Nikhil Kamkolkar

Folks, I'm looking for the formula underlying this calculator available on the net that will convert 35mm feet/frames to NTSC timecode. I can't just use the calculator as I need to plug the formula into an excel spreadsheet, that will calculate it for a number of inputs. http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/freetime.htm I basically want to be able to plug in feet and frames, and get the corresponding NTSC timecode. Can any of you please help me out on this? I've been searching the web for such a formula but haven't had much luck so far. Thanks, Nikhil

Thanks folks! Very helpful indeed. I think as of now, I'm leaning towards a 16:9 telecine to both NTSC and PAL formats from the IP. I might consider an Alchemist conversion of the NTSC tape with audio laidback to PAL - since its more cost-effective and expedient than trying to layback the NTSC-timecode mixed audio onto the PAL tape. But I'll have the 35mm to PAL master tape as a source in case I don't like the results from the Alchemist conversion. Regards, Nikhil

Hello, I have a couple of workflow questions. 1. If I'm transferring my 35mm film to 16:9 NTSC digibeta master, how exactly do I derive a 4:3 and a 1:1.85 version from it? I've read about the ARC elsewhere in this forum - is that what is used? Or can an AVID Symphony be used? Which is more cost-effective? What if I had to do some minimal pan and scan for a few problem shots in the few that might not transfer well to a 4:3 aspect ratio? 2. If I need to convert the NTSC master to PAL - does the PAL version also remain 16:9 - this might be silly question as the answer seems to be an obvious yes, but are there any issues here? Can the PAL 16:9 version then be used to derive PAL versions of 4:3 and 1:1.85? 3. What visual difference (perceptible to the eye, or to broadcast quality check mechanisms) might exist between an Alchemy standards conversion from NTSC to PAL vs a direct 35mm to PAL? Would anyone recommend making a PAL version from the 35mm tape for any reason, even I have to go the Alchemy route to deal efficiently with the conversion of both the video and audio from NTSC to PAL? 4. If I use the NTSC master to create a trailer on an AVID Xpress DV (using a DV timecode clone of the NTSC digibeta), can I somehow derive a PAL version of the trailer by conforming the NTSC edit list using the PAL digibeta? Or are there other workflows that you can recommend to address this scenario? I'm based in NYC. Thanks, Nikhil