PAL vhs tapes to tv-tuner

[decadechild]

PAL vhs tapes to tv-tuner through Composite video.
I've done NTSC tapes fine, but don't have a PAL VCR to try the old PAL tapes.

Could my tv-tuner (a Phillips card from a Sony VAIO RA820G desktop) recieve the signal from a PAL VCR?

Are there any PAL-only VCRs that work in the US? Just so I can play the PAL tapes from it and capture the signal with my computer.
The multisystem VCRs are around $200 and would be pointless for me since I just need something to show the PAL tapes. A converter I guess I would need if my tv-tuner can't capture PAL video, but my sister has a new HP MCE with a tv-tuner of it's own, that could be my second shot.

I've got about 8. So it would cost me too much to get them converted at a video service shop, but it also looks to me like it would cost too much getting a multisystem VCR (and then maybe a converter too).

Help me out please?

[DB83]

If you mean that you capture the video via an analoge connector then yes as the capture software will recognise the correct signal.

If the VCR is directly connected to the tv-tuner input then no. All tv-tuners are country specific and yours will inevitably only see an NTSC signal.

A PAL only VCR will work in the US. You just need a voltage converter to reduce the 220/240 volts down to what you use over there.

[victoriabears]

Just a point here, many many uk vcr's work fine on 110.
Trying it would do not harm, the other way round might, but taking a 220 and trying it on a 110 supply should not.

[edDV]

PAL vhs tapes to tv-tuner through Composite video.
I've done NTSC tapes fine, but don't have a PAL VCR to try the old PAL tapes.

Could my tv-tuner (a Phillips card from a Sony VAIO RA820G desktop) receive the signal from a PAL VCR?

Are there any PAL-only VCRs that work in the US? Just so I can play the PAL tapes from it and capture the signal with my computer.
The multisystem VCRs are around $200 and would be pointless for me since I just need something to show the PAL tapes. A converter I guess I would need if my tv-tuner can't capture PAL video, but my sister has a new HP MCE with a tv-tuner of it's own, that could be my second shot.

I've got about 8. So it would cost me too much to get them converted at a video service shop, but it also looks to me like it would cost too much getting a multisystem VCR (and then maybe a converter too).

Help me out please?

Multiple ways to proceed.

Big cities have "service shops" that do medium quality transcode dubs. Best deals are found in Chinese or Indian ethnic focused ads.

Many Chinese DVD players can be set to play PAL tapes as PAL. Big name players usually don't. Check the DVD player user comments to the left. I have an older Cyberhome CH DVD-300 that plays PAL tapes in PAL. Many but not all generic tuner cards can be set to decode composite PAL. All-in Wonder cards won't. Keep trying cards until you find one that works. Once converted PAL MPeg2 encoded DVD's will play using most computer software players but don't expect these DVD's to play to an NTSC TV.

Some DVD players convert PAL to NTSC output on the fly. Check user comments to the left. I have a JVC XV-N650 that I got for less than $50 that does this. Some players do this only to analog component, not composite NTSC or S-Video.

[decadechild]

If you mean that you capture the video via an analoge connector then yes as the capture software will recognise the correct signal.

If the VCR is directly connected to the tv-tuner input then no.

Isn't that the same thing? I would be using Composite video. So, it would go through the tv-tuner, but Composite is analog.

Just a point here, many many uk vcr's work fine on 110.

I can't seem to find any PAL (only) VCRs here in the US. Online at least. I guess I should go visit a video service shop.

Many Chinese DVD players can be set to play PAL tapes as PAL. Big name players usually don't. Check the DVD player user comments to the left. I have an older Cyberhome CH DVD-300 that plays PAL tapes in PAL. Many but not all generic tuner cards can be set to decode composite PAL. All-in Wonder cards won't. Keep trying cards until you find one that works. Once converted PAL MPeg2 encoded DVD's will play using most computer software players but don't expect these DVD's to play to an NTSC TV.

Some DVD players convert PAL to NTSC output on the fly. Check user comments to the left. I have a JVC XV-N650 that I got for less than $50 that does this. Some players do this only to analog component, not composite NTSC or S-Video.

Couldn't I convert it to a NTSC video if I ever want to put it on a DVD? Don't know enough on this subject specifically, but in thought there shouldn't be much quality loss to change the frame rate and add black lines for the sides since NTSC is more wide.

[edDV]

DVDs seem like a much less of a problem. I'm talking about VHS cassettes.

Then you need a PAL VHS player or a multisystem player.

You will need to search ebay or order international. If it doesn't support 110-120VAC at 60Hz power then you need a step up transformer plus a matching plug adapter.
http://www.220-electronics.com/Transformers/trans/twowaytrans.htm

You will also need a PAL capable capture card and a PAL capable software player.

Couldn't I convert it to a NTSC video if I ever want to put it on a DVD? Don't know enough on this subject specifically, but in thought there shouldn't be much quality loss to change the frame rate and add black lines for the sides since NTSC is more wide.

Depends how you cap it. If you cap to 702-720 by 576 @ 50Hz* and then convert to 720x480 @ 29.97Hz, then every frame needs to be software constructed and it will have loss. Many methods exist once you get the capture file. Search the archives.

If this is just a few tapes, it would be cheaper to have them hardware converted to DVD.


* another option is 768x576 square pixel @ 50 Hz. for 4:3 tapes.

[Guy_Fawkes]

I did exactly what you are trying to do using a multistream Samsung VCR. It could take PAL tape output them to NTSC. From there I used my captring card to make it intoa NTSC DVD at 720. Samsung has discontinued the model. but Sharp has a very similar unit

http://www.barrel-of-monkeys.com/graphics/prod/multisystemvcr/sharp/sharp-multisys-vcra.shtml


The quality of the tape dicted the quality of the DVD

[DB83]

If you mean that you capture the video via an analoge connector then yes as the capture software will recognise the correct signal.

If the VCR is directly connected to the tv-tuner input then no.

Isn't that the same thing? I would be using Composite video. So, it would go through the tv-tuner, but Composite is analog.

Not on my capture card. That has seperate inputs for the tuner (country specific) via a coax cable and component video (composite/s-video). You can have one or the other but not as you stated composite through the tuner. Possibly pedantic and maybe your own words confused the issue.

[decadechild]

I did exactly what you are trying to do using a multistream Samsung VCR. It could take PAL tape output them to NTSC. From there I used my captring card to make it intoa NTSC DVD at 720. Samsung has discontinued the model. but Sharp has a very similar unit

http://www.barrel-of-monkeys.com/graphics/prod/multisystemvcr/sharp/sharp-multisys-vcra.shtml


The quality of the tape dicted the quality of the DVD

I noticed it says:

PAL/SECAM Playback on PAL TV
PAL/SECAM playback on NTSC TV (American TV) with the use of our VDC-1660 Video Converter.

Would I need to get that Video Converter?


What model did you use that is now discontinued?



I called up all the VCR-related businesses around where I live, and none of them sell any Multi-System VCRs (or PAL only) and only 1 business converts, the quote I got was "hundreds per tape". No surprise, another store told me Best Buy should be able to help me. <_<

Looks like I'll just need to buy a VCR that can read PAL tapes.
Any recommendations? (I have about 8 tapes)