NTSC and PAL

[skywen]

Hi
I have a player that can see both NTSC and PAL. I am trying to decide which one to convert to so that i can made a nicer home made video.

Which one is better?

Please advice. Thanks.

[Craig Tucker]

Encode to the format that the source video is, changing from one format to another will not improve quality. Although as an original format PAL offers better quality.

Craig

[mh2360]

You should always try to stick to the TV standard native to your country, this will stop any compatability problems with any epuipment you buy in the future...

[Craig Tucker]

You should always try to stick to the TV standard native to your country, this will stop any compatability problems with any epuipment you buy in the future...

Not always the case.

I live in the UK where the format is PAL, although nearly all modern equipment will play the NTSC format. It therefore makes sense to me that if I download a DIVX in NTSC or NTSC film format, that I encode it in this format rather than have to convert it when I encode.

Craig

[banjazzer]

I used to think so, but I think converting NTSC(film) to PAL by shortening the length(time) of the audio and adjusting the framerate in vdub works very well.

[mh2360]

I also live in the UK, I find that the extra resolution that PAL gives me does make a difference, which is why I always convert my Divx files...

We in the UK are fortunate enough to have the best of both worlds as far as PAL and NTSC are concerned, but looking to the future this might not be the case for much longer if organisations like the MPAA wish to control the flow of illegal movies. I'm not saying that NTSC equipment will be banned in the EU, but the MPAA are getting pretty desparate...