Copying NTSC VCR to DVD

[CheekyKid]

I got a UK VCR which supports PAL 60/NTSC 443 and thus it can play NTSC VCR tapes but my dvd recorder Panasonic ES10 can't record 60hz therefore everytime i try to copy an NTSC tape the result is less than pleasing.It is either B/W if i set the setting to NTSC in the dvd menu or coloured if it is on PAL but its result is a weird black bar at the bottom of the screen which I know its because my panasonic inabillity to record in 60hz.I do know that phillips or pioneer sets can record in 60hz but am not into buying a new recorder.
Is there any cheap way that could get around it as I really wanna copy my tapes.

[mikiem]

Might check over in the doom9.org forums -- think this came up there once or twice.

Source of the prob AFAIK is the output signal from your vcr isn't 100% PAL legal. If your vcr will output a NTSC legal signal, perhaps you could capture it with your PC?

[FulciLives]

1.) Buy a true multi-system VHS VCR that can play back NTSC without having to do that PAL60 trick.

2.) Buy a NTSC only VHS VCR which of course will output normal NTSC without having to do that PAL60 trick.

Either way will be cheaper than buying a new recorder and/or capture device.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CheekyKid]

One clarification though.Is a pure NTSC 60hz or 50?
Any idea if this VCR would work: http://www.samsung.com/Products/VCR/WorldwideColor/SV_5000WXAA.asp?page=Specifications

[hech54]

I got a UK VCR which supports PAL 60/NTSC 443 and thus it can play NTSC VCR tapes but my dvd recorder Panasonic ES10 can't record 60hz therefore everytime i try to copy an NTSC tape the result is less than pleasing.It is either B/W if i set the setting to NTSC in the dvd menu or coloured if it is on PAL but its result is a weird black bar at the bottom of the screen which I know its because my panasonic inabillity to record in 60hz.I do know that phillips or pioneer sets can record in 60hz but am not into buying a new recorder.
Is there any cheap way that could get around it as I really wanna copy my tapes.

Philips recorders also cannot record a "quasi" signal...they do however record either a true NTSC or true PAL signal via anything other than the tuner.
Your problem of a an NTSC tape/European PAL VCR to a DVD Recorder is very common....and not very easily solved.

[hech54]

One clarification though.Is a pure NTSC 60hz or 50?
Any idea if this VCR would work: http://www.samsung.com/Products/VCR/WorldwideColor/SV_5000WXAA.asp?page=Specifications

That is a converting VCR so you could even convert that NTSC tape to PAL...but at a hefty price.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=SASV5000W&is=REG&Q=&O=pro...ist&sku=198029

[FulciLives]

The Samsung SV5000W can play back NTSC as regular NTSC or can convert it to a true PAL signal.

It works the same way with a PAL VHS ... it can play it back as regular PAL or convert it to a true NTSC signal.

You do pay extra for the ability to convert. There are multi-system VHS VCR's that are a bit cheaper but do no conversion ... NTSC VHS outputs as NTSC and PAL VHS outputs as PAL. A true multi-system VHS VCR will output normal NTSC not PAL60.

The problem you have now is that your current VHS VCR will only output NTSC as PAL60.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CheekyKid]

Will the SV5000W convert a protected NTSC tape by macrovision?

[FulciLives]

Will the SV5000W convert a protected NTSC tape by macrovision?

Yes it will.

I think the output will still be Macrovision enabled but it will convert such tapes.

I never owned one of these myself but a friend did and I know he copied many such tapes. I know he also had a "black box" that defeated copy protection.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[hech54]

I've never had any problem copying factory PAL VHS tapes via a scart cable....not sure about NTSC...those seem to be a bit tougher.

[CheekyKid]

I do have the macromaster+ which does its job good to remove macrovision protection.Seems that am gonna have to go for the samsung video.I live in the UK and here it costs around $600.In usa it costs less than $300 so i might be able to get it from the states.

[jman98]

CheekyKid - Pure NTSC is 60Hz, but it's better to stop using Hz to refer to video and talk in terms of Frames Per Second. It's less confusing that way.

Your best bet, a suggestion you seem to have ignored, would be to get a video recording card that can record a true NTSC signal and just make a DVD that way. It's not as easy as a 1 click solution, but it's a lot more practical. I have a Hauppauge PVR-350 and it's the best video capture card I've ever owned, but I live in the USA and our version only records NTSC. The European version of this card MIGHT (you need to check) be able to handle NTSC. A lot of European video capture cards can do either, but in the USA, they think we have no need for PAL, so they disable that on most cards.

[CheekyKid]

Jman,

I did check the card you suggest and it does indeed support NTSC http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=2CNB&refererid=WQ&GCID=C16358x004-Graph...0&v=2#infoarea
Can I connect my video to it with a Scart as it doesnt seem to have such output. I guess that an adaptor will get the job done will it not?
Also will this card get around macrovision?

[FulciLives]

The VHS VCR has to output regular NTSC from a NTSC VHS ... I was under the impression from your description that your VHS VCR was able to play back NTSC but only output PAL60 ... in which case trying to capture it is a waste of time.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[hech54]

CheekyKid - Pure NTSC is 60Hz, but it's better to stop using Hz to refer to video and talk in terms of Frames Per Second. It's less confusing that way.

