Videos purchased in Amsterdam
Jan 6th, 2004, 08:14 AM
#1
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Videos purchased in Amsterdam
We purchased several VCR videos in Amsterdam recently, which don't seem to play well on our home VCR (USA). You can see an outline of the people, but is still garbled. We've adjusted the tracking and hasn't helped. Any ideas? Or should be just chalk this up to another 'cultural experience' ie purchased videos at the flea market that don't work. BTW, Amsterdam is a wonderful place!!
Jan 6th, 2004, 08:26 AM
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you need an "all region" or region specific VCR which is capable of decoding a VHS formatted in any given geographic area.
there are supposed to be patches or tricks which can be used to re-format an american VCR od DVD to play european products. but unfortunately, i wouldn't know how to tell you to go about it.
there are supposed to be patches or tricks which can be used to re-format an american VCR od DVD to play european products. but unfortunately, i wouldn't know how to tell you to go about it.
Jan 6th, 2004, 08:26 AM
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Normally, this is the type of thread/posting that I ignore.
However, when you combine the words "VIDEOS" and "AMSTERDAM" ....
Anyway, my knowledge of electronics is not that great, but, if I remember correctly, electronic video equipment like VCRs and DVD players are set, by the manufacturere according to some regional setting. That is, North American players are set differently from Asian-distributed players. PAL/SECAM are settings that are associated with this. You may want to contact your VCR manufacturer and see if you can re-set your VCR to play a European VHS. Just my .2 kroners.
However, when you combine the words "VIDEOS" and "AMSTERDAM" ....
Anyway, my knowledge of electronics is not that great, but, if I remember correctly, electronic video equipment like VCRs and DVD players are set, by the manufacturere according to some regional setting. That is, North American players are set differently from Asian-distributed players. PAL/SECAM are settings that are associated with this. You may want to contact your VCR manufacturer and see if you can re-set your VCR to play a European VHS. Just my .2 kroners.
Jan 6th, 2004, 10:15 AM
#6
It's not just the tape or VCR, it's the TV set. PAL uses 625 lines of resolution, while NTSC uses 525. There were a few VCRs that were interchangeable, but virtually no TV sets sold in N. America are compatible with PAL resolutions and frequencies. A PAL video played on an NTSC VCR or TV will skew, roll, or not show up at all. The only thing that works is to have the tape duplicated by a video service that can make the conversion electronically with special equipment. These services are plentiful and typically not terribly expensive.
The "regional code" above refers to DVDs. As an anti-bootlegging device (some would say profit-maximizing), the producers of DVDs set them to play only in one given region of the world (N. America, Europe, parts of Asia, etc.) There are "universal" or "region-free" DVD players sold that get around this. This is in addition to the PAL/NTSC distinctions.
The "regional code" above refers to DVDs. As an anti-bootlegging device (some would say profit-maximizing), the producers of DVDs set them to play only in one given region of the world (N. America, Europe, parts of Asia, etc.) There are "universal" or "region-free" DVD players sold that get around this. This is in addition to the PAL/NTSC distinctions.
