Going To Germany

MichaelS wrote on 9/7/2006, 9:37 PM
We've got a cameraman going to Germany (from the U.S.) next month. He'll shoot in DV and edit using Vegas on a laptop...then burn to DVD for use the next day.

We've got the travel/shipping part down. But the production part has me concerned. I'm assuming German power is 50 Hz power.

1. WIll we have trouble operating a laptop/burner/camera battery charger, etc. using a converter supplied by the hotel?

2. If we shoot , edit NTSC and render to PAL...will a standard DVD-r disc be what we want to provide the customer there.

3. If necessary, we may have to copy out to a VHS tape. What's involved in making this happen.

Simpleton questions, but I just want to be sure I've got my bases covered. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Comments

MH_Stevens wrote on 9/7/2006, 10:00 PM
The laptops and camera battery chargers nearly all are made to handle 110-250 volts and various Hz. I know mine do but do check your manuals.

I've had very poor results shooting NTSC and putting to PAL on DVD. Don't do this without practice. If you make a DVD for computer showing you can negate the TV thing. I do better in EU with a multi-format DVD player. If the client wishes to play on his own PAL player to his PAL TV I recommend a PAL camera, or as I said before a lot of time for trial an error as I have had disasters rendering NTSC (HDV) to PAL mpeg with Vegas. SD may be easier.

I'll pass on 3)

Mike
TorS wrote on 9/8/2006, 12:52 AM
If you render to wmv you could burn on a dvdrom which would play on any Windows pc all over the world. That would bypass all the ntsc/pal considerations. If your client has a projector and amplified speakers (if they are an industry or government body they probably do) you'll be all right.
Besides, you'd have to be very unlucky to come across a dvd player in modern parts of Europe which does not play ntsc as well. If the viewing location is known, could you send them a couple of different dvds to test beforehand?
Tor
mbryant wrote on 9/8/2006, 2:21 AM
Yes, most any DVD player in Europe will play a NTSC disc in some way. What is most common is that the DVD player converts it on the fly to PAL60 (PAL colour space but NTSC frame rate)... and virtually any PAL TV will play this (though the quality will vary depending on the DVD player). Other players will output true NTSC (no conversion).. this is fine if the TV can handle NTSC, if it can't it will be in black and white. And some DVD players allow you to choose between PAL60 and NTSC.