Why is NTSC so weird?

[Cobra]

Just wondering, why is it that NTSC has such weird framerates? I mean, how can 23.976 and 29.97fps actually be useful numbers in real life? Also, why have two different standards?

I'm just glad I work in PAL. Steady 25fps, always! :P

Cobra

[Conquest10]

Actually 23.97 is what film runs at.

[holistic]

Just wondering, why is it that NTSC has such weird framerates? I mean, how can 23.976 and 29.97fps actually be useful numbers in real life? Also, why have two different standards?

It has to do mainly with the "electronics" of the medium (television) and trying to maintan compatability with B&W TV. All with early 20th century technology ... impressive stuff back then.
best explained here in 10,000 words or more...
http://www.ee.washington.edu/conselec/CE/kuhn/ntsc/95x4.htm

When NTSC television standards were introduced, the frame rate was set at 30 Hz (1/2 the 60 Hz line frequency). Then, the rate was moved to 29.97 Hz to maintain 4.5 MHz between the visual and audio carriers

There are more then two different "standards" (strange use of that word)
NTSC and its subset
PAL (and subset)
SECAM - ?! french so it really dosen't count. ...

[tgpo]

6 degrees of USA

NTSC ~ Video Standard ~ American Usage ~ American ~ Americans ~ Dumb

[glockjs]

well the standard measurement system isnt so normal either, metric makes alot more sense. but as my sworn duty to being an american me and every other american shall strive to confuse the shit out of the rest of the world...it's just what we do...

we got that type of sense to mess everything up because our way is better than yours from our brothers over in the good old u.k. haha

[holistic]

The METRIC system is entering the U.S.A ----- 9mm by 9mm

[ChrisX]

I watch both PAL and NTSC DVDs on TV and the frame rate of 23.976 fps and 29.97 fps as irrelevant to me.

I don't think about it as my multi-system TV color selects PAL or NTSC automatically.

The only occasion I worry about it is when capturing a video on the computer using VirtualDub. I have to adjust the frame rate manually using the capturing application.

The only weird thing about NTSC is the interlacing is as much worse than PAL.

[Cobra]

That was an interesting article, holistic. There is at least some method in the madness!

Cobra