Complicated question re: region hacks and DVD recorders

[Frebo]

I've read the faq but I am very confused:

I am from the US and have an NTSC and I would like to buy a DVD recorder that can play PAL videos of any region. Is there such a thing. If so, can someone give me some specific models (as opposed to asking me to search through all of the listings). I just can't find what I'm looking for in the FAQ or the hack section.

Now, if you say that there are no such DVD recorders with this capability, then I would ask, the same question but of a DVD player. It's unclear to me if the various hacks are region hacks or if the hack allows an NTSC TV and DVD player to play a PAL DVD.

My big challenge is that I've bought some PAL DVDs and they don't play on my NTSC player or TV. Is it actually possible to get them to work? The DVDs all happen to be regionless, but there are a few I want that are region 2. What should I do??

I'd rather buy a DVD recorder that does all this stuff because I don't have a DVD recorder. I'm open to buying a player that does all of this stuff too.

[cyflyer]

Hiya Frebo.
From my limited knowledge I can tell you that computer dvd recorder/players don't have region settings, anywhere, but when installed on your computer they allow you to change the region 6 times when you to put in a dvd of different regions. (still don't understand why they did that the killjoys) However, as many of the guys here will tell you, go buy and install your dvd recorder, then download from this site "region killer" and you watch your pal, ntsc, region 1, 2, whatever, happily ever after.

[Frebo]

Hiya Frebo.
From my limited knowledge I can tell you that computer dvd recorder/players don't have region settings, anywhere, but when installed on your computer they allow you to change the region 6 times when you to put in a dvd of different regions. (still don't understand why they did that the killjoys) However, as many of the guys here will tell you, go buy and install your dvd recorder, then download from this site "region killer" and you watch your pal, ntsc, region 1, 2, whatever, happily ever after.

Cyflyer, thanks. But I am more talking about non-computer DVD players and recorders. I want to buy one for my stereo system. I want to play PAL DVDs that are all region DVDs (and maybe a few region 1 or 2s). What should I buy? Are there any recorder types that do this? If not, which DVD player should I buy and will a PAL DVD on this piece of equipment work on my NTSC TV?

[lordsmurf]

You want a DVD RECORDER that can play PAL DVDs from any region? Easy. LITEON series, and I know the 5001 and 5005 have easy "remote" hacks (enter few numbers in secret menus to make it all-region).

LiteOn makes the most perfect DVD player I've ever seen, especially when it comes to PAL material on NTSC tv sets.

[Nilfennasion]

LiteOn makes the most perfect DVD player I've ever seen, especially when it comes to PAL material on NTSC tv sets.

Ask anyone who has used a LiteOn in a PAL country, and you will get a very different story. Next to impossible region code removal, poor ripping speeds, poor hardware support in the case of standalones... it's almost like they don't want repeat business.

[abbeyhurst]

Frebo - I too have the same fundamental question.. I have a DVD from UK and just want to play it on home stereo system. Thru Google I've found a couple of cheap players (JVC XV-N412S and AKAI DVD-P5851) which presume to play PAL format, but I don't know whether we would have to 'hack' the players to further get them to play whatever region they are...?

Please let me know if you've found a solution to the problem..

[Frebo]

Guys,

I checked the negative Lite On posts and now I'm freaked out. I think I'll stick to players, rather than recorders.

I'm sorry if it seems I don't get it, but...is the Philips DVP 642 what I'm looking for. I see alot of talk about mulitregion hacks...but the region has nothing to do with PAL and NTSC right? What I mean is, is seems there will be no region issues with this unit. But how the heck do you know if it will play a PAL disc (and a PAL disc on a NTSC TV for that matter?)/

Ed

[sanjayk]

Frebo,

region coding has nothing to do with PAL or NTSC. These are TV standards followed by diff countries all over the world. Countries with diff TV systems may fall under same region coding.

Most of the dvd players available now a days are "multi-region" and "multi-system". That is they will play PAL/NTSC disk coded for any region coding. No need to use any hack. Only you have to be sure of your TV whether it is multi-system or not.

[lordsmurf]

LiteOn makes the most perfect DVD player I've ever seen, especially when it comes to PAL material on NTSC tv sets.

Ask anyone who has used a LiteOn in a PAL country, and you will get a very different story. Next to impossible region code removal, poor ripping speeds, poor hardware support in the case of standalones... it's almost like they don't want repeat business.

You're confused.
We're talking ANALOG RECORDERS, not COMPUTER BURNERS.

[victoriabears]

This ntsc/pal subject is really getting the run around on this site isn't it.

I have used both extensively and know my onions, as we used to say in the East End of London, here goes:-

1: If you have pal disks that you want to PLAY on your North American(NTSC) TV, you need a dvd player that will convert, philips 642 does as do the cheap brand(Most of them) from Wall-Mart.

2: If you wish to record in PAL, because you have a friend in pal land you want to send something to, or vice versa, philips dvd recorders will record in pal and ntsc. They are not the most robust machines but hey-ho.

3: If you have a dvd in the wrong broadcasting system (Forget region codes), rip it to your computer using dvd decrypter or shrink, then burn a (re-writable dvd preferably), which removes the region coding and macrovision, so the new "blank" will play in your DVD player that converts to either ntsc/pal and then use a recorder to record a new one on. You will lose the menus, don't think anyone has thought of a method of keeping them yet?

