NTSC DVD authoring

[thecenter]

this question is for American residents.

I'm converting a large amount of video-tapes in PAL to DVD.
They are supposed to be viewed in the states.

can the dvd players in America read PAL DVD'S ?
or should I convert them to NTSC MPEG 2 file and then author
NTSC dvd ? (and isn't gonna distort the image??)

Another thing is the zone - Do I have to author the dvd within
region 1 category ?


Thanks.

[thecoalman]

can the dvd players in America read PAL DVD'S ?

No most don't. The issue of converting to NTSC is not the resolution which is easily fixed but the framerate. That can be tricky so I'm told. There's numerous guides on "how To " to the left for doing that.

[Pench]

you either have to make it region 1 or region free.

[thecenter]

thanks for the answers.

another thought (probebly a foolish one) - maybe I can capture the tapes in NTSC (I have
the advc-300) ???

[thecoalman]

thanks for the answers.

another thought (probebly a foolish one) - maybe I can capture the tapes in NTSC (I have
the advc-300) ???

No, can't do that either. AFAIK there is no such harware, at least on the consumer market, that converts PAL to NTSC or vice versa. I'm no expert but from my understanding the only way to convert is through software. From my understanding going from PAL to NTSC is easy because you already have the frames you only need to remove some. Going from PAL to NTSC on the other hand is tricky because you have to add frames.

The guides to the left can explain the concept much better than I can.

[bugster]

If the source tapes are PAL you will have to capture in PAL and then convert to NTSC. Framerate conversion can be tricky but I suggest you take a look at DGPulldown.

[rumplestiltskin]

Try vso's DivxToDVD (it's free) and set it to "Force NTSC". It can handle a number of source codecs. That will do the conversion and it should maintain the proper proportions. Then burn the resulting VIDEO_TS folder. That should result in a region-free disc.

[GeorgeW]

check if your dvd player will output NTSC (via the menu setup). If so, you could play your PAL disc, and output NTSC -- send that signal into your ADVC300, and capture NTSC video.

I have done it the other way around. I used my Apex DVD Player to ouput PAL (I am in NTSC Land). I played an NTSC DVD, and captured PAL into my computer using a Pyro A/V Link (like the Canopus ADVC100 units).

Of course, this would require your DVD Player have the ability to output NTSC.

EDIT:
this conversion is not the greatest -- but perhaps it's the quickest...

[ipdave]

this question is for American residents.

I'm converting a large amount of video-tapes in PAL to DVD.
They are supposed to be viewed in the states.

can the dvd players in America read PAL DVD'S ?
or should I convert them to NTSC MPEG 2 file and then author
NTSC dvd ? (and isn't gonna distort the image??)

Another thing is the zone - Do I have to author the dvd within
region 1 category ?


Thanks.

You can find VCRs that will convert in hardware, but are either expensive or hard to find. AIWA used to make one for about $300, but don't anymore. A google search may turn up the company that sells the Panasonic and other VCRs.

http://www.220-electronics.com/comworld.htm for PAL<->NTSC TBC converter; $300. http://www.220-electronics.com/VCR/aiwamx100.htm for the AIWA...