Converting old NTSC tapes in PAL environment with Canopus ADVC300

[hobby40]

I have quite a few old NTSC VHS tapes that I want to convert them into DV. I have a Samsung DVD - VHS player in PAL with Multisystem capability. Its output is connected to a PAL TV monitor with Multisystem capability. Old NTSC VHS tapes are viewed in color without any problem in this setup.

When I connect the output of the Samsung player to Canopus ADCV300 and ADVC300 set in NTSC, I can get DV output and record it as avi without any sync problem but unfortunately in Black-White. The color information is lost.

Is there any setup of ADVC which can also converts the color info into the DV? Or any other way to convert NTSC tapes into DV in PAL environment?

[JohnnyMalaria]

Do you have the Samsung DVD-V940K? If so, I have been reading through the manual and it seems it is an odd unit.

According to the manual (as far as I can tell), the VCR section can play PAL, NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43 and MESECAM. BUT - the signal from the machine when playing NTSC is either PAL or NTSC 4.43. In other words, a true NTSC recording (NTSC 3.58) will be output in a hybrid format that makes it more compatible with PAL TVs. Unfortunately, the Canopus units cannot process these signals correctly. The colour information is in a different part of the signal than it would be for true NTSC, hence only the B/W gets converted.

You need either a genuine NTSC VCR with proper NTSC 3.58 output OR a device to convert NTSC 4.43 to NTSC 3.58. The first option is going to be a lot cheaper.

Reading the manual suggests, however, you could record the VHS onto DVD and then playback the DVD in true NTSC - that would work correctly with the Canopus - but would be pointless since you could just put the DVD in the computer(!)

(The 3.58 and 4.43 refer to the frequency in MHz that is used to encode the colour information into the video signal. 3.58MHz is standard NTSC, 4.43MHz is PAL.)

[hobby40]

Thanks for the explanation of the problem. The Samsung unit is DVD-V70 and I am trying to get a copy of its manual. Then I will try to see if there is any chance of getting NTSC 3.58 from its output.

[SatStorm]

Your VCR output your NTSC tapes as PAL60.
You can't capture those tapes with Canopus, unless you find a new VCR that outputs NTSC as NTSC (and not PAL60).
Only few capture cards allow PAL60 capture. Older bt8xx based cards with with btwincap drivers are the most common of them. You capture PAL60 and then you handle your source as NTSC not PAL! After the capture you have NTSC on your PC.
Some DVD standalone Recorders allow PAL60 capture (they convert on NTSC on the fly). But that needs search (and money...)

IMO, your cheapest alternative is to get an old BT8xxx capture card and follow the traditional root to capture those tapes. This is what I use to do, before I buy my "Ace" TBC/video enchancer/converter unit.
20$/Euro; is not a cost...

[victoriabears]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/AKAI-VCR-VIDEO-CASSETTE-PLAYER-RECORDER-TAPE-MULTI-NTSC_W0QQitemZ27...QQcmdZViewItem

you need a vcr that will play real ntsc and be 220 volt compatable.

could be a good price idea, yes you need a vcr that will output real NTSC, capture it in ntsc, and use a dvd player to convert the resulting dvd to pal, I believe almost a standard feature of dvd players in europe.



http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/200511/20051114112854515_00169N_DVD-V70-XSA-GB-BM.pdf

is the link for the manual and indeed it seems to output pal 60 for playback on a pal tv only.