How 2 test a PAL DVD in a NTSC environment?

[Charmed]

Hey
I am new to forums(my first time) so forgive me if this is the wrong place as well as I am a total novice to video editing.

Here's my problem....

I have a PAL Videocamera.I capture & Edit in ULEAD and write in a PAL format.How can I test it here in the States (NTSC environment) to make sure that it will play in a PAL environment. Last time I did everything right(so I thought)& sent it to the UK. I had no way of testing it.In the end they got a picture with no sound.

Is there software available that I can test it with on my PC or something I can buy other than having to send it all the way home to test.

Please help without being too technical!!!

[yoda313]

Well you probably would have more media issues than actual spec issues. Buy good blank dvds and as long as you adhere to pal specs you should be just fine.

Best thing is to use a software dvd player and go to the information tab that displays resolution and frame rate info, etc. As long as it is 720x576 and 25fps (I'm 99.9% sure thats pal spec but its been a little while since I looked for sure). As long as your video conforms to that spec you'll be fine.

The other thing you can do is find someone who has a dvd player that can play import dvds. You can get one under 50.00 usd these days just make sure it says it can play imports. THen just pop in the dvd and if it plays your good to go - and since its home made it doesn't have region issues.

[Charmed]

Thanx for the reply.
This is they way I am thinking....even if I have a dvd player that plays imports I still only have an NTSC TV.So I still can't simulate a PAL environment.
As I said I did everything as recommended and when it got to the UK...the sound was still missing.I am hoping that there is software that I can run on my PC that can identify whether it is a PAL DVD or not.... Am I wishing for a miracle here?

[edDV]

Thanx for the reply.
This is they way I am thinking....even if I have a dvd player that plays imports I still only have an NTSC TV.So I still can't simulate a PAL environment.
As I said I did everything as recommended and when it got to the UK...the sound was still missing.I am hoping that there is software that I can run on my PC that can identify whether it is a PAL DVD or not.... Am I wishing for a miracle here?

No substitute for a pure PAL TV and and a mainstream PAL DVD player or three. Unless you don't believe in testing, you must check your work on native equipment.

Are you sure you need to do a PAL release? Most modern PAL DVD players play NTSC as PAL60 and most modern PAL TV sets accept PAL60.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Some players that support PAL have a selection for the TV - NTSC, PAL or Multisystem. My cheapo $20 can do that (and I have mixed PAL and NTSC stuff).

[CogoSWSDS]

I've got two DVD players that can convert PAL to NTSC on-the-fly. They're RCA model DRC247N. I also had a Cyberhome CH-DVD300 that would convert PAL to NTSC on-the-fly, but the RCA seems to do a better job. Neither advertised this capability on the box. Check the DVD players section on the left and they may show you which ones can do PAL to NTSC on-the fly. YMMV.

CogoSWSDS

[edDV]

I've got two DVD players that can convert PAL to NTSC on-the-fly. CogoSWSDS

That isn't what he asked. He wants a PAL disc that plays on PAL equipment. Why would he send you a PAL disc? How would that solve his problem? He wants a PAL customer to play the disc.