Are my backup DVD's compatible in USA?

[russellc]

Hello

I have what I hope is an easy question to answer. I am based in Australia; we have a collection of backup DVD's I have made for the children to protect the originals. Most have been backed up with a combination of CloneDVD or 1 Click DVD Copy and either DVD43 or Slysoft AnyDVD to remove encryption. I set AnyDVD to remove all encryption and Zone limitations; DVD43 has no manual settings.

We are taking a vacation in the US later this year, staying in several apartments with DVD players. The children have asked whether they can take a selection of their favourite DVD's to watch - assuming they will work, that is. I guess not only the zone limitations must be removed, but it is dependent on whether the DVD player can play PAL disks. I thought most players these days were multi-functional - certainly, the ones at home can play disks I've bought on the net from Asia.

Does anyone if there is an easy answer or should we just be saving weight in the luggage? Certainly the idea of having a diversion to keep the children occupied appeals. Is there any way I can check - without access to a US DVD player?

[Noahtuck]

Is there any way I can check - without access to a US DVD player?

Not without knowing the exact make and model number of the dvd players or actually trying them.

One thing you could do is when you actually arrived here, buy a cheapo 30-40 dollar player that will play PAL disc's and use it while you are here.

[russellc]

Thanks NoahTuck. As I suspected. I guess older players may not be multi-format.

Next question - if I wanted to take half a dozen DVD's, is there an easy way to re-encode and burn as NTSC disks ?

Thanks

[Noahtuck]

Well, not if you want to keep them completely intact, menus, extras, ect.

If you wanted to just convert the main movie, a quick way would be to rip them to your Hard drive then use convertxtodvd to convert just the main main movie to NTSC then burn back to a new dvdr.

Some other programs may do it also, dvdflick maybe ? But i'm not sure as that is the only way i have done them as far as fast goes, the other way would take too much time to do any kind of quantity.

[russellc]

Thanks NT.

I think I will convince the children to make do with their iPods and Nintendo DS's ! Might take a couple of DVD's anyway as you never know.....

Thanks again.

[Noahtuck]

Yeah it's hard to say, you might get lucky and you might not.

A lot of machines here will convert PAL to NTSC, but there are also a lot that will not.

But at least now a days they are easy enough to find at retail, back 6-7+ years ago it was order one for big $$$

[netmask56]

It's a lot easier in the opposite direction as most modern Australian gear will play anything NTSC or PAL. Trying to convert to NTSC is a real labour of love and time consuming and probably not worth it. You could take a mini laptop with you with a collection of selected titles ripped to the hard disk or even a small Verbatim 250GB usb drive as a friend heading off to Canada on a sabatical is doing.

[MOVIEGEEK]

You could take a mini laptop with you with a collection of selected titles ripped to the hard disk or even a small Verbatim 250GB usb drive as a friend heading off to Canada on a sabatical is doing.

That would by my recommendation also or buy a cheap Philips player when you get to the states.
Another reason is US Customs might seize your homemade DVD's.

[Noahtuck]

It's a lot easier in the opposite direction as most modern Australian gear will play anything NTSC or PAL.

Yep.

Trying to convert to NTSC is a real labour of love and time consuming and probably not worth it.

Yep partially.
If it something i really want the best possible quality i take the long way which is usually a day or two, but for some kids movies or just some plain jane show/movie convertxtodvd does an excellent job on just the main movie & does it rather fast, depending on your PC setup.

[Noahtuck]

That would by my recommendation also, that way you can hook it up to the TV.
Another reason is US Customs might seize your homemade DVD's.

I would be more worried about my laptop getting mucked up or stolen in transit more than i would worry about some backups for the kids that cost all of a few cents each

And i seriously doubt customs would bother with some disc that has Roger the Rabbit written on them
:P

But then again

[AlanHK]

Bring along your disks, but if they don't play, they'll probably have 500 cable channels, including several cartoon channels to keep them occupied.

Or try getting them to read a book.

[CobraPilot]

I have seen warnings that Customs or other inspectors may (will?) view ripped DVDs (i.e., copyright violations?) as contraband and seize them (DVDs) or anything that holds them (laptop/netbook).

Sounds like a good argument to leave the backups at home and either risk the originals on the trip or put ripped files on a thumb drive to play on a laptop.

(You could always make an additional set of backups as your new "originals" and put them away from the kids if you decide to bring your true originals.)

[Noahtuck]

I have seen warnings that Customs or other inspectors may (will?) view ripped DVDs (i.e., copyright violations?) as contraband and seize them (DVDs) or anything that holds them (laptop/netbook).

Sounds like a good argument to leave the backups at home and either risk the originals on the trip or put ripped files on a thumb drive to play on a laptop.

(You could always make an additional set of backups as your new "originals" and put them away from the kids if you decide to bring your true originals.)

Seriously... lets risk the original, 15-20 U.S. $$ a disc, a $400.00 to $800.00 laptop versus a .25 cent backup!!!


And i doubt they are going to take the time to go through a laptop's HDD looking for a couple o movies stored on it & confiscate it!!
I would be more worried some mofo would steal it!!

If i was in the same situation i would not think twice about bringing a .25 cent back up with me through the airport to another country.... but an original or a very expensive laptop/PC..... won't happen!!

Although i am sure a lot of people travel with their laptops with no issues, but there is always a risk, and i would rather lose a couple of cheap DVDR's then a whole laptop.

[peterbuilt]

Russell, Being backups I believe that the country code etc stuff is null and void?
they should play anywhere mate. have a great trip.

[jman98]

Russell, Being backups I believe that the country code etc stuff is null and void?
they should play anywhere mate. have a great trip.

Wrong. In the USA very few TVs will accept PAL signals. That means that the DVD player has to be able to convert PAL video to NTSC output so the TV will accept it. Many DVD players sold here will not do this. Also, even among the ones that will, you have to know enough to force the video output setting to NTSC as the default setting is usually ANY or MULTI, which doesn't work with most TVs here.

[Noahtuck]

Russell, Being backups I believe that the country code etc stuff is null and void?
they should play anywhere mate. have a great trip.

Wrong. In the USA very few TVs will accept PAL signals. That means that the DVD player has to be able to convert PAL video to NTSC output so the TV will accept it. Many DVD players sold here will not do this. Also, even among the ones that will, you have to know enough to force the video output setting to NTSC as the default setting is usually ANY or MULTI, which doesn't work with most TVs here.

Yep!!!

Me thinks someone (peterbuilt) needs to learn the difference between "region code" and "format" 8)