NTSC Output VCR

[mcarocks2003]

Most VCR's output NTSC videos in PAL 50 or PAL 60.

I need true NTSC 60 playback so I can convert my NTSC video collection to NTSC dvd.

I need someone to recommend me a model that does this.

A VHS to DVD combi would be good but as far as I'm aware won't allow me to bypass macrovision copyright protection.

Any help please.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I think you should be using a video capture software/card on PC instead, as Video will only record about 256 lines (or whatever) which make it poor quality for converting to DVD.

[Oldgamingfart]

If it's all pre-recorded stuff, then you won't be able to bypass Macrovision full stop (AFAIK). As for a true NTSC VCR, the only way would be to import one from over the pond, via eBay.
You'll also need to check if the machine outputs Hi-Fi stereo. If you can get an S-VHS machine, it might be worth it as using the S-Video sockets will provide a slightly better transfer.

[Lyris]

If you really need real NTSC output, you'll need to buy an American VCR. I don't think there are any European models that actually output real NTSC or could be modified to do so.

That said, can your DVD recorder not record PAL60? Every one I've tried has been able to make sense of it and it records the signal to NTSC DVD.

VHS Macrovision can be defeated with a modified SCART cable (which has a chip in one end of the huge connector which strips it out) or with a device like this:

http://www.consolesandgadgets.com/catalog/macromaster-macrovision-remover-p-2073.html

I think you should be using a video capture software/card on PC instead, as Video will only record about 256 lines (or whatever) which make it poor quality for converting to DVD.

The VHS source will be low-res anyway, regardless of how it's captured. Copying on the fly to a DVD recorder would only look marginally worse than doing it on a PC with a capture card, because of the on-the-fly compression.

You'll also need to check if the machine outputs Hi-Fi stereo. If you can get an S-VHS machine, it might be worth it as using the S-Video sockets will provide a slightly better transfer.

This is an interesting subject, but often it's better to use Composite (unless your tape is SVHS of course). The reason being that the comb filtering (cleanup of the Composite signal recorded on the tape) built into modern DVD recorders is better than the comb filtering you'll find in old VCRs.

[mcarocks2003]

That said, can your DVD recorder not record PAL60? Every one I've tried has been able to make sense of it and it records the signal to NTSC DVD.

Really? And there are no consequences of converting PAL 60 to NTSC?

Macrovision should not be a problem since most of my videotapes are pre-1992. I think the Panasonic DMR-EZ47V DVD VCR Recorder can record NTSC VHS in NTSC and then convert to NTSC DVD.

Is this right?

[Lyris]

Really? And there are no consequences of converting PAL 60 to NTSC?

There's no consequences of converting PAL60 back to NTSC, no. Technically, no matter what type, the colour system on the DVD is not PAL or NTSC, but digital Y/Cb/Cr, so they all look the same.

When the VCR converts the NTSC tape to PAL 60 in the first place though, that sometimes ends up looking a bit odd.