Your best bet, a suggestion you seem to have ignored, would be to get a video recording card that can record a true NTSC signal and just make a DVD that way. It's not as easy as a 1 click solution, but it's a lot more practical. I have a Hauppauge PVR-350 and it's the best video capture card I've ever owned, but I live in the USA and our version only records NTSC. The European version of this card MIGHT (you need to check) be able to handle NTSC. A lot of European video capture cards can do either, but in the USA, they think we have no need for PAL, so they disable that on most cards.

So how does he get a true NTSC signal from a European VCR that only outputs a quasi signal when playing NTSC tapes brainiac?


A lot of European video capture cards can do either but very few can capture a quasi signal.....which is the only signal his VHS machine will output.

[FulciLives]

So how does he get a true NTSC signal from a European VCR that only outputs a quasi signal when playing NTSC tapes brainiac?


A lot of European video capture cards can do either but very few can capture a quasi signal.....which is the only signal his VHS machine will output.

That is why I suggested he buy a NTSC only VHS VCR from the USA for instance or a true multi-system VHS VCR.

Now I understand that some capture cards (I think the old BT based cards) can capture PAL60 but it sounds like it wouldn't be worth it. SatStorm knows a bit about that.

I still say it's better to acquire a VHS VCR that can output NTSC as NTSC instead of PAL60.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[hech54]

Understood...
I was just trying to point out the problem to someone who obviously has no idea what he/we are talking about..

[CheekyKid]

FulciLives your impression was right.My vcr can only output PAL60.The problem is where do I find a NTSC video here.Am sure a second hand would be quite cheap if i can find one.Multi system are quite expensive in Europe.I would say double the price of america.Guys am I right to believe that the only dvd recorders that can capture a quasi signal are the pioneers?

[FulciLives]

FulciLives your impression was right.My vcr can only output PAL60.The problem is where do I find a NTSC video here.Am sure a second hand would be quite cheap if i can find one.Multi system are quite expensive in Europe.I would say double the price of america.

Can't you just order a regular NTSC VHS VCR from America? I'm sure the shipping can't be THAT expensive. I'm sure many USA based websites would ship to the UK ... one that comes to mind is AMAZON.COM

You will need a power adapter but my understanding is that such things are pretty cheap ... probably no more than $20.00 U.S. Dollars if I had to guess.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CheekyKid]

The shipping for a vcr is about 100$ last time i checked...lest we forget its quite heavy.So far the ones i checked from amazon can only be delivered within the US.Looks like am stalemated.Is NTSC 3.58 regarded as pure NTSC?

[FulciLives]

The shipping for a vcr is about 100$ last time i checked...lest we forget its quite heavy

I had no idea it would cost so much. I looked at a website just now and they wanted $80.00 U.S. Dollars to ship to the UK.

WOW

I don't live in Europe but surely there are places that sell a VHS VCR that can play back NTSC without conversion to PAL60.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CheekyKid]

Yea am going for ntsc vcr rather than buying a dvd recorder which can record quasi signal(pioneer).My only hope is to find something cheap as it doesnt make sense to spend money on a dying technology.

[hech54]

There is always Ebay....from a European seller. I'm sure there are several people who bought NTSC VCR's for one project....
I thought of it myself too....

[CheekyKid]

One clarification.NTSC 3.58 is regarded as pure NTSC right?

[FulciLives]

One clarification.NTSC 3.58 is regarded as pure NTSC right?

Yes.

[CheekyKid]

I find it increasingly hard to find a cheap NTSC VCR for a total price of less than 50-60 quid so am looking towards Pioneer.Is the DVR220 model of decent quality in comparison with the Panny ES10? I found it brand new for 99quid so its a better deal.Could you please confirm that it can record PAL60 as it doesn't have any mention in the specifications.

[FulciLives]

I find it increasingly hard to find a cheap NTSC VCR for a total price of less than 50-60 quid so am looking towards Pioneer.Is the DVR220 model of decent quality in comparison with the Panny ES10? I found it brand new for 99quid so its a better deal.Could you please confirm that it can record PAL60 as it doesn't have any mention in the specifications.

That model Pioneer is a very nice stand alone DVD recorder.

However I am not aware of any ability for recording a PAL-60 signal. I would be very surprised if it had that ability.

Please note I've never heard any positive nor negative comments about this possibility but based on my understanding of video equipment (please note I am in the USA) it seems unlikely to me it can handle recording a PAL-60 signal.

Last resort would be to buy it and try it but make sure you can return it in case it does not work. Make sure the place of purchase has a "no questions asked" return policy.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

I found something you might be interested in.

Here is the link ---> CLICK HERE

This device claims that it does this:

The DGPix enables copying of NTSC VHS tapes played on European player, by converting the NTSC443 output to the correct NTSC357 format. Note, it is necessary to set your recorder to NTSC for this, it does not convert NTSC to PAL.

Now the terminology used appears to be incorrect but basically if I am reading this correct it will convert PAL-60 (what they call NTSC443) back to normal NTSC (what they call NTSC357).

Might be worth checking out.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CheekyKid]

Thanks for that,

It looks good but it has no scart sockets so i cant connect my video to it.Also at 75+ it is quite pricey.Am kinda stalemated with the ntsc problem and its almost frustrating that i cant find an NTSC video for a low price.I ain't given up though.

[FulciLives]

Thanks for that,

It looks good but it has no scart sockets so i cant connect my video to it.Also at 75+ it is quite pricey.Am kinda stalemated with the ntsc problem and its almost frustrating that i cant find an NTSC video for a low price.I ain't given up though.

Well I can't help with the price but they do offer Scart adapters: CLICK HERE

Plus this would be usefull even for PAL stuff since it disables copy protection making it a usefull device indeed.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman