Convert PAL DVD To NTSC DVD?

[Onfire]

I Have Downloaded A PAL Version DVD To My HD. I Was Wondering How I Would Convert To NTSC. I Use NERO To Burn. Is It Just As Easy As Telling Nero I Want To Burn As NTSC AS Long As The Files Are On My HD.

Thanks,
Onfire

[atomic_punk]

I think you have to convert the video which will result in quality loss..

[SIBLY]

Many set top dvd players will play both, especially cheaper ones. Check videohelp.com for player compatabilities.

[Lou]

Doesn't really matter if you have a DVD player that will play it, the issue is the TV. Unless you have a PAL-compatible TV, which I don't even know you can get in the US, the picture will be black and white and disproportionate, basically unwatchable. The only place you can watch a PAL DVD in full capability is on the computer or perhaps one of those handheld DVD players.

[Onfire]

I Did A Search @ afterdawn.com & This Is What I Found.

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/167922

It Seems Pretty Easy To Do. Like I Said I Have NERO & This Is Saying That It Will Convert It For Me.

Thanks Guys, :rock:
Onfire

[ron]

My understanding is that the above method is a hack that won't work for all/most players. I think the only real way to do it involves transcoding/reencoding the video, which means a loss of quality.

[Onfire]

Hey Ron,

Do You Know How Much Quality Might Be Lost? Will It Be Enjoyable To Watch?

Thanks,
Onfire

[ron]

The quality loss shouldn't be too bad, but alot depends on the source I think. I've never done this myself.

More info here: http://www.geocities.com/xesdeeni2001/StandardsConversion/
Scroll down to the PAL DVD -> NTSC DVD section. (Section 6)

[Onfire]

Hey Ron,

Thanks For The Info & The Link! It Was Very Helpful Information. Im Hoping To Convert This DVD With Little Loss Of Quality. I Plan To Share It If All Works Out Well. I Will Leave The Title A Secret Till I Post. I Know There Will Be A Few Leechers Out There For This One.

Onfire

[RedHouse]

This method has worked for me every time so far:

http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=917098#917098

You must have a DVD authored to fit the burnable media (4.7G) then do the trick described at that link, it works.

Don't pay any attention to the whiners who posted that is doesn't work ...it does, if you do it right and have a reasonable quality DVD player. Don't forget to tick the "Automatic Letterbox" option, that seems to be part of the trick.

I have succcessfully changed over quite a few comedy DVD's from Scotland (UK) to play on my off-the-shelf JVC DVD player here in the US.

Of course nothing will do an entire DVD-9 size disc without re-authoring unless you use DVD Shrink, but then you'll have quality loss as it re-compresses, while not horibly bad, it is quite noticable.

I use the IFO trick by ripping the DVD to my HDD, splitting the content into at least two parts, re-author them into a DVD's but before burning ...do the IFO patch trick... then burn, mine play every time!.

[fleshtwister]

I had tried the IFOedit method a few days ago and it does't work for me. :rant: It just depends on your player. I have a Sony and it will not play them, it tries but it's a no go.

I suggest anyone that wants to test this method be ready to make some coasters.

Good luck!

[RedHouse]

Yeah, it's not 100%, it only works on like 90% of the players out there curently.

[ammscray]

Nerovision 3 will do it, with NO loss of quality whatsoever, I've done a bunch of conversions and compared them to the original PAL...

The only problem is it only works for movie only, if there's menus there, or subtitles and such, you'll lose 'em, nerovision requires that you re-author the DVD which is mental, I don't know why they do that!

Just add your video files to nerovision, hit the "more" button underneath and select "video options"and check the output as NTSC, high quality, "progressive" sample format, set the encode to 2-pass, and burn it...it takes about 4-5 hours for a full DVD but the conversion is perfect!

[frankm]

Nerovision 3 will do it, with NO loss of quality whatsoever, I've done a bunch of conversions and compared them to the original PAL
I'm sorry but I can't believe that. You may not notice the difference but there is a difference and the difference HAS TO BE a loss of quality. It maybe minimal, it maybe be very minimal but it HAS TO be there. You can't say there is "NO" loss of quality. Maybe not to your eyes. But I guarantee it is there.

[ibmwarpster]

It doesn't really matter though. As long as he keeps the PAL master for trading.

[restlessgypsy]

I'm sorry but I can't believe that. You may not notice the difference but there is a difference and the difference HAS TO BE a loss of quality. It maybe minimal, it maybe be very minimal but it HAS TO be there. You can't say there is "NO" loss of quality. Maybe not to your eyes. But I guarantee it is there.

Agree with you, but there's one format better than them : SECAM, unfortunately it's disappeared with the arrival of the DVD system.

[MaxxPower]

Yes, any time you re-encode something, there's definitely loss of quality. Whether it's noticeable is up to the individual.

[ammscray]

I'm sorry but I can't believe that. You may not notice the difference but there is a difference and the difference HAS TO BE a loss of quality. It maybe minimal, it maybe be very minimal but it HAS TO be there. You can't say there is "NO" loss of quality. Maybe not to your eyes. But I guarantee it is there.

Hey you know what? You don't have to believe it...just try it, rather than trying to split hairs

If your eyes don't see a difference (and you won't) then there isn't one, simple as that, if it walks, etc etc...technical differences or specs don't mean squat to me if I don't notice them

Thanks for the "guarantee", but it doesn't mean anything to me no offense

thank god for nerovsion!

[ron]

If your eyes don't see a difference (and you won't) then there isn't one, simple as that, if it walks, etc etc...technical differences or specs don't mean squat to me if I don't notice them
Please make sure that you indicate these conversions on your trade list so that people know what they are getting!

