Converting a PAL vhs to NTSC and vise versa

[SilverTeG]

My cousin recently sent me a vhs tape of Europe. The only problem is that it is in PAL format. I was thinking if I put the PAL vhs tape in my vcr and capture the movie to my hd and then convert it to NTSC will that work? Would the PAL movie work in my vcr in the first place? Now if I want to send one of our NTSC movies back to Europe for her to watch, how is that possible? I know I have to convert the NTSC to PAL but my vcr records in an NTSC format, correct?

Does that make sense to you ? I need to get this sorted out in the next few days. Any input would help me greatly. Thank you

[tmcmvd]

quite simple.... vhs tape will play, but no or bad picture. Problem cannot be solved since playback speed of pal and ntsc is different, so the rotating head has a different angle on which it writes and reads teh videotrack. WIth a little luck you will have audio in a slower of faster playback.

Only solution is buying a vcd that support PAL playback...they come from Philips and Panasonic and can often be bought on airports.

after PAL playback you can capture in PAL and convert to NTSC.

You wont be able to view the PAL playedback tape unless you have a Multinorm television which supports PAL.

After PC conversion it will work.

So buying or renting a multinorm is the only way...

other poss is make them send a VCD

Greetz.

Mike.

[tmcmvd]

addition...

This also implies that you cannot MAKE a pal VHS without a PAL source and a PAL recordig able VCR. OR she/he should have a multinorm also.

Best way is shipping MPEG/VCD back to play on his/her computer, if he/she has one...

For receiving...still got the vcr problem.

[SilverTeG]

Why thank you for posting so fast. Didn't think I would get a perfect answer like that. I realized that the format is not pal, it is secam. I have never heard of this format before. I do know that only some cap cards work with this format. Do you by any chance have a list of these cap cards that will work with secam? What frame rate is secam? I have an ATI All in wonder pro 128. Thank you so much

[tmcmvd]

Secam is a standard based on PAL. Has the same res and framrate, just the color info in stored different. When playing SECAM on a PAL VCR you won't have color...unless you have a multinorm television. But with PAL playback most VCR's also will play SECAM...perhaps the color is a problem though.

SECAM is used in France, Eastern Europe, Russia, parts of the Middle East, Central and Western Africa

Color difference information is transmitted sequentially on alternate lines as an FM signal in the PAL signal....TV has to support that. SECAM was invented by France and former USSR.

You might try a video copy shop...they often convert tapes to anything.... but the price and quality may differ.

Goodluck with the problem..

[kruemel]

Hello guys,

I have to make an additional statement on you SECAM/NTSC problem.
Sorry TMCMVD I don´t want to offend you but your statement about the multistandard vcr´s was not quite right. A NTSC vcr for example that is able to play back also SECAM provides you a NTSC signal as output. They convert the signal internal so that you can watch the tape an your tv (otherwise it would not make any sense).

Greetings

Manuel

[tmcmvd]

No offence taken...you are absolutely right. You are now talking of a PAL playback NTSC VCR...or a NTSC playback PAL VCR.

If I'm not mistaking a multinorm VCR can be used with any system in any country to play and record without conversion and multisystem tuners.

Just like Multinorm TV's..they only have to build one model. The problem with these VCR's could be, when used in a PAL country...they would need a PAL TV and when used in a NTSC country they would use a NTSC TV. So when used in a PAL country with a NTSC tape they would need a NTSC TV and not a PAL TV, or a Multinorm TV...At least that's what I unerstood of it.

I may have misunderstood though...never the less...is't still a problem for SilverTeG.

Greetz.

[Seamus]

Would the PAL movie work in my vcr in the first place? Now if I want to send one of our NTSC movies back to Europe for her to watch, how is that possible?

I can tell you that here in Australia we, like Britain, use the PAL system. Here is an extract from the manual:
NTSC Playback
Tapes recorded in the NTSC system can be played back with this VCR via a PAL system TV.
* Set NTSC Select according to the colour TV system of the TV.
NTSC P.B.: For TVs that can recieve PAL signals.
4.43: For TVs that can receive NTSC 4.43 signals.
3.58: For TVs that can receive NTSC 3.58 signals.

Note:
On some TVs, the playback picture may roll up or down; adjust this using the V-HOLD control on the TV. TVs not equipped with a V-HOLD control cannot correct this condition. The playback picture may shrink vertically, and black bars may appear on the top and bottom of the screen. This does not indicate a malfunction.
* During cue, review, still or slow playback, the picture may not be in colour. Alternatively, the top of the TV screen may be distorted.

Note for only NTSC Playback on PAL system TV
This function is designed to allow only the playback of tapes recorded by NTSC signals on a PAL system TV. The NTSC signal is not completely converted to a PAL signal. For this reason, images played back by this function cannot be recorded correctly on other VCRs.
* NTSC 3.58 recording requires NTSC SELECT to be in 3.58 position, however if NTSC SELECT is in this position when recording a NTSC 3.58 signal, no colour is available for the PAL TV. Once the recording is completed, you then need to switch 3.58 to NTSC P.B. to view the recording in colour on PAL TV.

Most Aussie VCRs can playback NTSC tapes.

[Anonymous65]

Spend $20, and I'll convert it for you

http://easyvideo.kittelsen.com