Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / UK PAL Video Format

Author
Message
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 07:53
Link
I come to you all with a technical problem I'm hoping could be solved for free. I recently contacted a very unknown band from Scotland and requested a video of one of their concerts. The singer said she could get me a tape, but it would be in "UK PAL" format.

I'm in America and know nothing of the PAL format. If there is no way for me to view this without going out and buying a PAL player, is there a way someone in the UK could rip it to their pc and send it to me (arrangements would be made for your troubles)

Thanks for any help,
Matt

My less-pimp name was Mattman.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Scraggle
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 08:03
Link
I could do it for you. However, tommorrow I am going to Spain for a week so it will have to wait until I get back.


Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 08:15
Link
Have you checked your own VHS? I mean most of ours for years have been able to play both NTSC and PAL formats. But it's been yonks since anyone has advertised a player as having NTSC compatibility. Bit like 16V or injection on cars (remember fords that had INJECTION in huge letters on their cars - arf). Who cares after a while.

You should ask them to chuck onto a DVD for you. Region 0 just in case. It is Scotland though, so it's lucky you don't get Betamax or something

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 08:36
Link
Is a PAL different then a VCR tape? is it a disc? I'm sorry but I am nowhere near familiar to PAL.

Scraggle > If no other options come up before when you get back I would really appreciate it.

My less-pimp name was Mattman.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 08:45
Link
Quote: " Is a PAL different then a VCR tape?"
No. It is the format of the screen on your TV. PAL and NTSC are basically just different setups. If I remember rightly PAL is higher resolution, but NTSC (Never The Same Color jokes here please) has more FPS basically. Was annoying on older consoles, as we would get higher resolution on some games, but the game wouldn't be as smooth (Tekken was a classic example). Once they got their acts together we got the higher frame rates (if your TV can handle it).

If you plug a PAL VHS tape into a NTSC only player then it will just look messed up. Look in your VCR manual though, it may have a PAL mode, which (if like ours) will be automatic. Like with long play recordings (you know it will automatically detect the speed and play it fine, transparently to the user).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 08:51
Link
Hmm, I'll go take a check with my VCR. Thanks Dazzag

My less-pimp name was Mattman.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Raven
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2005
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 10:46
Link
I'm sure someone you know will have a PAL compatible VCR, as Dazzag said most of ours have been dual format for what 15years now?

It's the same with Multi-Region DVD Players; at first it's a novelty because only a few have it, but after a while it's taken for granted.

The main difference you'll see is it'll look like the picture can't hold itself. You know like when a school projector starts off slowly and you see the framees slowly creepig upwards.

NTSC is the same and slowly creeps downward. It doesn't harm the tape in any way; but weird to watch. The VCR/DVD I have filters out and exports any format from any format in. (techically not legal lol damn stupid UK Format laws)

Most you'll find will accept both formats but export it as NTSC.
The differences comes down the resolution and fps.

NTSC - 720x480 @ 60Hz
PAL - 720x512 @ 50Hz

So you can imagine the screen won't output correctly if it's trying to use another format.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Scraggle
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 16:26 Edited at: 11th Jun 2005 16:28
Link
Dual format VCR's seem to be a UK only thing. I have tried buying a Dual format VCR in the USA but none of the shop assistants had any clue what I was talking about.
I suppose it makes sense a little, I mean most of the good movies are made in the states and are available before they are in the UK. That was the main reason people in the UK wanted NTSC compatible VCR's, so they could buy movies from the USA long before they were available in the UK. Which was also one of the main reasons for region coding DVD players.
About 18 months ago I tried buying a multi region DVD player in the USA but had similar luck to the VCR purchase ... none of the assistants had any idea! Probably for the same reason too - an American would gain no advantage buying a multi region DVD player but a UK citizan could buy pre-release movies from the USA.

My attempted purchases were about 3 years ago and 18 months ago respectively so thing may well have changed since then. I would still recommend checking you VCR just in case.

Quote: "Scraggle > If no other options come up before when you get back I would really appreciate it."

I get back on Sunday 19th. If you still have no joy then drop me an email and I will sort it out for you


Back to top
Profile PM Email
indi
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 16:59
Link
australia is pal and zone 4 but we have multi format PAL/NTSC vcrs and some smaller dvd players are region free. depends on the model

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
Back to top
Profile PM Email
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 17:24
Link
Quote: "Is a PAL different then a VCR tape? is it a disc? I'm sorry but I am nowhere near familiar to PAL."


lmao

I know it's been answered already, but I just thought I'd answer it again.

PAL is a vhs. Just that its a different format to whatever you play in America. (Not that that matters for us, as we have the aforementioned video players that can't care less).

Having said that it's about a year since I've handled a video tape, all recording has been done via Sky+

Final random point: why do american televisions look so blurry? I've seen news footage etc of people in america showing tv screens and programmes and it looks awful.

"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
come on now. A book. I hate books. book is stupid. I know that I need codes but I dont know the codes"
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 11th Jun 2005 20:43
Link
Quote: "an American would gain no advantage buying a multi region DVD player"
Well, you would if you wanted some stuff you only could get in other parts of the world. Not just UK.

