I need 3 Europeans--or an Aussie and 2 Europeans

[Ira]

I'm ready to pull the hair out of my head from what our CD duplicating house is telling us--because I don't believe them and Guy told me otherwise.

Plus, this isn't even my job.

We have DVD material produced for the PAL system that we're going to convert to NTSC. Some folks here believe we have to duplicate copies for distribution in BOTH formats--because that's what the dupe house is saying.

And I say that it only has to be NTSC. As long as the DVD is duped with region coding OFF, that it shouldn't be a problem.

When we get the master here Wednesday or Thursday and it's converted to NTSC, can I send copies to three or so of you PAL guys to see if it plays okay on your DVD players?

This would require you to PM me your true identity, address and phone number, so I can Fedex it to you.

You don't have to watch the whole thing (a few secinds or so), and I promise not to make fun of your name or have 20 pizzas deivered to your house.

[Guy]

There is nothing fundamental about a DVD which makes it either PAL or NTSC, but for simplicity and brevity, I will continue to use these terms throughout this article.

At their heart, DVDs are merely carriers of data files with compressed audio-visual information contained therein. This information can be placed on DVD in one of two resolutions; 720 x 576 pixels (PAL DVDs), or 720 x 480 pixels (NTSC DVDs), and with various frame rates (24, 25, and 30 frames per second are common). The DVD player itself takes this data file and formats it appropriately for display in either PAL or NTSC.
The Issue Of Resolution
In principle, PAL DVDs have a compelling advantage over NTSC DVDs. PAL DVDs have 576 pixels of vertical resolution versus 480 pixels of vertical resolution. That's a 20% increase in resolution for a PAL DVD as compared to an NTSC DVD. Increased resolution translates into a better looking image. However, this is an overly simplistic way of looking at the whole PAL vs NTSC issue as there are other factors that need to be taken into account.
Active Pixels & 16x9 Enhancement
Because programming can be presented on DVD in various aspect ratios, it is useful to consider the active pixels in a given image when considering the overall resolution of a DVD. For a widescreen image, not all of the pixels available on a DVD are actually used for the image. Some of them make up the black bars above and below the image. The format that provides the most overall active pixels for a given aspect ratio will in theory be the best possible format. Complicating the issue is the difference in active pixels when a DVD is 16x9 enhanced.

The following table illustrates the common aspect ratios presented on DVD along with the total active pixels presented in each possible DVD format. I have highlighted the best formats in green.

Aspect Ratio
4x3 PAL

16x9 enhanced PAL

4x3 NTSC

16x9 enhanced NTSC
1.33:1
720 x 576 = 414,720

538 x 576 = 309,888

720 x 480 = 345,600

538 x 480 = 258,240
1.66:1
720 x 461 = 331,920

671 x 576 = 386,496

720 x 384 = 276,480

671 x 480 = 322,080
1.78:1
720 x 430 = 309,600

720 x 576 = 414,720

720 x 358 = 257,760

720 x 480 = 345,600
1.85:1
720 x 414 = 298,080

720 x 554 = 398,880

720 x 345 = 248,400

720 x 461 = 331,920
2.35:1
720 x 326 = 234,720

720 x 436 = 313,920

720 x 271 = 195,120

720 x 363 = 261,360
Key
Best

Second Best

Third Best

Worst
Widescreen Movies
For widescreen movies, 16x9 enhanced PAL DVDs provide the highest resolution image, and are theoretically the version of choice. If the PAL version of a widescreen movie is not 16x9 enhanced, then the version of choice is a 16x9 enhanced NTSC DVD.
Frame and Field Rates
The consideration of which version is best is complicated by the issue of source material. In the case of movies, the choice is simple - pick the disc which has the highest possible image resolution, all else being equal. In the case of video-sourced material, the choice is less simple.
Movies
Movies the world over are shown at a frame rate of 24 frames per second. That is, 24 images are projected onto the cinema screen every second. Movie film is a very high resolution format, far higher in resolution than the DVD format. Accordingly, the movie itself is not the limiting factor in deciding between PAL and NTSC format DVDs, as the same source material is usually used to create both the PAL and the NTSC versions of a particular DVD. Therefore, the limiting factor in resolution is the DVD itself, with PAL inherently higher in resolution than NTSC.
Video
With video-based source material, there are two predominant worldwide formats; PAL and NTSC, which differ in both resolution and in frame rate. PAL is higher in resolution (576 horizontal lines) than NTSC (480 horizontal lines), but NTSC updates the on-screen image more frequently than PAL (30 times per second versus 25 times per second). What does this mean in practice? NTSC video is lower in resolution than PAL video, but because the screen updates more frequently, motion is rendered better in NTSC video than it is in PAL video. There is less jerkiness visible. When video source material is transferred to DVD, it is usually transferred in the format it was created in - PAL or NTSC, and the subsequent image has either higher temporal resolution (more frames per second - NTSC) or higher spatial resolution (more lines per image - PAL).

