====== Converting PAL to NTSC ======

I have a number of DVDs on PAL format because they are not available [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shipwrecked-DVD/dp/B0001IMCDO|anywhere else]]. Most of the time it's because I want a widescreen version of a movie. All my DVD drives under Linux and my BD-ROM can all read any region DVDs without having to use [[regionset]], so ripping them is simple enough.

I use ffmpeg to convert them. Using ''-format ntsc-dvd'' is pretty much all you need.

Here's a general command:

<code>
ffmpeg -i pal.vob -target ntsc-dvd ntsc.mpg
</code>

And here is me spiking the bitrates for good measure:

<code>
ffmpeg -i pal.vob -target ntsc-dvd -vb 9000k -ab 192k ntsc.mpg
</code>