Wedding DVDs conversion from PAL to NTSC help

[jag3er]

I'm looking for help, I tried several things and can't get any converter to do this job. My last attempt was with TOTAL VIDEO software and here are my steps:

On my iMac (10.6.5), I am able to make a straight copy of the DVDs with Toast 8, but I can't convert to NTSC and built in DVD player won't play the DVD (I'm in the US, it says not supported). The DVD will play in VLC Player however. So, when I'm in TOTAL PLAYER, I get the following.

When I open the DVD, I can only open the VIDEO_TS folder, it has the following files:
VIDEO_TS.BUP - 12KB
VIDEO_TS.IFO - 12 KB
VIDEO_TS.VOB - 45 KB
VTS_01_0.BUP - 41 KB
VTS_01_0.IFO - 41 KB
VTS_01_1.VOB - 1.07 GB
VTS_01_2.VOB - 1.07 GB
VTS_01_3.VOB - 1.07 GB
VTS_01_4.VOB - 704.1 MB

When I select the CD/DVD format in the top dropdown and select NTSC DVD and then click to convert, I get these messages one at a time, so when I uncheck the file, the next error comes up, here they are in the order
/Volumes/Wedding-Part1/VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP: Unknown format
/Volumes/Wedding-Part1/VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO: Unknown format
/Volumes/Wedding-Part1/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.BUP: Unknown format
/Volumes/Wedding-Part1/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.IFO: Unknown format
Error while opening codec for output stream #0.1 - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height
Error while opening codec for output stream #0.1 - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height
Error while opening codec for output stream #0.1 - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height
Error while opening codec for output stream #0.1 - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height

When I open VLC player and get info for the VOB files, they all are
AUDIO Stream 1, codec mpga, 48000Hz, 224 kb/s
VIDEO Stream 0, codec mpgv, 720x576, frame rate 25

The only thing TOTAL VIDEO was able to convert is VIDEO_TS.VOB (but it has zero minutes of video?). When I go to settings and try to find the mpga or mpgv codecs, they're not listed.

Can anyone on the forum help? I will pay for the software, just need something that will work. Holidays are coming and my wife is not happy that for the last 4 months I was unable to convert from PAL to NTSC. We live in the US, but the wedding was in another country and the wedding photographer made for us DVDs in the PAL format. I got a special DVD player that will play the PAL discs, but when we visit family we have to get these converted to NTSC DVD so they can watch, too.

I also have a Video CD disc that has a nice summary of the wedding, but that won't play in the iMAc at all, not even in VLC player. Toast won't recognize it to make a copy either. I am getting desperate.

We also have a Vista Laptop, but that would be my last resort.

[hech54]

When I open the DVD, I can only open the VIDEO_TS folder, it has the following files:
VIDEO_TS.BUP - 12KB
VIDEO_TS.IFO - 12 KB
VIDEO_TS.VOB - 45 KB
VTS_01_0.BUP - 41 KB
VTS_01_0.IFO - 41 KB
VTS_01_1.VOB - 1.07 GB
VTS_01_2.VOB - 1.07 GB
VTS_01_3.VOB - 1.07 GB
VTS_01_4.VOB - 704.1 MB

These are DVD files. Every DVD has these.

Holidays are coming and my wife is not happy that for the last 4 months I was unable to convert from PAL to NTSC.

Tell your wife it is NOT easy....because it is NOT easy. Even seasoned pros HATE converting between video formats and avoid it at all costs.

[Backpain]

You would need to hookup you PAL player to your MAC via a converter box, (me I have a video card in my PC witch captures from my TV or VCR and DVD player) and record the video onto it your MAC. Then remaster the video with software and burn it to a DVD.

[neomaine]

It would probably be easier to get a divorse.

[lordsmurf]

There is no magic "PAL to NTSC" software.
Even then, most PAL/NTSC conversion methods are crap.

Read this: http://www.digitalFAQ.com/guides/video/convert-pal-ntsc.htm

Most all DVD players worldwide play both PAL and NTSC.
It's easier to buy a new DVD player.

Or get that divorce.

[usually_quiet]

A small or portable DVD player with a PAL to NTSC video converter that you could take with you when visiting family would be a whole lot cheaper than a divorce, and a whole lot less trouble than converting the video.

Here is one example,
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674870-REG/Philips_PET_741_PET741_7_Multisystem_Portable.html

...and region-free versions of it are available elsewhere for more if you want that:
http://www.220-electronics.com/portable/philips741.htm

There should be others that would work too.

[victoriabears]

So you have some PAL dvd's that were created by a wedding videographer that will not play on your relatives (in the USA?) dvd players. & your relatives want their own copy. If they do not want thier own copy take your vista laptop and output to their TV

Surely a local service could do the transfers for you?

questions, I am presuming you are travelling to your relatives by plane so carrying hardware is a pain?

Do you have a dvd recorder, or have access to one? , if you do, play the dvd's on that and output the result to the dvd recorder, the resulting dvd's(make sure they are finalised) will then play on your relatives dvd player.

solutions:-

buy them a suitable dvd player for Christmas and just copy the wedding dvd's

use a local service

send them to me (preferably a copy) and I will convert for you for free, I do this coz I find this subject makes me want to scream and run round the world.

if you have a dvd recorder do as previously suggested

use tmpg enc to convert, it has always worked for me

Ask the person who created the dvd's in the first place to create NTSC versions.

If you need any more help feel free to pm me, this subject has been discussed many many times on this forum and is easy to fix