7.5

22 Film-to-Tape Transfer Methods
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Transfer of 24-fps Film to PAL Video
If you use a PAL transfer, the film-to-video process takes place in two stages:
• Stage 1: Transfer the film to videotape by speeding up the film rate during the telecine
process.
• Stage 2: Capture the transferred videotape into the Avid system at the sped-up rate.
The following illustration shows a simplified view of the PAL film-to-video transfer process.
There are two approaches to synchronizing sound, which are often referred to as PAL
Method 1 and PAL Method 2.
PAL Method 1
With PAL Method 1, you synchronize sound with picture during the telecine process.
Stage 1: Transferring Sound and Picture to Videotape
As with an NTSC film-to-tape transfer, the telecine process creates two video fields for each
film frame. However, because the film rate of 24 fps is close to the PAL video rate of 25 fps,
most PAL film-to-tape transfers involve simply speeding up the frame rate. This speedup
changes the frame rate from 24 to 25 (an increase of 4.1 percent). There is no pulldown that
creates extra fields.
n
Some PAL film-to-tape transfers use pulldown. This method is not currently supported in
Avid editing applications.
With PAL Method 1, there are two ways to sync sound with picture in the telecine process:
• Transfer the original sound recording to mag track, sync the mag track to the film work
print, and transfer both to videotape through a telecine process.
• Sync the original sound recordings to picture during the telecine process, and transfer
both to videotape.
In either case, the telecine process speeds up sound at the same rate as picture: 4.1 percent.
Telecine
Avid editing system at 24 fps
Betacam or
Digital Betacam
Beta-
cam
Capture
video signal 25 fps
Film shot at 24 fps
transfer with
4.1% speedup
Stage 1 Stage 2