Tech: Query re: US/Europe video formats

Subject: Tech: Query re: US/Europe video formats
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Dec 15 - 12:43 PM

I live in the US. Having compiled a DVD featuring my band, I'd like to share it with family in Germany. Will they be able to play it as is, or do I need to do some conversion?

I know that Europe uses the PAL television format, which is different from NTSC here. This has to do with the TV sets themselves. I also know that commercial DVDs are coded for "regions" which means that my Transatlantic Sessions DVDs (imported from Scotland) won't play on my regular DVD player, only in my computer. But that, AFAIK, is a marketing ploy, not a technical consideration.

Does anyone know for sure?

Subject: RE: Tech: Query re: US/Europe video formats
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Dec 15 - 12:56 PM

My guess is is that it all depends on the player receiving the video. Many modern players are receptive to all regions - older ones may be set to just one.

My advice is to check with your family in Germany to see if they can play (somehow) NTSC videos. If they can - no worries; if not - then you could try converting to PAL before sending it.

Whatever - good luck!

Subject: RE: Tech: Query re: US/Europe video formats
From: DMcG
Date: 24 Dec 15 - 01:36 PM

You could also rip your DVDs into a computer format - avi or mpeg for example - then save that onto a DVD as a file rather than playable video They can then play that on any convent computer and reconvert it if they wish. Many did players can play mpeg as well.