Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with pal

I quit my "pen pal"--do I need to explain why?

naplesyellow — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:14:12 -0800

I feel weird about dropping my foreign pen-pal-but not weird enough to want to change anything. Am I too cruel? A woman in Germany befriended me last year. She saw my very handsome brother's page on an memorial site...and she claimed to "love him". (yeah..I know...what was my first clue that she is troubled). But I didn't see any harm in writing to her and I really enjoyed learning about where she lives, etc. She writes in impeccable English because she is a translator. It was kind of nice to discuss my brother with her...since not too many people cared about him while he was alive. Over the year, however, she made noises about coming here to the US. She is very effusive and "loving". I told her I have absolutely no room for guests (which is true) and she writes back things like "oh, don't worry, I can stay in your yard in a tent!" She is the kind of person who sends hugs and kisses and "cuddles"...she fawns over me. I know that she is very lonely because she is taking care of her elderly Dad and she never goes anywhere. She was writing to me twice a day...really long long emails. I feel almost like a guy who "led someone on"--but I have completely run out of things to talk about with her. I just stopped writing and answering her. A bit abruptly. She loves to send me stuff and I am completely tired of it. I just didn't know how to tell her that I don't want to write anymore...so I have handled it passively agressively by just dropping her.
I know I have not handled this well...but the question is..should I just never write back and call it a day? She isn't writing either now and I know she is "hurt" because she has written my dead brother some messages about it on his tribute page.
Advice gladly accepted.

Which PS Template for 16x9 DVD Menu

anonaccount — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:03:29 -0800

Ive created a series of 16x9 videos that I want to make into a DVD using Adobe Encore. My version has no templates for some odd reason. Which Photoshop Template do I use? PAL D1/DV
PAL D1/DV Widescreen
PAL D1/DV Square Pixel
PAL D1/DV Widescreen Square Pixel

?? and what's the difference between them?

PAL DVD's playable on US computers?

paphun123 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:20:26 -0800

I'm accustomed to watching DVDs produced for the United States market on my laptop using the VLC software player. Using this set up, will I be able to watch PAL DVDs made for the UK or European markets without any difficulties? I don't want deal with any ripping, conversions, flashing DVD drive memories to change regions etc.

Can you recommend a good SDI/HDMI monitor?

infinitewindow — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:07:22 -0800

Video engineers: help me out with choosing a QC monitor for all flavors of HD, SD and HDMI. We currently have a CRT for PAL/NTSC/SDI that syncs almost instantaneously and decodes and displays line 21 closed captions.

We have a JVC DT-V24L1 which takes about five seconds to sync over HDMI, and it galls me that a fifteen-year-old CRT can sync instantly while the LCD takes five seconds to get a lock and display a signal. It also doesn't decode closed captions, and these two issues are becoming major hassles.

What we want is an LCD that is about 24 inches or so, widescreen, decodes closed captions and syncs quickly to HD-/SD-SDI, composite/component/S-video and HDMI. Native display of 1920 x 1080 is also required.

Does such a beast exist? If not, can you recommend a monitor with fast sync and an SDI Line 21 decoder/displayer? Thanks!

Why don't my PAL Mini DV tapes play anything?

sswiller — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:43:34 -0800

I am trying to play some Mini-DV tapes, which were sent to me from Lebanon and, I am told, shot in PAL. When I play them, all I can see is a blank screen. Why is this and what can I do? I have 13 Mini DV tapes, and all of them show nothing on the screen when I try to play them. I tried watching them first on a Sony DSR-11. I made sure it was flipped to PAL, and when that didn't work I shut everything down and tried again in NTSC. I've tried fast-forwarding to different parts of the tape as well. I then tried watching on a Canon XL2, and all I could see was a blue screen. These tapes were shot in Lebanon and I'm told they were recorded in PAL, which is the standard there. I've tested other tapes, PAL and otherwise, and they are playing fine, so I'm positive it's something with these specific tapes.

Origins of red blur in MiniDV video?

limeonaire — Sat, 24 May 2008 11:08:36 -0800

Question for my roommate about red blur in shooting MiniDV video. Here's his question:

I've noticed in my work shooting MiniDV video that often, areas of intense red will blur at the edges. If I turn down the exposure when shooting, however, this effect can be minimized. Why do certain reds blur like this on MiniDV?