4: Or using the ripped files on your computer use the many ways (Some way too complicated) to convert the files to whatever you want.
My preferred methods in order of simple:-
Cyberlink power producer will accept the files then let you out new ones as whatever broadcasting standards you want.
Procoder express similiarilly
Nero re-code -results not the best
Tmpg enc. slow but very reliable and if you are not doing 100's leave it while you are at work.(I do 100's by the way)

Or as I have offered before (FREE!!), send your dvd to me and I'll do it for you, one -offs only please.

I make that offer as the methods I have seen described here to convert ntsc/PAL make me shudder, I am but a simple sole with an end result to create , not get into Harvard.

Thanks Guys.

[Frebo]

Terry B,

Thanks for the reply - it seems you really know your stuff.

Let me ask you a few questions:

You say the Philips unit and cheaper brands will play PAL discs on my NTSC TV but another person says that my TV has to be PAL capable. What's your take on that person's post? Is he or she wrong?

One person said that most all new DVD players are region free? Is that true - am I tied to the Philips unit and cheapos - or can I purchase practically anything...Or do I need a player that has a known hack?

Lastly, and most importantly, do you know of any DVD recorders that will play PAL DVDs on my NTSC TV (that have a region hack...if that in fact matters). Someone suggested LiteOn,but some negative posts scared me off. Or would you just buy a Philips 642 for the PAL issue and then buy a standalone recorder from one of the big vendors (rather than buying cheapo LiteOn).

Thanks,
Ed

[victoriabears]

firstly lets seperate regions from broadcast standards, you can burn a copy of any dvd and make the copy region free, so thats not an issue, if you buy a player that will only play region one and nothing else, all players will play region free disks.

Broadcast standards are the issue, you live in ntsc land and want to play pal disks, and if that player can be hacked region free-great but not essentials.
if we can find a dvd recorder that will also play your pal disks even better, but a player may well be as low as $60.00, so may be a seperate recorder would benefit you?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000093US3/qid=1073142776/sr=1-1/ref=sr_...onics&n=172282

is a simple way to get a dvd player that can be easilly hacked, they are charging twice this amount for the hacked ones, and it takes 30 seconds, look at the reviews, the philips 642 does seem to be more troublesome.

Hacking dvd recorders to be region free I think is not posssible, but other than philips which record in both ntsc and pal and will play pal disks but you'd have to burn a region free copy of them, is JVC which plays pal disks on a ntsc tv, but again cannot be made region free.

I would only go with the chepa dvd recorder brands like lite-on if there is a good returns policy, but then again, treated gently these things can last a long time.

Good luck

[victoriabears]

sorry, to answer your specific questions, no you do not have to have a pal tv, the player will have a menu setting to set it to ntsc output and it will play pal disks by converting the signal to ntsc.

A lot of the cheap dvd players seem to be region free out of the box(The store will never admit it) and can be set like the philips to output ntsc .

Again good luck

[hech54]

Just buy a cheapo DVD Player that converts (like an Apex or Philips 642) then buy a higher quality DVD Recorder like a Pioneer.

[lordsmurf]

1: If you have pal disks that you want to PLAY on your North American(NTSC) TV, you need a dvd player that will convert, philips 642 does as do the cheap brand(Most of them) from Wall-Mart.

That's incorrect terminology. The player does NOT actually "convert" but rather outputs as a quasi signal that the tv in the "foreign land" can understand.

Frame rates are NEVER adjusted.
Better players will resize the image rather than crop/mask.
They also address the color system conversion.

True conversion hardware is about $300 minimum, and can go up to $65,000 or more.

Just buy a cheapo DVD Player that converts (like an Apex or Philips 642) then buy a higher quality DVD Recorder like a Pioneer.

Because you ARE dealing with quasi signals, this method does not always work. Keep that in mind. Both the player and recorder have to understand one another, which does not happen all that often.

[hech54]

Smurf,
The cheap players DO convert WITHOUT making a quasi signal:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1215971#1215971
Philips DVD Recorders record in BOTH NTSC and PAL....but they WILL NOT record a quasi signal....period.

[lordsmurf]

More correctly, the Philips cannot deal with a PAL quasi signal. Not necessarily the same is true for NTSC quasi signals. To convert framerates would take more than a DVD player has in it, hardware wise.

[abbeyhurst]

I have just accomplished what I need, and what I think Frebo needed to do: Successfully play UK DVDs... I got a comedy DVD as a gift and until now couldn't play it. I couldn't have done it without this forum, so thanks to all for the guidance/haccking, etc.

First, I bought a Philips 642 from Target - $69 + tax. Next, I followed the hack instructions to make it region-free: 7 8 9 OK 0 on the remote.
The DVD now plays perfectly on my old NTSC-only TV. I did have a momentary scare when the video came up on my TV as 'rolling' but it was because I'd (erroneously) set the video option on the player as PAL. Inasmuch as the player has a PAL to NTSC converter inbuilt, the player was already outputting in NTSC. Setting the player video option back to NTSC fixed it and I'm now in business..

Thanks to all for the posts which helped me do this!!