Conversions

CONVERSIONS (NTSC to PAL and PAL to NTSC)

**Important** - Please note, I don't do conversions on request - if you want to know why, just keep reading...
How do I do it? Well, I certainly don't use a conventional converter! I take the original video and capture it onto my computer - it is now an AVI file.
I take the AVI and using Xing Encoder I convert it to a video CD compatible MPEG - this is also where I decide the format - I can tell Xing to convert a PAL AVI to an NTSC MPEG, for example. This is also the very time consuming bit (20 minutes of tape takes about 2 hours to encode).
When I have the PAL or NTSC MPEG I then use my CD writer software to make a video CD.
I play the video CD on my DVD player, and since there is no copy protection on the video CD I am able to copy it onto a VHS tape.
So, I've taken a PAL tape and using my computer I've made it into an NTSC video CD, and when I copy that onto VHS tape, it remains in NTSC format - therefore I've made a PAL tape into an NTSC tape.
Ahhh, but you're asking - "How is the quality of these conversions? Quality is important!" I agree completely! Honestly the quality is not bad at all - okay, think about BMPs and JPGs (image files). A BMP is always better quality than a JPG, but a JPG still isn't bad (you see them on the internet all the time!). Well, think of the original being a BMP and the conversion being a JPG - it's not the best quality, but it's certainly bearable, and better than nothing. And besides, most of the stuff I convert will be pretty bad in the first place anyway! Audio reproduction is near perfect - the difference between the original and the converted copy isn't audible (unless you're *really* picky).
So, now you know how I do it, and can see why it takes so long... So please don't ask me to convert for you unless you are willing to wait a LOOOONG time. I'm going to aim to convert everything I have, in my own time. I have already done the Music Of ALW video (since it's only 20 minutes) and I think the next two on my list would be Miss Saigon which is in NTSC, and the Hobart Secret Garden, which is in PAL, but I really don't know when I'll have them done or anything. I will add them to my list when they are ready to be copied at ease. :-)