Film Transfers to PAL/SECAM Video

Film transfers to PAL/SECAM video are relatively straightforward. Film runs at 24 fps and PAL video runs at 25 fps. If you speed up film by roughly 4 % (or 4.16 %, to be precise), it will be running at 25 fps. That means that film transfers to PAL video result in a 4 % pull-up in speed.

When properly done, the first frame of film will be transferred to both fields of the first frame of video and so on. All that is needed is the 4 % increase in speed for this to be a one-to-one transfer.

To keep the audio in sync, it must also be pulled up by 4 %. This will result in a 4 % increase in the pitch as well. If the final project is to remain in the video format, pitch-correcting might be necessary. If the project is going to be returned to film for the final presentation, the audio can be slowed back down to normal speed when transferring back to film in order to preserve the fidelity and performance values of the original material.