Using my JVC DR MH-30S to convert PAL DVDs to NTSC DVDs

[gjb0219]

Based upon the comments and advise I read in VideoHelp Forum posts, in particular those of LordSmurf, I recently purchased a JVC DR MH-30S DVD recorder.

I am extremely happy with this unit. The quality of the VHS to DVD transfers I've made so far have been excellent, far exceeding my expectations.

But I have a question: Given this unit's PAL DVD playback capabilities I was hoping that I could simply transfer movies from my all-region, non-copy-protected PAL DVDs to the hard drive and then transfer them to NTSC DVDs. Unfortunately, while this unit will play PAL DVDs, apparently one cannot copy any programming from a PAL DVD directly to the hard drive.

Am I correct in assuming that the only way to transfer PAL DVD programming to NTSC DVDs would be to use this JVC unit as a player only and record the output on another DVD recorder? [I've just bought a Panasonic ES10 on ebay for use as a pass-through for its "miraculous" signal improvement qualities - thank you, LordSmurf - so I could certainly use it to record the PAL->NTSC output - at SP speed only, of course. ]

Please advise. Thanks.

NOTE: Although I love this DVD recorder I must say that JVC's manual is perhaps the worst I've ever seen for a unit of such complexity, especially when compared to the manuals for similar units from their competitors like Panasonic and Sony. Its so poorly organized that some crucial, basic information is almost impossible to find, and I'm an electronics "sophisticate" who in the last 20 years has used dozens of different VCR makes and models and who rarely needs to consult any manual. I pity a purchaser of this unit whose old VCR still flashes 12:00! If it weren't for the video demo on the hard drive I wouldn't know half the capabilities of this unit.

[lordsmurf]

Am I correct in assuming that the only way to transfer PAL DVD programming to NTSC DVDs would be to use this JVC unit as a player only and record the output on another DVD recorder?

Probably so.

[I've just bought a Panasonic ES10 on ebay for use as a pass-through for its "miraculous" signal improvement qualities - thank you, LordSmurf - so I could certainly use it to record the PAL->NTSC output - at SP speed only, of course. ]

That would work.

[gjb0219]

Thanks, LordSmurf.

[FulciLives]

Why don't you just convert the PAL DVD to NTSC DVD using your computer?

Thanks to DGPulldown the process is not that difficult anymore.

However if you want to do it the other way and want to use the JVC as a recorder bear in mind that the Cyberhome 300S is like $40 and does decent PAL to NTSC conversions.

You can also buy a USA model JVC DVD player which does excellent PAL to NTSC for like $80 or so (maybe less) or you can buy a regioin free JVC for around $120 or so from on-line stores.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

Software conversion often leaves much to be desired, especially if the PAL DVD is interlaced.

[gjb0219]

Why don't you just convert the PAL DVD to NTSC DVD using your computer?

Thanks to DGPulldown the process is not that difficult anymore.

FulciLives - I've spent countless hours reading about - and then using - seemingly every method posted in the Forums for PAL DVD to NTSC DVD conversion, including DGPulldown, but have never been completely satisfied with the results, not to mention the time my computer is tied up during the processing. I agree with LordSmurf that "Software conversion often leaves much to be desired, especially if the PAL DVD is interlaced." [/color]

However if you want to do it the other way and want to use the JVC as a recorder bear in mind that the Cyberhome 300S is like $40 and does decent PAL to NTSC conversions.

You can also buy a USA model JVC DVD player which does excellent PAL to NTSC for like $80 or so (maybe less) or you can buy a regioin free JVC for around $120 or so from on-line stores.

Thank you for the suggestions. I already own a region-free-hacked JVC XV-SA600 DVD player; although most PAL DVDs play fine I find the performance is not always satisfactory for DVDs of "taped" musical productions, even when I select video, rather than film, mode. Not knowing whether a hacked Cyberhome unit would necessarilly be any better with those DVDs - and seeing that the JVC DR MH-30S gives fine results with those PAL DVDs once converted to Region 0 I think my best option right now is the method I proposed above.... especially given that my wife would "kill" me if I bought another DVD player!