lowdowndave
Standard Member
Hi everyone. I'm new-ish to the forum (been lurking quite a bit as I'm about to purchase a HDTV) and have a question. I emigrated back to the UK from Canada a few years ago and brought with me a number of VHS home videos which were recorded using NTSC format over there. With VCRs quickly disappearing, I want to convert these video tapes to DVD before the VCR becomes completely extinct. I was wondering whether it would be possible to simply (or not so simply these days) buy a VCR (as my last one packed up) and send the NTSC video signal from the VCR to my Sony DVD recorder to record my videos onto (assumedly PAL) DVD? I know it is possible to WATCH NTSC videos using most of the available VCRs in this country, but I wasn't sure if the NTSC signal is converted BY the VCR when it leaves the VCR, or whether it is the TV that translates the NTSC signal into PAL for viewing. If it is the latter, then I assume I can NOT record my NTSC vids using a VCR with a PAL DVD recorder. I've also seen there are a few companies on the net that will transfer NTSC vids to PAL DVD for you, but I'd rather not post my vids if they could potentially get lost (lots of old family stuff I wouldn't want to lose as they are the only copy) and there is also a cost issue. As I have quite a few vids to convert, it would be cheaper to buy a VCR if this set-up will work. Any help/advice (better transfer method suggestions) you can give me would be greatly appreciated.