Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!decwrl!rhea!mother!hughes
From: hughes@mother.DEC (Gary Hughes - CSSE uVAX & AI Systems Group)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: PAL <==> NTSC
Message-ID: <7019@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Apr-84 10:50:24 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.7019
Posted: Wed Apr 11 10:50:24 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 05:57:08 EST
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 61

Psuvm%iks asked whether it is possible to convert a PAL cassette to NTSC or 
to play a PAL cassette on something that also works with NTSC.

The answer in both cases is yes.

There are a number of professional video service companies that will 
convert from one format to another for a fee. I'm not sure how they do it 
but my guess is they decode the signal to RGB and the re-encode into the 
format you require. I don't know whether this introduces a timing problem 
due to PAL using a 50Hz synch pulse and NTSC using a 60Hz synch.

I would expect that to do this officially you would have to own the 
copyright or prove that the material is not copyright. Getting someone to 
convert Dr Who tapes sent from the UK by a friend may be difficult.

As to playing PAL tapes; I'm glad you asked! I have just purchased the 
necessary components to do just that (since I have a lot of PAL tapes from 
Australia etc).

SONY make a number of receivers that are multisystem. The one I have is a 
20" trinitron 5 system receiver (2072ME5, I think) that understands PAL, 
SECAM 1 & 2, NTSC 3.38 and NTSC 4.43 (I may have the NTSC numbers slightly 
wrong). It is also fairly insensitive to power supply - 110-240 volts, 50 
or 60 Hz, self adjusting. It will receive broadcast signals in any of the 
above systems using US or European channel standards. One the tuner locks 
in a signal, the color decoders decide what colour system is present and 
decode accordingly. It is about as automatic as you can get, with the 
ability for manual override.

SONY also make three VCRs that are multisystem. The SLT50 is a 5 system VCR
that can receive and record all but the NTSC 4.x and play recorded tapes in
all 5 formats (beta II and III on NTSC). The other multisystem VCRs in
SONY's range do not have all 5 systems and I think the SLT50 is the only
one that can handle PAL tapes and record NTSC. It also has a self adjusting
universal power supply. 

In reference to some news items about the noise (audible) made by some SONY
VCRs, the SLT50 also has a fairly noisy transport mechanism. 

The cost of these two items together is about $2600 (about $1300 ea) here
in MA. They are not in SONY's consumer product range, so I had to find a
professional video supply house. This basically means that the units are
hard to find and discounting is rare. SONY restrict the range that their
regular dealers can handle to 'consumer' products and not 'professional' or
'industrial' products (SONY categories). I am told that in some states this
is illegal so you may be able to get discounts. 

Panasonic have a smaller receiver for about $750, but the picture quality
is not as good. SONY have a 12" monitor that handles all five systems and
has two sets of RGB input and output that also sells for about $750. It is
a bit small for normal viewing but makes a great monitor and is designed to
be used as a terminal monitor (making it tax deductible for some?). 

If anyone wants more details, mail me. If there is enough interest I will 
send more info to the net.

Gary

UUCP:   ...{ decvax | allegra | ucbvax }!decwrl!rhea!mother!hughes
ARPA:      hughes%mother.DEC @purdue-merlin.ARPA
reality?:  DEC, ZKO1-2/C07, 110 Spit Brook Rd, Nashua NH 03062