Can I use both PAL and NTSC on one DVD

[maxjoris]

I want to save on mastering and create a DVD that is opening with a B/W menu [can be PAL or NTSC] and gives you the choice between watching the movie in PAL or NTSC, whatever standard your TV is capable of. I'm using DVD Studio Pro and you cannnot do it there: you have to choose when you start a new project what it's going to be : PAL or NTSC.

My Q: can it be done ? like with a header trick similar to [s]VCD passing as a VCD [TMPgenc] ?

On a PAL TV NTSC movies are B/W, I guess the same happens the other way around, right ? For the player it makes no difference, but for the TV it does.

[Baldrick]

It can be done but it isn't supported by the dvd standard.

[Zetti]

It can be done but it isn't supported by the dvd standard.

Do you mean that there are authoring sw`s and players that could accept that, even if not at the strict standard ?

Thanks,

Zetti

[hech54]

I've made one with TMPGEnc DVD Author ...but did not create a menu...I just wanted to see if it would accept both formats on one disc.
You may want to get it and experiment further.

[handyguy]

Get a two sided disk, put pal on one side, ntsc on the other side.

[FulciLives]

Get a two sided disk, put pal on one side, ntsc on the other side.

There is a European company that has done that with a couple of their releases.

One double sided DVD disc ... each side single layer ... one side PAL and one side NTSC.

However last time I checked quality double sided DVD discs are well just not being made. Also they tend to be about the same price as using 2 separate single sided DVD discs.

You can buy DVD cases that hold 2 discs and still be the same size as a single DVD disc holding case.

That would be how I would do it.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

*** EDIT ***
I wanted to add this ...

The problem with putting both PAL and NTSC on the same disc (well same side) is that you have to have a menu to select which you want to play but the menu has to be either PAL or NTSC format.

So if the menu is PAL it can't be seen on a NTSC DVD player and if you do the opposite and make the menu NTSC then how will PAL DVD players be able to see it?

It's just a bad idea all around.

[hech54]

The problem with putting both PAL and NTSC on the same disc (well same side) is that you have to have a menu to select which you want to play but the menu has to be either PAL or NTSC format.

So if the menu is PAL it can't be seen on a NTSC DVD player and if you do the opposite and make the menu NTSC then how will PAL DVD players be able to see it?

It's just a bad idea all around.

Hmm...never gave that a thought...I'll have to keep that in mind. But with my simplistic little menus I create...I don't think it would matter all that much..

[maxjoris]

Like I stated, almost all players will play a NTSC and a PAL disk, for them it's just data.
However, on your PAL-TV a NTSC disk will be played back in Black and white and vice versa I guess. If you create a menu in black and white the standard you use is of no importance anymore - the player will play it and the TV will show it. Choose your appropraite system from the menu [PAL/NTSC] and there you go ! That's the idea !!

[FulciLives]

Like I stated, almost all players will play a NTSC and a PAL disk, for them it's just data.
However, on your PAL-TV a NTSC disk will be played back in Black and white and vice versa I guess. If you create a menu in black and white the standard you use is of no importance anymore - the player will play it and the TV will show it. Choose your appropraite system from the menu [PAL/NTSC] and there you go ! That's the idea !!

I live in the USA and there are many DVD players that can ONLY play back a NTSC disc. If you put a PAL disc in then one of two things happen. Either it can't read it AT ALL or if it can you get an image that is so scrambled looking that you can't even see the menu to function it.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[hech54]

Like I stated, almost all players will play a NTSC and a PAL disk, for them it's just data.

Um....extremely WRONG....especially in America.