PAL VHS to NTSC DVD

[AlecWest]

Oh, my (sigh). A friend in Michigan contacted me, telling me she'd just bought a rare hard-to-find VHS tape of the 1979 movie, "Agatha," from a British source. The reason why it's rare is because it's the full 105 minute version, not the chopped 98 minute version sold in the US/Canada. For some reason, she was under the impression that there was some kind of "easy" method to convert the tape to NTSC DVD. Sadly, I informed her that there is no easy way ... at least, no CHEAP easy way.

Most of the online conversion places I've seen specify that they'll only convert "homemade" tapes, not feature films. Is she the out-of-luck owner of a paperweight (sigh), are there places in the US that rent a PAL VHS player that will play back in NTSC format (and run on 120VAC), or are there conversion places that aren't so particular?

[hech54]

If it isn't shipped yet contact me via PM....maybe I can at least put it to a region free DVD for her.

[FulciLives]

Best quality method is to capture to your computer as PAL format. This would require a VHS VCR that can do PAL playback.

Once captured it can be converted to NTSC DVD format. If the original is FILM based then the conversion will turn out really good.

The trick is buying a VHS VCR that can do PAL format tapes. That is the real cost here since many of us already have capture equipment.

Toshiba makes a nice 6 head Hi-Fi Stereo multisystem VHS VCR that goes for around $150 USD give or take.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[dphirschler]

Fulcilives is right. If you get a PAL VCR and capture it as PAL, your NTSC converted DVD will look really nice. My steps to convert it would involve the following:

1) Capture as PAL (25 fps)

2) Verify it is progressive by using Virtual Dub to view it.

3) If it is not progressive, then use Decomb filter (in AViSynth) to make it progressive.

4) Use a simple AviSynth script to resize your progressive frames to 720x480. Maybe even make it anamorphic. PAL offers you additional lines of visual image so you could get away with an anamorphic frame.

5) Save your audio from Virtual Dub.

6) Convert audio to NTSC speed using BeSweet.

7) Use Bitrate Calc to get your bitrate. You must decide whether or not you want to encode your audio (AC3 or LPCM).

8) Encode video in your favorite encoder. Encode audio (or not) in your favorite audio encoder.

9) Author your DVD.


Darryl

[vlakslee]

I too have been looking into converting a PAL to NTSC but was wondering one thing about the steps given. Isn't a PAL monitor necessary to view the captured PAL video?

[jagabo]

Computer monitors are neither PAL nor NTSC.

[FulciLives]

Computer monitors are neither PAL nor NTSC.

In other words any modern computer monitor is capable of both PAL and NTSC video playback.

A note about multi-system VHS VCR's ... some models (like the Toshiba I mentioned) can play NTSC or PAL (and often SECAM) but do no conversion. In other words PAL comes out PAL and NTSC comes out NTSC etc.

There are some multi-system VHS VCR's that do conversion so that a PAL VHS will output NTSC but this defeats doing the conversion on the computer and it is the computer PAL to NTSC conversion that is most superior.

Here are a couple of websites that sell multi-system equipment:

http://www.world-import.com/
http://www.220-electronics.com/

BTW the first link offers a stand alone converter called the CMD-850 and talks about it as if it is the best thing since sliced bread. Don't be fooled ... I have one and it sucks ass. I list this site because they have a great selection and reasonable prices.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[AlecWest]

If it isn't shipped yet contact me via PM....maybe I can at least put it to a region-free DVD for her.

Hmmm ... let me know if you're still willing to do this. It's already shipped ... but considering the alternatives, the cheapest option might be for her to mail it to you with enough International Reply Coupons to cover the return postage for both the tape and the DVD. Let me know what the costs are on your side of the pond to mail a VHS tape and DVD to the USA ... and how much she should send you for your DVD costs (and your effort). I'll run the idea past her and, if she likes the idea, I'll get back to you via PM ... and you can PM me your snailmail address.

She doesn't have a region-free DVD player but I do (grin). It's a Yamakawa 275 that does on-the-fly conversion of PAL to NTSC. Sent back to me, I could capture the NTSC output with my Hauppauge card and burn her an NTSC DVD, mailing both the tape and DVD back to her (reasonably cheap).

The other alternatives would probably too costly for her to consider. The cheapest multisystem VCR that comes with onboard PAL/NTSC conversion (so it would play back on an NTSC TV) is the Samsung model:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TEUK/ ($280)

And while buying a PAL VCR is still possible, buying one that can run on 120VAC/60hz (or with the cost of a voltage converter added on) would be problematic.

So, let me know if you're still willing to do it ... and thanks again.