What’s the Difference Between PAL and NTSC?

Have you ever heard the terms PAL and NTSC and wondered what they actually mean? NTSC stands for the National Television Standards Committee and PAL stands for Phase Alternating Line, and there are some big differences between the two, which might surprise you, given that outwardly there seems very little difference from one VHS to another.

 

You’ve probably seen them in relation to VHS, and in its most basic, if slightly inaccurate terms, you could consider PAL and NTSC almost like regions on a DVD. You know how region 1 DVDs can only be played in American DVD players? Well NTSC is sort of the VHS equivalent – it’s used in the Americas and other places like Japan. PAL, on the other hand, was popular in Europe and Australia.

 

So why the difference?

 

It’s all down to the electrical outputs. See, in America the AC current runs at 60Hz; countries using PAL have 50Hz currents. This determines how images are broadcast. Video images need to be transmitted at a corresponding Hz level – 30 ‘fields’ per second for even lines; 30 ‘fields’ for odd lines equals a complete picture running at 30 frames per second on an NTSC video. And, naturally, PAL videos run at 25 frames per second, given its 50Hz electrical output.

 

In this sense, NTSC is the superior format, since more frames per second means a more natural-looking picture, with less flickering. Having said that, PAL allows a lot more picture detail due to the 625 interlaced lines that make up the overall image (NTSC uses just 525 lines). Pros and cons, swings and roundabouts.

 

Are there any more differences?

 

Yep. For starters, there’s the automated colour correction offered by PAL, which is non-existent on NTSC tapes. Back when NTSC was created, in the 1940s, colour TV was sci-fi fantasy stuff, so no-one really took it in to consideration, meaning that once colour TVs were no longer dreamland equipment, NTSC wasn’t quite capable of dealing with it effectively. So when the colour seems off, the broadcast can’t sort it out itself. PAL came after the advent of colour technology, so it was built with this in mind.

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And then there’s the differing aspect ratios; PAL operates at 720×576 and NTSC opts for 720×480. And then there’s the variance in sound, with NTSC using 4.5MHz and PAL preferring 5.5MHz for increased sound quality. And then there’s…

 

Bet you never realised there were so many differences between a single format. But if you’re looking for an easy, PAL-based medium fit for the HD world, why not get your VHS transferred to DVD and see things the way they should be? Just get in contact and let us know what you need – we’d love to help.

History of Film: A Home Movies Timeline

Home video is something that we’re extremely passionate about here at Video2DVD Transfers, and in order to fully appreciate just how far it’s come since the first home video was made, we thought it would be a good idea to head down memory lane and take a look at the rich history of film in a home movies timeline!

The Best of the 2016 BAFTAs

The 69th British Academy Film Awards took place at the Royal Opera House in London on the 14th February, celebrating the very best of British and international talent in films throughout 2015.

When the nominations for the awards were released at the beginning of January, it was clear to us that it was going to be a huge night for popular films such as The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road.

We were right! Both films won a handful of awards, with The Revenant picking up gold for Best Film!

Composers of Famous Movie Scores: Part 1

A lot of things truly make a movie; the techniques used by the director, the choice of cast members and setting. But one thing that really brings movies to life is the music. Some of the most famous movies in the world are recognised by their breathtaking score.

A movie without music lacks life and lustre, but films with beautifully composed music exist as the most memorable, and their composers are recognised through their individual instrumental techniques. Here is a list of the most influential composers in the movie world and their unmistakable sounds that have brought the genre of classical music to the forefront of popular culture.

Movie Flops That Became Culture Classics

There are a lot of movies out there that have flopped on release, and even though these movies still raked in hundreds of thousands of pounds, if not millions in the box office, they still acquired that box-office bust status. But however unsuccessful they were at the time, these films are now considered by many as being cult classics.

Whether a movie flops because of poor marketing or bad timing, judging by the popularity of the following films, they must have made up the numbers that were lost in numerous TV screenings, video and DVD sales.

The Best of Batman: The Greatest Batman Movies Ever Made

As the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice draws even closer, we’ve taken the time to look back at some of our all time favourite Batman movies. These live action movies have been keeping us entertained for years – a couple of them more so than others.

After a lot of thinking, we’ve picked a selection of our personal favourites – are any of these on your list?

Hotly Anticipated Films of 2016

Some fantastic films graced our cinema screens in 2015, but with the turn of the New Year we now have several feature films due to be released in a plethora of genres to feed our fancies. Disney have unleashed their fair share of teaser trailers for sequels, live action remakes and completely new animations, but there have been a few other announcements for films that re-visit movie worlds that we thought had disappeared in the film archives.

Capturing Christmas: Home Video Perfection

At Video2DVD we love being able to offer our customers our reliable VHS to DVD service, enabling you to enjoy it long after your old VHS has hung up their final stocking. Well, because of our love of all things nostalgia, and it being the season for spending time with your family and friends, we thought we would provide you with a few handy hints to help you capture the perfect home video this Christmas.