[jmiahp]

This method has worked for me every time so far:

http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=917098#917098

You must have a DVD authored to fit the burnable media (4.7G) then do the trick described at that link, it works.

Don't pay any attention to the whiners who posted that is doesn't work ...it does, if you do it right and have a reasonable quality DVD player. Don't forget to tick the "Automatic Letterbox" option, that seems to be part of the trick.

I have succcessfully changed over quite a few comedy DVD's from Scotland (UK) to play on my off-the-shelf JVC DVD player here in the US.

Of course nothing will do an entire DVD-9 size disc without re-authoring unless you use DVD Shrink, but then you'll have quality loss as it re-compresses, while not horibly bad, it is quite noticable.

I use the IFO trick by ripping the DVD to my HDD, splitting the content into at least two parts, re-author them into a DVD's but before burning ...do the IFO patch trick... then burn, mine play every time!.

The above link works for me as well....... One problem I have is a menu issue. The menus are there, but the "buttons/highlights/links" (whatever you want to call them) that navigate do not show up. The up/down remote button still works for the menu, but you can't be certain what you've selected unless you count or track how many times you go up or down.

[frankm]

just try it
I don't have to try it, I've already done it. I've converted tons of PAL to NTSC and tons of NTSC to PAL. I've also used lots of different methods. Sometimes one works better than another, sometimes it doesn't. For me when I do a transfer, usually I'll do it a couple different times to see what gives me the best result.

If your eyes don't see a difference (and you won't) then there isn't one
I don't even know where to start with that one. Just because you don't see a difference doesn't mean someone else won't see the difference. Just because you don't see the difference doesn't mean the difference doesn't exist. Converting the video is converting the video and converting the video is changing it and you can't deny that ... no matter how hard you try.

it doesn't mean anything to me no offense
I take no offense and I hope you take no offense either. I honestly don't mean to offend. I'm just saying that you can't make a statement like, "NO loss of quality whatsoever". You could say, "I see no difference" but you can't say, "there is no difference". I also find the statement, "If your eyes don't see a difference ... then there isn't one", amazing. As previously stated, just because you don't see a difference doesn't mean the difference doesn't exist.


Please make sure that you indicate these conversions on your trade list so that people know what they are getting!
I agree completely and whenever I make conversions I make notes about it so people know what exactly they are getting from me. I have even put it into the Menu of DVDs that I have authored (although usually I do this for personal use and no one ever see the converted video).

If you are going to do these conversions, I say go ahead, make all the conversions you like, do it all the time BUT please, please, please, please, make note of it. Please let people know what has and has not been done. Who knows, maybe you'll get more trades out of it once people see the excellent job you are doing. I just think it is essential to have full disclosure.

[zzxxy]

hi,

ok, there are two NTSC standards. regular NTSC 29.97/30 FPS and NTSC Film 23.97/24 FPS. that IFO patch hack sounds interesting and easy, but now if you really want to do a PAL to NTSC conversion, try finding some software that would do a direct framerate conversionwithout re-encoding it! maybe try converting PAL which is 25 FPS to NTSC Film 23.97/24 FPS would probably work better. since its only dropping one frame instead of adding extra five frames would probably work better. and then tested it out on a DVD-RW, so you can erase it if it doesn't work out. just some ideas ;)

[ammscray]

I don't have to try it, I've already done it. I've converted tons of PAL to NTSC and tons of NTSC to PAL. I've also used lots of different methods. Sometimes one works better than another, sometimes it doesn't. For me when I do a transfer, usually I'll do it a couple different times to see what gives me the best result.


I don't even know where to start with that one. Just because you don't see a difference doesn't mean someone else won't see the difference. Just because you don't see the difference doesn't mean the difference doesn't exist. Converting the video is converting the video and converting the video is changing it and you can't deny that ... no matter how hard you try.


I take no offense and I hope you take no offense either. I honestly don't mean to offend. I'm just saying that you can't make a statement like, "NO loss of quality whatsoever". You could say, "I see no difference" but you can't say, "there is no difference". I also find the statement, "If your eyes don't see a difference ... then there isn't one", amazing. As previously stated, just because you don't see a difference doesn't mean the difference doesn't exist.



I agree completely and whenever I make conversions I make notes about it so people know what exactly they are getting from me. I have even put it into the Menu of DVDs that I have authored (although usually I do this for personal use and no one ever see the converted video).

If you are going to do these conversions, I say go ahead, make all the conversions you like, do it all the time BUT please, please, please, please, make note of it. Please let people know what has and has not been done. Who knows, maybe you'll get more trades out of it once people see the excellent job you are doing. I just think it is essential to have full disclosure.

Thanks for your posts bro...

I should have mentioned before, that I've been a professional film, video and audio guy in Hollywood for 25 years...it's my business to see, and hear things that other people don't...so that's where I'm coming from...

yeah, on a scope or analyzer there'll be a difference, but if I can't see it, it's safe to say that 99 percent of everybody else won't...so I'm happy with the nero conversions because evrything else I tried didn't work...like the IFOedit and VOBlanker methods and so on, they were all jerky, and the quality did suffer, very obviously...no good

and regarding announcing about the conversions in a trade, I would ALWAYS do that...though I haven't posted any conversions yet...

peace
AM

[128db]

I haven't read the links found in this post but I have used VOBBlanker to switch the movie to NTSC. There is a problem showing the menus though because the graphic in the menu is the wrong size. This method works just fantastic if all you want is the movie file.

I also have a cheap Philips DVD player that also plays .avi files and it plays PAL movies just fine on my 65" TV...

My 2 cents....