 fps MPEG-2 assets, and you can
only use NTSC 24 fps assets in NTSC projects and PAL 24 fps assets in PAL projects.
Encoding video that originates with a 24 fps rate as a 24 fps MPEG asset has two primary
advantages:
• Less time is spent on the encoding process.
• Smaller files are produced.
These advantages are due to fewer frames being encoded, especially when compared
to NTSC frame rates.
Important: MPEG-2 assets that include 23.98 frames to play at 29.97 fps show as 29.97 fps
assets in QuickTime, Compressor, and DVD Studio Pro.
Importing 24 fps Assets
How DVD Studio Pro handles your 24 fps assets depends on whether or not they are
already MPEG-2 encoded:
• If you import 24 fps MPEG-2 assets: They are handled correctly and remain 24 fps when
you build the project.
Note: 24 fps assets show as their display rate setting when viewed in the Track Editor.
This makes them appear as if they were at the NTSC or PAL frame rate. You can confirm
they are actually 24 fps by selecting them in the Assets tab and verifying the frame rate
in the Asset Inspector.
• If you import 24 fps QuickTime assets: They are encoded as either 29.97 fps or 25 fps
MPEG-2 files, based on your project’s video standard, and are no longer 24 fps when
you build the project.
55 Chapter 4 Preparing Video Assets