Region2 -> Region1 (wicked problem)

[bonusbuy2]

I have rather specific question. I do have quite a few Region 2 (Europe) DVDs that I'm trying to back-up and convert to Region 1 (US). Once I rip the content with DVDDecrypter (ISO) and re-author using DVDShrik, the ISO file is all right. But then when I burn it onto DVD-R (or even +R), my DVD player (Samsung 211) claims that there is no disc and I should check the TV cable. That is strange. However, I can play that DVD on my PC no prob.

Even so, making the ISO region free, i.e. Region 2 to Region Free (DVD Shrink option) does not do any help.

I was wondering if anyone had similar problems. My hardware is LG 4040B A303 (Latst fw)
*I've tried backing up using my Samsund SD616T which is RPC1 - didn't help

I don't think that it is a media problem (since I tried all possible formats)

Anyhow, if anyone knows what is the likely source of this problem, I'd greatly appreciate your post.

[porphyra]

IT seems that your Samsung DVD-player is incompatible with the burnt media. Check user reports for compatibility. The ripping step with DVDdecrypter should eliminate your region settings at the start and they wont bother you again.

Cheers.

[Poppa_Meth]

If its European you have a PAL signal format that most American NTSC equipment can't handle. If you don't have hardware that will play it correctly then you have to re-encode it to NTSC standard, which isn't all that easy.

[bonusbuy2]

Poppa_Meth, so, what you are saying that the backed-up Region2 DVD retains in PAL signal even if the DVD is region-free? The problem then, I guess, is my Samsung 211.

It is going to be interesting. I have burned the European DVD for my buddy and sent it to Germany. I'm just curious to see if he can play it back.

Anyhow, is there a piece of software that would convert PAL DVD into NTSC DVD?

[Poppa_Meth]

From the Glossary:

NTSC
Abbreviation of National Television Standards Committee. The NTSC is responsible for setting television and video standards in the United States (in Europe and other parts of the world, the dominant television standards are PAL and SECAM). The NTSC standard for television defines a composite video signal with a refresh rate of 60 fields (half-frames interlaced) per second. Each frame contains 525 lines and can contain 16 million different colors. The resolution of an NTSC VCD is 352x240 pixels, an NTSC SVCD is 480x480, and an NTSC full D1 DVD is 704 or 720 x 480.


PAL
Short for Phase Alternating Line, the dominant television standard in Europe. The United States uses a different standard, NTSC. PAL delivers 625 lines at 50 fields (half-frames interlaced) per second. The resolution of a PAL VCD is 352x288 pixels, a PAL SVCD is 480x576, and a PAL full D1 DVD is 704 or 720 x 576.

The difference in resolution and refresh rate are what is making it unplayable on your set-top. computers can handle either one. I'm not sure right off what standard Germany uses but he may have no problem with it if his equipment will handle it correctly. All you did with Shrink was remove the region lockout. to change signal standard you have to completely re-encode the video.

You can do this with an MPeg2 encoder like TMPGEnc., but it can cause some problems. Since PAL refreshes slower than NTSC your audio can be thrown out of sync if you don't take steps to correct the length when re-encoding to NTSC. By speeding up the PAL signal to NTSC standard the movie gets shorter lengthwise, but the audio won't unless its re-encoded along with the video or adjusted with another tool like goldwave. You will also have to set-up your encoder to correctly orient the picture. to keep the aspect ratio will cause small black bars on the sides of the screen because PAL has more vertical lines of resolution than NTSC. There are various ways to fix these issues but none are extremely easy if you aren't experienced with encoding video.

[icemann476]

There is a VERY good guide to convert from PAL to NTSC. Unfortunately it is required to deinterlace the frames. although this sounds complicated, the guide explaines it all very well. I strongly suggest the Bob + Weave method although I must warn you that the process can be extremely lengthy, the results are worth it tho.

Heres the guide http://www.100fps.com/
You will need: Virtualdub, DivX & Avisynth

Good luck,

|cemann

[ZippyP.]

If its European you have a PAL signal format that most American NTSC equipment can't handle.

I thought most newer equipment will convert PAL to NTSC on the fly, my Pioneer does. I've also read in these forums that most new PAL players will convert from NTSC as well.

[Poppa_Meth]

there are some players that convert signal on the fly but they aren't all that common just yet. I know some of the Cyberhome units do it as well and you can get them dirt cheap. they are crappy players though.

[bonusbuy2]

Sounds like buying PAL/NTSC compatible DVD player is much easier way out rather than doing all this conversion. What Pioneer model to do you have there?

[ZippyP.]

What Pioneer model to do you have there?

DV-C505, 5 disc changer.