Is DivX(Xvid) A Cure For NTSC/PAL?

[hech54]

Just curious. I don't own a DivX compatible player
and I don't have any issues playing "other" formats
since I live in Europe....but is a PAL DivX file still a problem
on an NTSC DVD player(one that is DivX compatible
that is) and NTSC TV?

[guns1inger]

The same basic rules apply. If the file is PAL then it needs to be converted to NTSC for output to NTSC televisions, or the television needs to be a multi-system TV to accept PAL output.

So no, it is not a universal panacea.

[hech54]

Now I know....thanks.

[TJohns]

What is your definition of a PAL AVI file?? Framerate is the only thing I could imagine.

[guns1inger]

Pretty much. But that is how the players look at it. Yes, they will, in most cases, convert the footage to output anything, but then many players can do that for DVDs as well. But many NTSC Divx players will see 25 fps, and if they are NTSC only, they won't play it.

[jman98]

Pretty much. But that is how the players look at it. Yes, they will, in most cases, convert the footage to output anything, but then many players can do that for DVDs as well. But many NTSC Divx players will see 25 fps, and if they are NTSC only, they won't play it.

I've never heard of a DVD player that supports Divx that can't handle PAL framerates. While it is true that there are a few NTSC only DVD players in the USA, the majority of DVD players sold in the USA actually are capable of converting PAL video to NTSC, even if the people who own them don't know that.

[jagabo]

In my experience, NTSC Divx/DVD players are very flexible with frame rates when playing Divx files.

[hech54]

the majority of DVD players sold in the USA actually are capable of converting PAL video to NTSC, even if the people who own them don't know that.

That's not the impression I get....even 4 years after leaving the U.S. From what I hear from friends and family back home it is business as usual/same old same old....converting players are still not the norm.

[jman98]

[quote="hech54"]

the majority of DVD players sold in the USA actually are capable of converting PAL video to NTSC, even if the people who own them don't know that.

That's not the impression I get....even 4 years after leaving the U.S. From what I hear from friends and family back home it is business as usual/same old same old....converting players are still not the norm.[/quote

Yes, they ARE the norm. Philips, Pioneer, Cyberhome, LG, and so on all make multi-region players in the USA. The problem is that for legal reasons the companies themselves cannot publish how to put the players in multi-region mode (the MPAA would flip out if they did that), so most people have no idea how to do that so they just conclude that "it can't be done". I just gave you a list of 4 manufacturers who make multi-region players in the USA. I could also include Oppo and probably Toshiba and Sony too, but not sure about those last 2. Some individual models may not be able to be easily switched to multi-region mode and if you have a portable, all bets are off. No offense, but your impression is colored by the fact that YOUR friends and family may not know anything about this subject, but that doesn't mean that nobody does. Your friends and family may also buy uncommon DVD players. Seriously, can you even find a player made by Philips and sold in the USA that can't be made to play in multi-region mode? I don't know of any.

[hech54]

Yes, they ARE the norm. Philips, Pioneer, Cyberhome, LG, and so on all make multi-region players in the USA. The problem is that for legal reasons the companies themselves cannot publish how to put the players in multi-region mode (the MPAA would flip out if they did that), so most people have no idea how to do that so they just conclude that "it can't be done". I just gave you a list of 4 manufacturers who make multi-region players in the USA. I could also include Oppo and probably Toshiba and Sony too, but not sure about those last 2. Some individual models may not be able to be easily switched to multi-region mode and if you have a portable, all bets are off. No offense, but your impression is colored by the fact that YOUR friends and family may not know anything about this subject, but that doesn't mean that nobody does. Your friends and family may also buy uncommon DVD players. Seriously, can you even find a player made by Philips and sold in the USA that can't be made to play in multi-region mode? I don't know of any.

Multi region does NOT mean it will display PAL correctly...IE...convert PAL to NTSC.....big difference.