Earlier this week, I ordered (from the US) a VHS video of an old film
that I am dying to see. This was, of course, NTSC. (It's not available
on DVD)

Yesterday, I bought a Sony VHS video recorder that allows me to play &
record in PAL and also playback in NTSC.

I already have a Panasonic VHS PAL player/recorder. 

Is it feasible for me to play the NTSC tape on one machine and record
it in VHS on the other.

I understand that it's not illegal to make a backup tape for one's own
use which is all that I intend.

If it's feasible, how do I go about it?


There's a pleasing tip for the necessary know how.

Many thanks.

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 Apr 2003 22:19 PST

My thanks to Robert Skelton ... The site suggests that I also need a
'Digital Converter' but then ...

My thanks to xarqi ... who suggests that I just need the necessary
cables.

Incidentally, both sets have SCART sockets, if that matters ...

However, I have to wait for my tape to arrive before I can proceed.

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 Apr 2003 23:13 PST

Hi, Robert

Many thanks for your further posting and links.

KR
B

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 04 Apr 2003 01:32 PST

Hi, Again ...

Here's another twist that I forgot to mention.

The vid that I have on order is Monochrome (Or 'Glorious Black &
White' according to the splurge on one box), so maybe the colour thing
doesn't come into the present equation.

However, there are other vids that I would like to buy that are in
colour, so all available options are of interest.

KR

Bryan

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 04 Apr 2003 06:34 PST

Hi, Popsracer

It looks as though you've identified the problem & the solution.

Many thanks.

Seeing your name featured in Black, I have to assume that you are not
a recognised Researcher who, as you may know, are usually (but not
always) featured in Blue.

Please post a Comment on 161982 on whether or not I am right and
whether or not you would like to nominate your favourite Researcher to
receive your prize.

Kindest regards

Bryan

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 04 Apr 2003 19:51 PST

Hi, Again, Everybody

Many thanks for all the advice.

I now realise that it was stupid to even think of making PAL copies of
any NTSC stuff, now that I can play both formats.

And, even if an orginal vid goes sour, I could probably get a
replacement anyway.

Therefore, I am now closing the question because I sense that no one
is going to go for an answer that has now become evident.

Thanks again.

Bryan

This might be of use to you:
http://www.scancom.ltd.uk/products/standards_converters1.htm

I think this is actually easy to do.
Get hold of some RCA cables, connect the audio and video out of the
NTSC player to the audio and video in of the PAL recorder, hit play
and record and there you go.

BTW:
PAL = pale and lifeless
NTSC = never twice the same colour
SECAM = system essentially contrary to the American method.

Hi again,

I'm no going to attempt an answer, because I am hopeless with
technical stuff, and it takes me 10 minutes to realise I've got the
Playstation plugged in and not the VCR. But I have found two more
links you might like:

http://www.lib.ic.ac.uk/av/faq.html

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/vidconv.htm#nvcvsc

The impression I got from my searching is that if you manage to make a
copy without using a special converter, it will probably end up black
and white, at the wrong speed and a little bit distorted vertically.

Keep in mind that there are many businesses that can do it for you. I
can't imagine they'd charge too much.

Good luck!

Here's my logic - could be wrong.
Unless your TV knows about NTSC (i.e. has a decoder and automatically
recognises the incoming format - some do), then what comes out of the
NTSC machine destined for the TV must be the same as what comes out of
a PAL machine destined for a TV.

Ergo, the output from both machines is in the same format (composite
video or something), and the video inputs/outputs should be
compatible.

I have had to use a scan converter in the past, but that was to
convert from VGA to PAL (or NTSC - didn't matter since my TV accepts
both).

What most VCRs with NTSC Playback do is convert the 525/60 NTSC colour
recording to a 525/60 PAL colour signal. 525/60 with 4.43 PAL
subcarrier is not a broadcast standard, but most TVs will lock to a
525/60 signal, and most colour decoders will happily decode the 4.43
PAL 60 signal.  They aren't outputting an NTSC signal - they are
outputting a signal with the same number of lines and fields as an
NTSC signal, but with PAL colour (not NTSC).

While most TVs will be able to decode this signal, most VCRs will not
be able to handle this type of signal.  Some high end VCRs will be
able to record the picture but at a guess I would say that you
probably don't have one.

You can always try it out the cables to do this are quite cheap. 
Fingers crossed it might work perfectly.  But what will likely happen
is that the sound will be ok, but the picture will be black and white
a scroll or be very fuzzy.

Beware of cheap NTSC to PAL converters, they will only do what your
VCR will be able to do.  It is likely you will need a more advanced
converter which will be able to change the number of lines in the
signal.  These can be quite expensive.  Unless you are going to be
doing at least 20 conversions it will probably be cheap have them done
by a professional or even track down a PAL version of the tape.

See this website for some converters
http://www.threedoubleyou.com/converters.htm
The cheap converters are listed in Section 1.
The more expensive converters that you will be able to record off of
are in section 2.