How to convert PAL to NTSC using FCP?

[vsulov123]

Hello,
I am using a Mac and FCP with European PAL HV20. I shoot 25fps progressive.
The problem is that I need to make a NTSC DVD variant of my movie but I don't want to loose/add frames to do that.
I searched the forum but I couldn't find an answer.
As far as I know for best results my PAL movie should be "marked" as 23.976 fps (that is it will play slower but no frames will be lost/added) and with a 2:3 pulldown flag which can be interpreted by the DVD player. Am I right and how can I do this with FCP?
And what about the sound? Should I slow it down in FCP and export it separately?
Thanks!

[Andy Olson]

To get Pal to Ntsc, you open a project or sequence at 24p and interpret the Pal footage at 24p and drop it in the timeline. The audio needs to be slowed by 4% to match with the new frame rate...this will result in a pitch change as well which you can adjust. I don't know if Final Cut Pro will do a very good job of this conversion and you may have problematic motion. After Effects can do a better job of converting Pal to Ntsc like this.

Other alternatives that will do the best job are programs like Nattress or DVFilm Atlantis. These programs specialize in Pal to Ntsc as well as NTSC to PAL.

Hope this helps.
Andy