Need DVD help from Australia

JackW wrote on 8/10/2006, 2:08 PM
I just had a call from an employee of a long-time client who says she is going to Australia and wants several NTSC VHS tapes put onto DVD+R discs because "there's no need to change these to PAL as long as they are in the +R format, since everyone in Australia plays +R discs."

We do dozens of NTSC to PAL conversions to DVD-R every month, but I've never had anyone ask for a +R, and certainly not because "everyone" in Australia can play the +R format. In fact, of the many discs we done destined for Australia, ALL have been in the -R format, and all have played.

Your information will be greatly appreciated.

Jack

Comments

farss wrote on 8/10/2006, 2:19 PM
I make LOTS of PAL DVDs down here and they're all DVD-Rs. Although I have heard some none too well informed people say something very similar to what your client is saying, total nonsense of course but once a silly idea gets out it can spread like wildfire. Funny how the truth never gets a life of it's own.

Certainly no need to convert to PAL, I think everything down here plays NTSC.

My only request is that under our bilateral FTA you guys make all your gear play PAL.

ScottW wrote on 8/10/2006, 2:20 PM
+R and -R have nothing to do with PAL vs. NTSC. -R has slightly better compatability in players than +R does, unless you burn the +R with a DVD-ROM booktype, in which case the player cannot generally tell the difference between +R and commercially stamped media (at least at first glance; you can still have issues with too high a bit rate, poor quality media, etc.).

Many PAL DVD players will play NTSC DVD's, though most NTSC DVD players will not play PAL DVD's.

--Scott
JackW wrote on 8/10/2006, 2:39 PM
Thanks guys. I'm very familiar with the differences between NTSC and PAL, and between +R, -R and DVD-ROM. The only question here had to do with the woman's notion (from what source I know not) that everyone in Australia played +R DVDs.

Jack
Serena wrote on 8/10/2006, 5:12 PM
Bob, I'm not sure that all TVs play NTSC. Probably true for more recent sets. We've got a Phillips that doesn't, so feeding that from a player that does play NTSC doesn't produce a picture. Probably a non-issue in the context of this question.