NTSC tape to DVD Recorder

[zetor]

I am thinking about getting a DVD Recorder, not sure make or format yet but I have one question, I have a NTSC tape which I can play on my Pal vcr (most vcr's in the Uk can play both formats) will a DVD Recorder be able to record it? it isn't a comercial tape and so doesn't have any copy protection on it, am I correct in thinking that you can also chose what format (Pal\ NTSC) you can record it in? I have tried to record it VCR to VCR without sucess.
Zetor

[Vejita-sama]

NTSC and PAL differ in both framerate AND resolution. There are two ways to play a tape/disc from a different format. EIther the player supports both formats (common) or the player converts the format (less common).

It sounds like you have a VCR and TV that can accept either NSTC or PAL source (but does not convert from NTSC to PAL). That's pretty common. The same holds for your DVD recorder. You can record in NTSC or PAL, but it won't convert from one source format to the other.

However, some DVD players will convert 'on the fly' and if you can play either/both formats anyway...

[donpedro]

Post exact model of your VCR player and DVD recorder. Even better would be to post link to their user manual. There is hidden answer to your question. Short answer without knowing what you have is : "Yes, it can be done".

[zetor]

My VCR is a Panasonic NV-FJ1615, I haven't bought a DVD Recorder yet, I need to decide which model would be best to record the NTSC tape, I would suspect that my VCR isn't converting the NTSC to PAL, the manual calls it 'Quasi-NTSC Playback Function' it allows playback on a PAL system tv.
Zetor

[donpedro]

Two more questions ? Where did you bought your VCR (where are you from) ? ... and how old is it (when did you bought it) ?

[donpedro]

Isn't it NVFJ615B ?

[zetor]

I live in the Uk and the model is indeed the NV-FJ615B, I think it is coming up to 3 years old, bought locally and not an import of any sort.
Zetor

[donpedro]

I live in the Uk and the model is indeed the NV-FJ615B, I think it is coming up to 3 years old, bought locally and not an import of any sort.
Zetor

Well I am looking on user manual and there is nothing about NTSC. Are you sure that it can play NSTC ?

[zetor]

Yes it can play NTSC, the info in the manual I have is on page 21, "To Play Back NTSC Video Cassettes On Your PAL-TV(Quasi-NTSC Playback Function) This VCR allows playback of tapes recorded in NTSC system on a normal PAL system TV with the same operations as usual".
Zetor

[donpedro]

OK Here is how it works.... posible combinations

1. Your VCR can play NTSC cassette but signal that comes out is NTSC and your TV is multisystem so you can see it on TV.

2. Your VCR can play NTSC cassette and it converts signal to PAL so you can see it on PAL TV (this is more common where I come from)

3. Your VCR can play NTSC cassete and you can choose if output is NSTC or PAL (I saw Sony VCR with small switch in the front)

4. Your VCR can not play NTSC cassette and you tested it in another VCR and you think it was the one that you are refering to.

Now here is what you can do.

For 2 and 3, any recorder that is sold in UK should be fine (for 3, turn switch to PAL) and it should work with VCR too. Before you say that it is not working, try first copy any PAL tape so you can confirm that it is not how your cable are connected (typical issue with SCART).

For number 1, look for recorder that can record and accepts NTSC signal. Maybe Philips DVDR75 can do that. At least in the manual they mention both PAL and NTSC.

For number 4....

[donpedro]

Yes it can play NTSC, the info in the manual I have is on page 21, "To Play Back NTSC Video Cassettes On Your PAL-TV(Quasi-NTSC Playback Function) This VCR allows playback of tapes recorded in NTSC system on a normal PAL system TV with the same operations as usual".
Zetor

Can you believe this ??? In the manual that I downloded from Panasonic UK, pages 20 and 21 are missing

[donpedro]

Can anybody translate this from German ?

Wiedergabe-Standards:
*********************
- S-VHS-Wiedergabe
- NTSC-Wiedergabe über PAL-TV (Scart)
- NTSC-Wiedergabe nur über 60 Hz TV-Geräte

[zetor]

I have 2 NTSC video tapes, both play fine on my tv, one is a comercial tape which I bought from the USA, the other is a normal blank with a tv program on it recorded again in NTSC, there isn't any switch so it must auto dectect what format is the tape is, I will try and hook up my 2 VCR's again via the scart but as I recall when I tried before the recorded picture came out in black and white and was barley watchable, I was ineteresed in the new Philips DVDR's but reading another thread about reliabliity I'm back to square one
Zetor

[donpedro]

...I recall when I tried before the recorded picture came out in black and white and was barley watchable....

That sound like NTSC signal on PAL TV (or NTSC signal recorder on PAL VCR).... Do you have TV that understands NTSC and PAL ?

...I was ineteresed in the new Philips DVDR's but reading another thread about reliabliity I'm back to square one

Don't believe everything that you read.... I see posts about my PC DVD Writer that it is no good but mine works like charm Is it same in UK like in US with 30 days return policy ? It makes life easier

[zetor]

My TV is a rather old Mitsubishi CT-25M2 TX and the manual doesn't mention anything about NTSC, I believe it is only a PAL TV. You can return most stuff in the UK if you are't satisfied but the problem is that you can save alot of cash buying online and then it's not so easy sending it back with postage and the like.
Zetor

[donpedro]

Do you connect you Panasonic VCR to tv via SCART or antena cable ?

What about that German text ? Can you translate that ?

[zetor]

The VCR is connected via scart and RF lead (antena cable) I mainly watch tv via the scart lead, the RF lead is a loop through from my aerial. Can't translate the German tonight, might be able to pass it onto a friend tomorrow.
Zetor

[donpedro]

There might be difference. Try disconect one try it and then other and try again. Do both works or only one ?

BTW: Don't try commercial NTSC tape since there might be another problem (macrovision).

[zetor]

Ok well I have connected my 2 vcr's together with a scart lead amd played the NTSC tape on the Pana and recorded it onto the second vcr, monitoring the picture on the tv via the second vcr it looked fine but on playback I just get a scambled picture, this is from the non comercial tape, I also disconnected the RF loop thru'.
Zetor

[donpedro]

Try same with PAL tape.

What about that German text ? There might be answer.

[zetor]

The German text is as follows.

Rendition-Standards:
*********************
- S-VHS-Rendition
- NTSC-Rendition over PAL-TV (Scart)
- NTSC-Rendition only over 60 Hz TV-Devices

[donpedro]

OK, so.... I guess your TV can handle 60 MHz frequency but your VCR can't and VCR that can play NTSC tape will convert color but not frequency. I don't realy understant what is going on, but standard :

NTSC is 60Hz
PAL is 50Hz

Or am I wrong ?

[Coopervid]

The trick is that the video is translated to a PAL 60Hz signal. Only TVs that can synchronize on 60Hz as well will be able to display the picture.
I'm not familiar with DVD Recorders but I doubt that they will be able to record such a signal.
You might want to look for that feature: PAL 60 recording. Also no idea if any capture card could support this. The only straight forward way is to play it back on a NTSC VCR or if the VCR transforms it to PAL50 (multi-standard VCR).