US Video Players

[Simmo180]

I am just about to buy a US NTSC Video Player, so I can capture NTSC video tapes into my PC. I am from the UK and my current UK video player only gives a black and white image even though it plays NTSC tapes (Apparantly it is a PAL60 image which is not true NTSC?)

Anyway, I have been told the US video player do not use the Scart input and output that we do in the UK. What type of connection do you have to input/output lines in and out?

And I presume it will be easy enough to connect to my PC, my input connection is S-Video.

Any advice or experience of this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[KBeee]

If you're buying a US VCR or player for use in the UK, remember that it's 120V 60Hz in the US, and 230V 50Hz in the UK.
You'll need to ensure the US VCR has a "universal" power supply installed, they usually work anywhere between 100V and 250V, or are switchable between 120V and 230V, otherwise you'll just blow it as soon as you plug it in.
Also, when you say you're only getting B&W pictures from your UK VCR when playing NTSC tapes, do you mean on your TV, or after transfering to your PC they're B&W? Some UK TV's, when faced with an NTSC signal only disply B&W pictures, so it might be your TV at fault, and not your VCR.

[thecoalman]

Coax cable, RCA(composite), or S-Video for direct input/output.... component on newer machines.

S video is not found on all VCR's... If the VCR is really cheap it may only have a single mono RCA jack, be sure to check what you're buying if you need a particualar connection.

[jman98]

You may have to buy a Multistandard VCR that can play both NTSC and PAL VHS tapes. The problem with buying an American VCR is that we foolishly believe that the entire world runs on the same power as us. It is going to be just about impossible to find any standard American VCR that will work on your power. I've seen DVD players that could be switched to run on different power, but that was because many DVD players actually are capable of outputting either NTSC or PAL video. VCRs were normally made to only show one of those, so they didn't bother to make the power supply work on anything except American power.

I never heard of Scart in my life until I went to Ukraine and found out that they still used it on older TVs. It was never used in America.

[Simmo180]

Thanks for the replies.

I will check to see that the VCR I buy does have the correct line outputs.

With regards to my UK video player, when I connect it to my TV and play US NTSC tapes I get a great picture in full colour.

Its when I connect it to my PC, it cant understand the PAL60 signal. which is why I want a US video player, as it will send a true NTSC signal that my PC should understand.

[Simmo180]

Oh, yes.

I was told by the guy I am buying the video from that I just need this power convertor thing to get round the power issue. He is also from the UK and uses one to play it.

[Simmo180]

Ths VCR I am thinking of buying has these connections:

o Cable Box control link In and Out on the back
o A/V adapters in and out on the back
o VHF /UHF in and out

Will it be easy enough to connect this to a PC?

It says the video is HI Fi Stereo so I presume I should get problem with the sound.

[thecoalman]

Yes it doesn't have S-video but the A/V is referring to the RCA inputs, your basic red, white, and yellow cables which are common on all capture devices. Generally you connect the yellow to thew card and the red/white to your soundcard. If you don't have the yellow RCA input they do make adapters but personally I have no experience with them and would opt for a deck with S-video if that is your only input.

The cable box connection is not needed, the UHF/VHF is the coax cable.

[victoriabears]

Sorry to be an old poop,,but how many ntsc tapes have you got?
Are the options of getting them on dvd anyway or having them professionally converted not feasable for you.
Again do not know how many you've got but I would deal with a small number (under 10) free for you.
Believe me a vcr of the type you envisage will be costly for the right quality.
Take care now.

[Simmo180]

Again thanks for the replies.

I know the RCA inputs/outputs your referring to, and I think I already have a cable that goes from that to S-Video. So hopefully no problem there.


victoriabears,

I only have 3 or 4 NTSC tapes at the moment, but I am looking at buying more. Thanks for you kind offer, but I am hoping to pick up a second hand US VCR for less than £30, so I am not spending a fortune.