In need of fps, PAL vs NTSC help in FCPX

Hello all,

I've spent two days trying to find this answer on the web without luck. Desperately hoping someone can help me out.

I'm from Australia where we of course use PAL @ 25fps. I've just put together a film clip for a band.

Before we get to the meat of my question I have a PRE question!

Instead of shooting at 25fps I accidentally set my 5dm3 to 23.98p. I don't know whether I shot in NTSC or PAL mode (I went on another shoot following this band shoot and can't remember when I made the change).

PRE question: Where in FCPX can I tell if the footage is PAL or NTSC? I can see the frame rate and resolution in the inspector window... but can't find where to look when determining this format.

Now to my main question...

A national TV station here takes DATA DVDs with only the following requirments:
QuickTime (Apple Pro Res HQ or Apple Pro Res LT)
PAL (25 frames/sec)
Stereo
Highest resolution possible

In order to get this 23.98fps (possibly NTSC?) clip to them, what do I need to do?

I've read articles online about using Mpeg Streamclip to convert the exported file but I open that and have no idea what settings to punch in. I simply can't find those PAL specs.

Other solution threads refer specifically to burning playable DVDs which isn't the goal here as they are after a data disc.

Another related question I have - another broadcaster here requires the clip with only '16:9, 720p' specified. Will they too need a 25fps clip, or might they be able to broadcast this clip as is?

Thanks for reading hope you can help!

G'day.

Create a new Project make sure it's set to 25fps and edit the footage into it. FCP X should do the rest.
Being only a little over a frame out and the fact that it's a band clip you should be fine.
(I've mixed multiple frame rates in a project before without issues)

If you really want to work with 25fps footage then you're going to have to convert it in a program like Compressor. Shot by shot.

I would deliver in ProRes 422 HQ if it was me mate.

"Where in FCPX can I tell if the footage is PAL or NTSC?"

PAL and NTSC are standard definition specifications, which, when applied to HD simply mean the frame rate, 25 and 29.97 respectively. 23.98 is the video approximation of the 24fps film frame rate; it's used in both PAL and NTSC countries, though some cameras can shoot true 24fps.

As Seanus said you can do this in Compressor. There is a batch function in Streamclip as well. Just set the codec and frame size you want and the frame rate to 25fps.

Funny they want HQ or LT but apparently not standard ProRes 422, which is between the two.

The second broadcaster you mention will almost certainly want 25fps. As others have posted, set your timeline to 25fps explicitly, before you start the edit, and then FCP X will make everything match up. If you want to avoid duplicated frames, you could use "Automatic speed" from the retiming menu, which will play your 23.98fps footage at 25fps, but of course that's going to send things out of sync by a frame a second. Might help for a few shots though.

To get the file onto a DVD, export a Master File in the right codec, then insert a blank DVD and just drag the movie file onto it.

Thanks very much for the detailed responses guys,

I'm starting to get my head around it.

Here's the painful thing... I've completed the clip. All edits done and dusted. I do understand that if I create a new project specifying a certain fps, dragging in other fps clips will be handled by fcpx... but I've realised the frame rates are different all too late... upon completion.

I've tried dropping the final edit (exported master file) into a 25fps project and the whole audio track gets pitch shifted. I understand that.

I've tried creating a 25fps project and copy pasting my project edits into the timeline... everything, all my edits go wayyyyy out of whack with the track.

Am I correct in my understanding that there's no simple one step step conversion process like this? Or is there a chance I can use my master file and MPEG Streamclip?

I'm prepared to give up on it... there were a huge amount of layers involved (green screening six people) fx etc... but before I do give up... I guess what I really need to learn is, how could my workflow have been better?

When an artist is making a music clip for international broadcast (both PAL and NTSC)... what's the correct workflow?

Shoot 30fps... edit at 30fps.... then convert that clip to 25fps upon completion? How and when?

Thanks for your help - you're making me flex brain muscles I've never used before and I really do appreciate it.

"I've tried dropping the final edit (exported master file) into a 25fps project and the whole audio track gets pitch shifted. I understand that.

I've tried creating a 25fps project and copy pasting my project edits into the timeline... everything, all my edits go wayyyyy out of whack with the track."


OK, I've done this in the past, and just tested it again, and I'm not getting any shift if audio pitch, nor any edits thrown "out of wack". Simply creating a new Project with custom settings, copy and paste, should be fine.

You can export a Master file and use Compressor, I do that a lot and it works great.

Agree with Ben. I've done this before too without any problems.

As to workflow. Really just make sure your project settings are correct BEFORE you start cutting.
Remind crew as to what specs you need from them. frame rate size etc.

As to converting, it's much easier to go from 30fps to 25fps than it is to go the other way for obvious reasons.

Just a quick note to say that I've seen copy/pasting between different frame rates cause sync/edit shifting issues. I'm sure there's a way to avoid it, but it's possible for it to go bad too. Probably the best fix, given the edit is done, is to try to convert the frame rate of the final finished movie with Compressor, as Ben suggests.