VHSA-format capturing

[psaulm119]

We inadvertently purchased a couple of VHSA videotapes from the UK, which are incompatible with our VCR (here in America). I might be able to return them, but if I can't, I'd like to be able to capture the tapes and view the digital signal. I have a Plextor AV-100U, using WindDVD Creator 2.

So far, I have been unable to get anything decent from the tape. I get no video signal, and the audio makes it sound like the Chipmunks. I would be laughing if it hadn't cost me $25. Anyways, I tried changing the format from NCTS to PAL, but that didn't help me out.

Any suggestions?

[FulciLives]

You need a special VHS VCR.

A normal USA/CANADIAN VHS VCR is only capable of NTSC and when you play a PAL VHS tape on it you just get ... crap.

You have 2 choices.

1.) Buy a VHS VCR that can play back the PAL VHS video as a PAL video signal. Capture it that way (PAL format). Then convert to NTSC or leave it as PAL and play on a DVD player that converts PAL to NTSC. A Cyberhome CH-300S is a good PAL to NTSC DVD player and only costs about $40.00. You can get a nice Toshiba 6-head multi-format VHS VCR (can do PAL and NTSC) for about $140.00 but it does no conversion. A PAL VHS comes out PAL and a NTSC VHS comes out NTSC.

2.) The other option is to get a VHS VCR that can play a PAL VHS and convert it to NTSC on output. However the quality is sometimes "sketchy" on the conversion but it saves you doing it on the computer, which does produce better results but can be hard-to-do. The other downside is that such a conversion VHS VCR is much more expensive. We are talking around $370.00 for the popular Samsung SV-5000W model.

There are many on-line websites where you can buy multi-format video equipment but one of the better choices would be World Gift Center which is often called World Com or Com World or whatever ... no one can seem to agree on that including that website LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Don't fall for the stand alone video converters that do PAL <---> NTSC conversions. I have the CMD-850 and it is garbage!

[psaulm119]

Fulci, thanks for the info. From your response, I can see that this project will be more expensive than its worth--all this just to save some 25 bucks. To say nothing of the fact that i sent an email complaining about the fact that these were advertized as "videos" with no explanation that they weren't VHS, and our money was refunded (without my even asking for it).

If we had a large collection, I'd take up your suggestion and purchase that Toshiba unit you are telling me about--so far, I've had very good results with the Plextor converter I have. I was just hoping for a silver bullet, that's all. Thanks for your time.

[lordsmurf]

There is no such thing as VHSA that I know of.

They are indeed "VHS" tapes, just not NTSC North American format. If they are from Europe, they are PAL, and coming from UK, PAL-I variation.

[greymalkin]

don't you watch the simpsons? homer warns marge as he's going away to a british prison (for running into the queens carriage) not to buy any tapes cause they won't play in their vcr...

if only more people would watch the simpsons...