VCD PAL and NTSC

[francise]

background info:

A link to Google

(edited: I edited that link because it was stuffing up the forum display) -- vitualis

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After posting that at the beginning of the year, I m once again confused.
This is
the only thing I m sure of
1. VCD disks come in NTSC & PAL

Are these following assumptions correct
1. Any DVD/VCD player can play both these disks *irrespective* of whether it is being played to an NTSC or PAL TV
2. If a DVD/VCD player is playing a PAL disk to an NTSC TV, it will do some PAL-NTSC conversion and the resulting image will be inferior compared to an NTSC disk played on teh same player.
3. If I m creating VCDs from my NTSC VHS cassettes, its best to create the VCD in NTSC mode, inorder to avoid any record-time conversion.
Thanks a lot.

[vitualis]

Are these following assumptions correct
1. Any DVD/VCD player can play both these disks *irrespective* of whether it is being played to an NTSC or PAL TV

FALSE. Generally, most DVD players can play back both PAL and NTSC discs. However, many can only output a PAL signal for a PAL disc and an NTSC signal for an NTSC disc.

If you (for example) are using NTSC only equipment (that is, you have an NTSC TV that is not multisystems compatible) then the PAL disc will not play properly on your TV.

If you, however, have a DVD player can can convert between PAL and NTSC (some do), then you can playback BOTH formats even if you don't have a multisystems TV.

Basically, to be able to playback both PAL and NTSC material you need either:
(1) a DVD player that can convert between PAL and NTSC
and/or
(2) a multisystems TV.

This is often not the case in US.

2. If a DVD/VCD player is playing a PAL disk to an NTSC TV, it will do some PAL-NTSC conversion and the resulting image will be inferior compared to an NTSC disk played on teh same player.

As per above. Firstly, it may not do a conversion at all so you have an unwatchable picture. Assuming that a conversion does take place, then your assumption is probably correct.

3. If I m creating VCDs from my NTSC VHS cassettes, its best to create the VCD in NTSC mode, inorder to avoid any record-time conversion.

Yes. You should avoid framerate conversions if possible.

Most newer PAL equipment is multisystems capable so they can play NTSC material just fine.

Regards.