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General discussion

Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?

Aug 31, 2004 8:35AM PDT

Is it possible to watch a PAL DVD on a computer bought in the United States? I have an eMachines T3092 computer, running Windows XP home. A friend of mine has this PAL DVD that I would like to watch and convert to NTSC. I do have programs (Video Workshop, MyDVD, Pinnacle Studio 9) that can re-author and assign NTSC to the finished product. Maybe this is a silly question, but would I even be able to get the PAL files onto my computer to convert them? (I want to find this out before I even borrow the DVD, so I was hoping to know whether or not this is even possible without trying it out first!)
Thanks for any help.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Aug 31, 2004 9:23AM PDT

Maybe DVDSHRINK can help? Given the nature of the program, no support can be offered. You'll likely need to change the REGION on the DVD to run DVDSHRINK but with the price of DVDROM drives you can dedicate the drive for this use.

Best of luck,
Bob

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Aug 31, 2004 10:06AM PDT

Thanks Bob, but maybe I'm missing something (or you've jumped ahead to the next step)... Yes, I am assuming that I can use DVDShrink to change the region (and probably won't need to shrink it; I don't believe it's a dual layered or encrypted DVD)... I think what I was asking is a more basic question: will this DVD actually play on my computer, considering that we are on the NTSC system? I am assuming that once I can play it and save it to my computer, I can re-author & burn it with a program that allows NTSC specification on the output.

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(NT) (NT) Try it?
Aug 31, 2004 11:13AM PDT
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Re: (NT) Try it?
Aug 31, 2004 12:04PM PDT

What is (NT)? No, like I said, I haven't tried it yet because my friend isn't going to go to the trouble to get the DVD over to me unless I am sure I can do it. I was looking for general information on whether or not there was a restriction on the computer about reading PAL disks. I know I can't play it on a DVD player from this area. I was hoping someone could just tell me if it is doable.

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer
Jan 31, 2005 2:41PM PST

My previous reply was regarding playing the DVD on a standalone player.

As far as playing it one your computer you won't have any trouble playing a region free DVD whether it is in PAL or NTSC. The only thing that causes problems is the region coding. You can change the region coding on your RPC2 drive but only 5 times before it is locked to the last region played.

I have an older RPC1 drive (region coding was set with a jumper - I have never removed the jumper so it plays all regions) that I use to rip DVDs from regions from than other region 4.

Anyway ripping that DVD to your hard drive will use up a change. It will use 2 if you count the fact that the next region 1 disc you put it will change it back.

Personally I think the whole scheme of region coding DVD discs was just a way to rip off customers. If I want to buy some discs from the USA or Japan that is my business. Besides the DVD movie industry never lived up to their side of the original agreement when it came to releasing region free versions of the discs after a period of time. To some degree I can understand them wanting to stop people in AUstralia getting a DVD from the USA before the movie has screened in AUstralia (it does happen now and then) but what is gained from region coding a movie from the 1940's?

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Aug 31, 2004 12:11PM PDT

Re-read your previous post for clues... a question arose. When you say I would need to change the region on the DVD, do you mean on the drive? And if I did this, couldn't I change it back when I'm done? I don't plan on doing a lot of this, it is just one project, so I wouldn't want to buy another drive (and don't have the extra bay available) to "dedicate" to this use.

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Aug 31, 2004 2:45PM PDT

The answer is YES if you have the proper software. There are a whole lot of DVD rippers that bypass the Region Code and copy the DVD info to the Hard Disk. The software that you have can do the necessary format changes. I'm not sure about the US laws on the subject.
Besides, there is a large variety of stand alone DVD players from Korea and China that ignore the Region Code and also do an internal real time format change so that NTSC stuff can be played on a PAL system and vice versa.

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Aug 31, 2004 2:57PM PDT

Thank you... this is EXACTLY the info I was looking for. I do have a software, Slysoft's AnyDVD, that I believe does this. (Correct me if I am wrong, if you are familiar with the program?) I just didn't understand this feature before the subject came up, and only knew that the program removed the CSS encryptions. About the standalone players, that's great to know, but all I really wanted to do was make a copy for my friend so he can watch it in the DVD player he already has that is NTSC.

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Additional Info:
Aug 31, 2004 3:07PM PDT

You can play DVD's of different regions in your computer. The software player will take care of the Region Code, BUT, there is a BIG BUT (!), the change of region code is entered in the DVD disk player. This change is permitted only 4 times or so. After that, the DVD disk player of your computer gets locked to the last Region Code. If the last region code happens to be 7 (Asia), you can forget playing US (RC 1) DVD's in your computer.

My advice is DONT play DVD's directly from the disk. Rip it to hard disk and play it.

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Re: Additional Info:
Aug 31, 2004 3:56PM PDT

Ok, so let me get this straight: If I use the AnyDVD software to remove the region code when I am RIPPING, then it WON'T change the code in the player? I can rip without playing, and everything will be fine? I thought that the software would get rid of the codes even for playing.
Thanks for the warning, please correct me if I misunderstood you.

