capturing NTSC and PAL video

[twoworldstech]

We have a Samsung Hi-8 Camcorder that is compatible with both NTSC and PAL systems. Does anyone know what happens to this video if you capture the analog to convert to digital? Will it remain compatible with both systems? At what point is there an option for selecting the format before burning your DVD? Is that a software issue or hardware?

Please help us put any piece of this puzzle together that you might have info on. It's turning out to be a huge mindbender!
Thanks.

[thecoalman]

Will it remain compatible with both systems? At what point is there an option for selecting the format before burning your DVD?

No, not as is. When capturing you need to select on your capture card between NTSC and Pal. Which one you select depends on what format your cam is outputting, if you can output both formats you can make two discs. Keep in mind the following from this thread https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=221902:

Most PAL VCR units that play back NTSC tapes do so using a "trick" that is not a full blown NTSC to PAL conversion nor are you getting full blown NTSC.

Instead you are getting a wierd hybrid that works on most (if not all) PAL televisions but will not work with most (like 99.9%) of capture devices.

Instead you need to get a VCR that either plays back NTSC as NTSC (and capture it as NTSC) or a VCR that does full blown NTSC to PAL conversion (and capture it as PAL).

I would guess that your best bet is to find out what format your video is recorded as and capture it in that format.

[twoworldstech]

Thanks for the info. The camera doesn't allow us to select which format. How can we figure out what format it's recorded in?

Also, we were thinking of just getting a DV camera to use as the capture/converter device (as was recently suggested on Tech TV's The Screensavers), thinking it might be only slightly more expensive. If we get a NTSC/PAL Digital Cam, will we be able to capture the video in whatever format?

Or, would it be better to use our video editing/DVD burning software to make the conversion and just stick to NTSC cams?

[thecoalman]

I guess the easiest way to determine the format would be to put the tape in another cam that only plays one format. Just make sure the cam and the TV are both the same format. I would think that this info would be listed in your spec sheet in your manual or online. Send samsung a e-mail if you can't find it.

How and what is the best way to convert from one format to another I couldn't tell you as I no experience in that area. There is guides on the left.....

Personally I would stick with whatever format is used where your at it's kind of pointless unless you have a need for multi format.

[twoworldstech]

We have a need because we have family in the US and family in Asia (hence "twoworldstech"). That's why we started looking into this and are finding out there's a lot more to it than we thought. Does anyone else have any ideas?
Thanks.