Quote: "australia is pal and zone 4"
Yeah, I have a DVD that says region 4, but also that this is compat with region 2 (the online shop said region 4 works on region 2 players, and it was uber-cheap). But it *isn't* region 0. Works on all of my region 2 players.

Quote: "all recording has been done via Sky+"
Even with some of it's annoyances, ain't it great? And the new GUI should be out in a few months too. Cross fingers it looks a lot better

Quote: "why do american televisions look so blurry?"
Isn't that a result of NTSC being a bit naff? That Never The Same Color joke apparently is well known throughout the industry.

Out of interest, I thought PAL was more than 512 lines? Thought it was about 570ish? And the true lines being over 600, but we store other stuff in there, like Teletext.

Not that VHS comes anywhere near. Isn't it like 210 lines or some such rubbish?

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Oraculaca
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Jan 2003
Location: Scotland
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 02:30
Link
If your having major probs get it sent to me. I live in Scotland so it wont be a major hassle for them. Let me know and ill give you my email/home address.
BTW whats the band?

Back to top
Profile PM
David R
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Sep 2003
Location: 3.14
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 02:54
Link
Also;

PAL = 24fps
NTSC = 30fps (I think)

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:07
Link
Thanks for the offers Scraggle and JohnG. My Dad and I have been doing research into my VCR so we'll see what we can do.

The band is Bis, a great punk / electro band

My less-pimp name was Mattman.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Raven
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2005
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:19
Link
Quote: "Well, you would if you wanted some stuff you only could get in other parts of the world. Not just UK."


Autralia, Europe, Japan, and UK iirc all run on PAL.
It's only particularly the USA that uses NTSC.

Though we all use different variations of PAL, cause the UK it's PAL-I, and Japan it's PAL-G. So it's a little frustrating because the -[letter] seems to indicate minor descrepencies in the playback speed and colour.

Quote: "PAL = 24fps
NTSC = 30fps (I think)"


no..

Film = ~24 FPS
PAL = ~25 FPS
NTSC = ~30 FPS

I mean they're all .9xx but because each format of them is slightly different you should just round up. Not sure for the difference between Film and PAL tbh but there is.

Quote: "
Thanks for the offers Scraggle and JohnG. My Dad and I have been doing research into my VCR so we'll see what we can do.

The band is Bis, a great punk / electro band"


Just import one from the UK and get a currency converter.
I do that with US/JP hardware all the time.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
indi
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:21
Link
the version of ntsc i know runs at 29.97 fps



http://www.nattress.com/standardsConversionTechInfo.htm

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
Back to top
Profile PM Email
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:22
Link
Quote: "Quote: "all recording has been done via Sky+"
Even with some of it's annoyances, ain't it great? And the new GUI should be out in a few months too. Cross fingers it looks a lot better"


I've read about it having annoyances but honestly I can't fault it. Its got a little hum sometimes, but when the TV's on its immediately drowned out.

The UI isn't super smooth but then again it gets the job done very well.

Although IMO it's a bit too easy to delete stuff. Perhaps a confirmation screen every time you delete would work.

Still, looking forward to the new software.

Quote: "Quote: "why do american televisions look so blurry?"
Isn't that a result of NTSC being a bit naff? That Never The Same Color joke apparently is well known throughout the industry. "


Most probably. Heehee. Never The Same Colour. Like it

"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
come on now. A book. I hate books. book is stupid. I know that I need codes but I dont know the codes"
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:23
Link
@Raven did you not see my first post
Quote: " I come to you all with a technical problem I'm hoping could be solved for free"


My less-pimp name was Mattman.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Raven
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2005
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:26
Link
Yeah, it's just a hope. Personally I'd get Multi-Format kit though.
I mean a decent VCR is like what? £20-25 ($45), same goes for most DVD.

You could get from Japan (£1 = ¥250ish), so most of thier stuff works out like half price or something. Just not sure how much Japanese you can read

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Oraculaca
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Jan 2003
Location: Scotland
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 03:38
Link
No probs, I think I mentioned in another post I saw them one time at the Barrowlands is it Manda Rin or something was the singer. I thought she was a tv presenter nowadays though.

Back to top
Profile PM
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 04:16
Link
JohnG > Sweet! I was too young to ever see them but recently they regrouped at "Data Panik" so I got into contact with Manda. She's always been in music for all I know, she has a side project with her husband and manages another band.

My less-pimp name was Mattman.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David R
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Sep 2003
Location: 3.14
Posted: 12th Jun 2005 05:03
Link
Quote: "no..

Film = ~24 FPS
PAL = ~25 FPS
NTSC = ~30 FPS"


Yeah - 1fps out. Kill me now.

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Scraggle
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 21st Jun 2005 06:37
Link
I'm back from holiday now ... do you still require my assistance?


Back to top
Profile PM Email
Mattman
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2003
Location: East Lansing
Posted: 21st Jun 2005 07:39 Edited at: 21st Jun 2005 07:39
Link
I don't really know yet. Thanks for the offer, I'll get back to you once my Dad gives me the final decision on if we are getting a different VCR (as our current on is crap, not that you need a good VCR or anything ) or not

God nobody reads signatures nowadays.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-15 08:48:34
Your offset time is: 2024-11-15 08:48:34