Conversions between the two video formats are possible, and are indeed frequently carried out, as it seems to be far more acceptable to sell PAL transfers in PAL countries and NTSC transfers in NTSC countries, even if the source material did not originate in the respective format. Conversions between these formats is problematic, however, as compromises need to be made in order to accommodate the source material, and visible artefacts can be introduced by the conversion process.
Converting NTSC to PAL
When converting from NTSC to PAL, two things need to be accomplished. 480 lines of resolution have to be upconverted to 576 lines of resolution, and 30 images per second have to be downconverted to 25 images per second.

The resolution upconversion does not actually add any real picture information to the image, as you cannot create real picture information where none existed before. It does, however, make the picture viewable on a PAL display, and often results in a superficially better-looking image.

The frame rate conversion actually results in a loss of temporal resolution, as PAL has a lower frame rate than NTSC.
Converting PAL to NTSC
The converse situation applies to PAL to NTSC conversions. 576 lines of resolution are downconverted to 480 lines of resolution, and frames need to be inserted to go from the 25 frames per second of PAL to the 30 frames per second of NTSC. Once again, the resultant image is of less actual resolution than the original image, as information is discarded spatially and made up temporally.
Implications for Video Programming On DVD
The best format to record and play back video programming on DVD in is the format in which the programming was originally created. If it was videotaped in the NTSC format, then the NTSC DVD will be the version of choice. If it was videotaped in the PAL format, then the PAL DVD will be the version of choice.
Higher Definition Source Material
Complicating this issue is the fact that more and more programming is being created in higher definition video formats these days, and these high definition formats can usually be converted down to PAL or NTSC equally well, with both formats having their respective disadvantages.
So, Which Version Do I Choose?
As a general rule, video programming sourced from PAL-based countries is likely to look better in PAL, and video programming sourced from NTSC-based countries is likely to look better in NTSC, since these are the likely native formats that they have been created in.
Other Factors To Consider
If all of the above issues aren't enough to consider when deciding whether to purchase a PAL or an NTSC version of a particular title, there are several other factors which are also worth taking into consideration.
Compression Ratio
Previously, it has been established that a PAL DVD has 20% more resolution than an NTSC DVD. This does not necessarily translate into a superior image. The DVD format relies on a lossy video compression format (MPEG-2) to allow a reasonable length of programming to fit onto a single DVD. The longer the programming, the higher the compression ratio needs to be, and the more likely it is that visible compression artefacts will be present. If an additional 20% of resolution needs to be compressed, then this can potentially result in a lesser quality image if the programming is overcompressed. Fortunately, many PAL DVDs are being produced as dual layer discs, whereas their NTSC counterparts are being produced as single layer discs, thus providing the necessary room for both versions to look their best.
Censorship
There are times when programming can be censored for display in PAL countries and uncensored in NTSC countries. GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies are specific examples of DVDs where the PAL versions of the DVDs have been censored in comparison to the uncensored NTSC versions. The converse also sometimes applies, as is the case with Eyes Wide Shut, the DVD of which was digitally censored in the USA but uncensored in Australia.

It is exceedingly difficult to find out whether a specific DVD has been censored in one part of the world or another. Two specific Internet resources that are helpful in this area are;

* The Internet Movie Database, at http://www.imdb.com. This lists cuts and alternate edits to specific movies under the Alternate Versions subheading, and
* Melon Farmers, at http://www.melonfarmers.co.uk/dhhits.htm. This is predominately a listing of UK cuts to DVDs, which is generally not applicable to the Australian version of the DVD. However, on occasion we receive the same disc as the UK, and subsequently suffer the same censorship.
* The Cut List, at http://www.dvdfile.com/software/cut_list/index.html. This is a listing of US cuts and alternate DVD edits.

