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From: ugpoltr1@sunybcs.uucp (Jim Poltrone)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics,rec.video
Subject: Re: NTSC/PAL video out query
Message-ID: <3845@sunybcs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-Jul-87 10:23:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: sunybcs.3845
Posted: Thu Jul  2 10:23:27 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Jul-87 06:34:41 EDT
References: <4198@hplabsb.UUCP>
Sender: nobody@sunybcs.UUCP
Reply-To: ugpoltr1@sunybcs.UUCP (Jim Poltrone)
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, SUNY/Buffalo
Lines: 56
Keywords: NTSC, PAL, VIDEO, VCR, Standards Conversion
Summary: Tape it as PAL and convert it
Xref: mnetor comp.graphics:876 rec.video:1323

As quoted from article <4198@hplabsb.UUCP> by Bob Piety:
>How can graphics images from, say, an HP SRX system or an EGA be converted
>to television video?  That is, suppose I want to record my graphics on 
>video tape-- how can I do that?  Pointing a camera at the screen is quite
>lousy and has interference bars running through the picture.

Agreed.  Camera copies are usually inferior to what can be achieved
"directly", i.e. with patch cords and the like.  (But we all know this.)
Unfortunately, this is the only thing that can be done if there is no
suitable output jacks.

>Has anyone done this?  How?

Well, I have no experience with either system.  Do both output PAL code?
(In other words, are you looking for PAL->NTSC or NTSC->PAL ?  I believe
you're looking for the former, especially with the EGA unit.)  Here's what
I would do:

  If the unit doesn't have it's own VCR, the first thing to do is to get it
  onto a PAL tape.  Two ways to do this:
    1) Fly to England and purchase a PAL VCR there.  Naturally, this isn't
       feasible if one can't get the time off of work.  Nor would it be the
       right thing to do if Customs imposed a high duty on electronic
       equipment.
    2) Purchase a switchable-standard VCR here, and use it as a dedicated
       system -- set the standard to PAL and use it for recording only.
       Since the consumer demand for this is relatively low, you may
       have to order it from a specialty video catalog, or pay a premium
       price for it.  A rental place may have such a unit, but I would
       doubt it.

  The next step is to convert the tape to NTSC.  Here there are several
  options, although a few might be rather costly:
    a) Purchase your own standards converter.  These units are
       usually sold in pairs (two one-way converters). I'd only
       consider this option if I was doing a fair amount of converting,
       as this option is quite expensive.
    b) Take the tape (and a blank one) to a professional studio that has
       a standards converter.  But studio time is rather expensive --
       I've heard rates ranging from $50 to $300. 
    c) I know someone in Florida who has a PAL->NTSC converter.  Send
       me e-mail and I will send you his address.

If I was in your situation, I'd choose options 2 and c.  If you plan on
making several recordings, purchase the VCR; if not, rent it -- if you can
find it.
--
  ____  ^  ____ 
 |_  _|/ \|_  _|              Jim Poltrone (a/k/a Poltr1,
   \ \/   \/ /              the Last of the Raster Blasters)
    \/  ^  \/   
    /  / \  \         uucp:     [decvax,watmath,rocksvax]!sunybcs!ugpoltr1
   /  /___\  \        ARPAnet:  ugpoltr1%buffalo@CSNET-RELAY
  /___________\       csnet:    ugpoltr1@BUFFALO
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