Is there a television engineer in the house??

[Just John]

I was just wondering; If I were to record a television program onto a home DVD recorder here in the UK, which uses the PAL television system and then use my computer to copy it, will the PAL format be copied as well or will the copied disc be playable on DVD players using different formats I.E. NTSC or SECAM?

[David_CA]

Unless I'm mistaken, the playback device determines what format the video is output.  So, if you want to play back NTSC, you need a NTSC player; if you want PAL, you need one that plays back PAL.  There are DVD players (and VCR's) that have multiple output formats.  As long as the DVD is played on a computer, it shouldn't matter, as the output is the PC's video card.

David

[fearless]

David is correct. Also, as well as the DVD player needing to be able to play back a PAL dvd (assuming your proposing to send it to someone that uses NTSC or another format) the persons television set playing back will need to be PAL compatible.

NTSC
National Television Systems Committee. The colour TV broadcast system used in the US, Canada and Japan. An NTSC picture is made up of 525 horizontal lines and has inferior picture quality in comparison to the PAL system.

Please note: All DVD players sold in PAL countries (Australia) play both NTSC & PAL discs, but your TV monitor must be NTSC compatible in order to view in full colour. Please refer to your user manual or manufacturer to determine compatibility.


PAL
Phase Alternating Line. The colour TV broadcast system used in Australia, UK & Europe. A PAL picture delivers a better quality picture than NTSC due to its 625 horizontal lines (sharper picture and better colours).

Please note: DVD players sold in NTSC countries (United States, Canada and Japan) may not be compatible with the PAL system, preventing playback. Your TV set will also need to be PAL compatible in order to view these DVDs in colour. Please refer to your user manual or manufacturer to determine compatibility.

There is a plethora of websites out there that provide information on how you can convert PAL and NTSC DVD's if you do a simple search of dvd's PAL and NTSC compatibility. This one seems useful, albeit it way over this technophobes head: http://www.videohelp.com/search

[Just John]

Thanks Guys

That's a little, umm, clearer, I think

What I intended to do is record a TV program onto the DVD recorder over here in the UK (PAL system), I know that this won't play in the USA because you Guys are using NTSC (I think) but I figured that if I then used my PC to copy the disc using Nero or something similar then the resulting copy should play on most other domestic DVD players regardless of the system in use in that country.

If I read you Guys right; then that won't work unless i use other software to convert it to NTSC, Yes??

Do Plasma and LCD screens use the same formats as CRT screens?

[fearless]

hey John,

I was wondering that myself and think that it still may be an issue - I should know these things as I work for the Communications and Media Authority which regulates all of this sort of stuff.

I think it still is relevant in the digital world as you are able to purchase digital decoders that allow you to play differently formatted programs: http://www.highway.net.au/parts/converters/1555.html

And, it looks like it still matters: http://hometheater.about.com/od/televisionbasics/qt/ntscpalframes.htm. Even though we are all going digital, the digital standard in the US, and other NTSC countries, is different to the digital standard in the UK and Aus, 30 frames per second compared to 25.
It's all very confusing though.

[milker]

You are mixing Zoning and Video format.

Your PC, if bought in the US of A, will allow you to change the Zoning a couple of times so that you can watch a DVD that is for another zone. There are websites that explain how to make this zoning change possible more than 3 or 4 times.

Same with DvD players bought in the USA. Many of them have magic sequences that you can type on the remote to unlock the Zoning.

You can create a DVD with any zone you choose. The best is to select "multizone" or "no zone", so that it will play anywhere in the world on any dvd player with no restriction.

Now the PAL/SECAM/NTSC is the video format. Most european DVD players will play NTSC/PAL and French players will play NTSC/PAL/SECAM.
Most american players will play PAL and NTSC. Porn movies made in Europe are made in PAL and play very well on all american DVD players

Milker.

[David_CA]

John,

Another option would be to record the DVD and allow the US person to play it on their PC.  I don't believe PC's care what format (but I couldn't find a definite answer).  I really don't see how it would matter to a PC, as most PC's now have DVD players with the same model numbers worldwide.  Personally, I'd just go ahead and try it.  The worst that'll happen is that it won't work.  I do think that it'll be playable on a PC without any problems.  Let us know if works.

David

[milker]

The NTSC/PAL problem is if you use the PC's video output. It doesn't matter if you're going to view the DVD on the computer screen.

Milker.

[Oceanbeach]

There was a broadcast engineer in the house, but I moved to another state 

More recently, a nurse form our HIV clinic complained about his TV going out  and having to replace it.  I said, "Sony Trinitron?"  How did I know?  I told him, he was so tight with his money, he used a torque wrench to secure the contents of his wallet  Have the best day
Michael
(who was literally heartbroken by the aforementioned nurse)

[Just John]

Thanks Guys to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply.

I'll just go ahead and see what happens.

John.