PAL's 4% Speed Up
Movies on PAL DVDs play back 4% faster than their NTSC counterparts. The great majority of people will never notice this, but for a small minority, this is an intolerable artefact. For more details on why this speed-up occurs, please refer to my article on this topic.
NTSC's 3:2 Pulldown
Movies on NTSC DVDs play back at the correct speed, but they achieve this by utilizing a process called "3:2 pull-down". A detailed discussion of this process is beyond the scope of this article, but the net effect of this is that any image pan is not smooth, but takes place in a series of uneven steps, an artefact known as judder. As with PAL's 4% speed-up, the great majority of people will never notice this artefact, but for a small minority, this is intolerable. Personally, I find this artefact all but intolerable and find it very hard to watch a movie on an NTSC DVD because of it.
Extras
Often times, the extras on one version of a DVD are not found on another version. It is most disconcerting when you have purchased a DVD to find out that another version is available which has far more extras than the one that you have just paid good money for.
Remastering
Sometimes, a DVD will be produced from restored or remastered source elements in one region and from non-restored sources in another region.
Conclusions

* PAL is a higher resolution format for DVD than NTSC. All else being equal, a PAL DVD of a movie should look significantly better than the equivalent NTSC DVD.
* If a PAL version of a movie DVD is not 16x9 enhanced and the NTSC version is 16x9 enhanced, then the NTSC version will be the preferred version, all else being equal.
* For video-based material, it is generally better for the DVD to remain in the same format as the source material.
* Do your homework before purchasing a DVD! Check as many resources as you can in order to determine which version of a particular DVD is the most appropriate one to purchase.

© Michael Demtschyna
7th July 2000

[Guy]

http://www.dvdoverseas.com/dvd.htm

[GeorgeTelford]

Hi Ira

Region is a coding that some DVD producers ADD to the disc, if the player is Region locked then you would not be able to play a DVD from another region.

Increasingly though DVD players are multi region, ie I can play a DVD from any country.

NSTC and PAL is the picture information that the DVD player passes on to the TV and they are not actually on the Disc.


NSTC and PAL are only the way the DVD player and TV talk to each other, ie If I were to purchase an american DVD player it would not play through my UK TV

Regards

George

[Classic Finn]

Hi Ira

Region is a coding that some DVD producers ADD to the disc, if the player is Region locked then you would not be able to play a DVD from another region.

Increasingly though DVD players are multi region, ie I can play a DVD from any country.

NSTC and PAL is the picture information that the DVD player passes on to the TV and they are not actually on the Disc.


NSTC and PAL are only the way the DVD player and TV talk to each other, ie If I were to purchase an american DVD player it would not play through my UK TV

Regards

George

I agree with what George says above ... I have been able to play some Dvd,s on our player that were sent from the States...

I have also ordered some that have the Regional Coding that would not play here..

Classic Finn

[Ira]

I just edited here:


Wow. Thanks for all of that effort, Guy.

I'll need about an hour to totally understand it, but I think I really got it now.

[PaulC]

I'll be a dvd dummy if you still need it after what Guy presented
Cheers
Paul

[Ira]

Thanks, Paul.

[angib]

As an obvious Yurpeen, I ought to volunteer and I would, except (stop sniggering, that man at the back!) I don't have a DVD player.

Now, d'y'all know what a Luddite is?..............

Andrew

[Steve_Cox]

As an obvious Yurpeen, I ought to volunteer and I would, except (stop sniggering, that man at the back!) I don't have a DVD player.

Now, d'y'all know what a Luddite is?..............

Andrew

Proly a person that would throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Steve

[PaulC]

Nothing wrong with the old VCR Andrew. Hiring of movies makes for certain limits though Well you do own a computer that maybe has a dvd player? Oops, that's no good for what Ira has in mind.
Cheers
Paul

[Ira]

As an obvious Yurpeen, I ought to volunteer and I would, except (stop sniggering, that man at the back!) I don't have a DVD player.

Now, d'y'all know what a Luddite is?..............

Andrew

No, what's a Luddite?

But America is doomed:

We have 6 TVs and 7 DVD players, and with two kids, I know I'm not all that unusual in this.

[angib]

The Luddites were a group of hand weavers in Britain in the early 19th century who smashed the power looms that promised to do them out of a living - it's now used as a general pejorative term for those who don't keep up with, or reject, technology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Not completely irrelevant, as comments on this forum about sourcing stuff from China aren't that different from Luddism.

Andrew

[Ira]

Where else can you learn about installing spars and about the Luddite movement in the same place?

I think that in retrospect, those guys had the right idea. (Great link!)

If they had been successful, or if we had a similar movement in the states, maybe I would know how to do those damn miter cuts!!!

[Laredo]

say, angib, do you know the origins of the term, "saboteur"?

Ira -- go to a thrift store or a garage sale and buy a picture frame the size you want your finished trim to be (or you could go to wal-mart but it would cost more). Turn the picture frame over so you're looking at the back (unfinished) side. You should be able to see how to take it apart without breaking it. Do that and you'll have exact patterns to cut your miter joints by.