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Re: Additional Info:
Aug 31, 2004 10:30PM PDT

I see you are looking for support where there is none. I supplied you the KEYWORD to do what you want. But you didn't take the hint.

I wish you the best of luck, but want you to consider that while such is known to work, you want some ironclad guarantee or hand holding. I offer neither.

Bob

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Just an aside question to Bob...
Aug 31, 2004 11:16PM PDT

Your "hints" tend to be very cryptic for someone not well-versed in computer issues, and the requests for clarification on my part are simply that and not a desire for "handholding." My question to you is, why are you so angry, and why can't you be more direct with your help instead of making newbies play guessing games with what your references are supposed to mean? Isn't this forum for exchanging information, not for discouraging questions from someone eager to understand the responses fully? I appreciate the information I receive from you; I just wish it weren't like pulling teeth to extract it from you. Thank you.

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Re: Just an aside question to Bob...
Aug 31, 2004 11:26PM PDT

I'd love to write more about the noted program. But copyright and laws being what they are, I will not be party to any possible abuse.

While I gave you a solution, you want more. Hard to give you more given the rules of the road.

Bob

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Legal Smegal
Nov 18, 2004 12:05PM PST

Then answer me. I want to do the same thing, completely legal. I have a client with a DVD from China that needs to be distributed to a few ppl. in the States. It always flips to PAL, I can't make a NTSC copy.

catman

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Re: Just an aside question to Bob...
Nov 18, 2004 12:00PM PST

Actually I think (I'm searching for the same answers) the cryptic answers aren't the solution. I'm also trying to make copies of a CD made in China. Even though I change the Region code the problem is the DVD (even if I just try to create a disk image) also changes to PAL from ntsc.

alan

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Re: Just an aside question to Bob...
Nov 18, 2004 9:02PM PST

My answer is not cryptic. I offered a bona fide solution. What I feel they wanted is a guarantee it will work.

Too bad they just didn't use the noted tool and get out of the kitchen.

Bob

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Re: Additional Info:
Aug 31, 2004 11:52PM PDT

I do not know about the "AnyDVD" software.
When you do a rip, the electronics in the DVD disk player simply reads the info on the DVD and the ripping s/w does the rest. But the commonly used DVD player software like PowerDVD and the like use the electronics of the DVD disk player for some of the required functions. This includes the Region Code decode process.
Hence my word of caution.

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Re: Additional Info:
Sep 1, 2004 2:26AM PDT

Thanks, Ramusson! Very helpful and easily understood!

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For Ramusson: one last question
Sep 1, 2004 2:33AM PDT

About what you said, when you are playing it from the hard drive as opposed to from the original disk, the PowerDVD treats it differently and will not change the region on the DVD drive because it is reading it from a folder, correct?

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Re: For Ramusson: one last question
Sep 1, 2004 11:34AM PDT

The ripped DVD info in the Hard Disk is free rom the CSS encrypton!

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Sep 1, 2004 12:13AM PDT

I really don't know about the DVD players in the US but most of the players that we have here in Malaysia (and I suppose most of the Far East) play both NTSC and PAL and again most of our TV sets are also multi-system.

We have no problem playing NTSC DVD's here which is a PAL region. Have you actually tried playing it on your DVD player provided of course that it is region free?

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Sep 1, 2004 2:27AM PDT

Thanks for the advice... actually the friend who needs this converted does not have a region-free machine and purchasing one at this time was not an option.

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Nov 18, 2004 12:28PM PST
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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer?
Dec 7, 2004 3:19AM PST

You can normally only change region on your DVD drive 5 times, but get AnyDVD from Slysoft.com, it will enable you to watch all the dvd pal or ntc no matter what zone they come from.

I use it myself to watch DVD's from my homeland Denmark and that is also PAL.

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Re: Can I convert a PAL DVD to NTSC on an American computer
Jan 31, 2005 2:29PM PST

I don't know if you have managed to sort this out yet but most of the advice I have seen posted only addresses the region differences. As you likely know this is not what you were asking. Here in Australia we have the PAL system but some odd DVDs are sold here in NTSC format which are coded for region 4 or not region coded. Removing the region coding from a DVD is simple with most of the ripping programs out there. My personal favourite is DVDDecryptor. This bypasses region coding and can remove macrovision.

In your case you will still have a region free ripped DVD whose video is encoded in PAL format.

Before I go any further are you sure your friend's player is an NTSC only player and not just a region 1 only player. Have you tried making an all regions PAL DVD just to see if it plays. Although even it does play in the player it is no guarantee that his TV will display a PAL signal in colour. Most modern TVs do support multiple formats though.

If you have access to Nerovision Express you can import the ripped DVD video (VOB) files to a new project. Use the "Make a DVD" choice from the main menu. You will have no menus in the reulting project unless you create them in Nero but in most cases that isn't needed. During one of the steps in the process it will ask if you want to convert to NTSC or leave it as PAL. If not you can set the output in the menu somewhere. Blank DVDs are cheap enough to allow to have a few tries. Experiment a little.

Due to timing differences it may not be perfect but it should allow you to watch it.

Hope this has been of some help.

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You can try...
Dec 9, 2004 1:48AM PST