Due diligence: I've heard that this is not specific to my camera or MiniDV, but rather to video in general. Is that the case?

Also, in case it's relevant, I shoot on a Sony TRV900, though I've experienced the red blur problem with other cameras as well.

Some people I've talked to have suggested that it's a CCD issue, that perhaps the "red" light sensor is more sensitive than the other two. Others have suggested that it's a question of how red is specified in PAL. One site I found suggested that it's a YUV issue, since in the YUV color space, one green pixel's matched with half a red pixel and half a blue pixel, leading to noticeable red blurs and less noticeable (but still somewhat apparent) blue blurs. I don't know which of these claims is correct, though.

Microsoft Points blues

howiamdifferent — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:45:09 -0800

Xbox 360 PAL + MS Points for US + UK Live account + non-UK location? How can I work this out? So I have a PAL Xbox 360 (Elite version), and live somewhere that's considered as part of the PAL regions, that is neither Europe nor Australia. I set up my Live account to go with my hotmail account whose location I've changed to UK because for some reason Live is still not officially released in my country (and Microsoft, which I hate with passion, hasn't publicized any plans to when/if it is going to do so).

I want to download some Live titles so bad, but sadly, no official PAL MS points cards are sold here. And for some mysterious reason, US MS points cards are everywhere. I ended up buying one of those (4000 MS points card), and surprise surprise, it didn't work.

So what should I do? is it feasible to change my hotmail location to US? will I lose anything by doing so (gamer score, save data, ..etc)?
I am really trying to avoid using the visa card option cause that too will require some verification with Zip addresses and stuff.

Thanks in advance.

How do you watch George W. Bush without going blind?

Jimbob — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:50:42 -0800

Does NTSC look as bad on actual NTSC televisions as it looks on my PAL television? My evening news, here in Australia, just had a piece on Bush's State of the Union address, and it occured to me how fuzzy and old American television looks compared to Australian TV. Everything looks like it was filmed in the 70s or 80s.

America uses the NTSC standard, known to be a slightly lower resolution than the PAL standard that I'm used to, but is the fuzzy image I see the same as what Americans see when they watch TV, or does the process of converting to PAL mess with the picture and make it worse? Do PAL shows look awful on NTSC televisions? Will the shift to HDTV improve the quality? Input from people who've experienced both formats first hand would be much appreciated.

Dangers of installing a wii modchip?

freddymetz — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:55:37 -0800

Dangers of installing a wii modchip? i have a European wii (pal) and would like to install a modchip.
Im worried that the modchip will be useless when they release the next update or worse, the console gets rendered useless.

PAL->NTSC->NYC

lovejones — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:00:46 -0800

Can anyone direct me to a storefront in NYC where I can find a simple hardware PAL -> NTSC video converter (RF inputs)? A friend in Mexico has a PAL Wii from Europe and he wants to use it on his NTSC TV. He asked me to pick up a converter before I come to visit, but I don't know where they would have this. I checked J and R, B&H, Best Buy--no dice. Any ideas where I could find something like this/good stores for video junk?

How to play FFX on my US PS2?

Kemayo — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:00:26 -0800

PAL-to-NTSC-Filter: Help me play FFX:International on an American PS2. Cheaply, if possible. I'm in America, and have a PS2. I've imported from England a copy of Final Fantasy X. (The international version has a lot of extras compared to the domestic version, you see.)

I would like to be able to play this on my regular US PS2. Using a disk-switching tool (Swap Magic), I can get the game to run. But its video output seems to remain in PAL; the signal results in a rapidly flickering picture on my TV, which isn't at all playable.

So. How can I persuade my PS2 that it actually wants to output NTSC?

(I've seen PAL-to-NTSC converter boxes, but generally not at prices that meet my needs.)

Input PAL video through non-PAL VCR

destro — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:50:02 -0800

Is it possible to get a non-PAL VCR plugged into a Mac Mini to show content from a PAL videotape? Or will I need a PAL VCR? I realize PAL videotapes become sped up when played through a regular VCR, but is there a simple way to compensate for that with a Mac? I know I can change the display settings so the lines might line up, but is it possible to adjust for the speed?

If it's complicated, then it's not worth it.

Not THOSE kind of home movies!

medium format — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 04:51:10 -0800

PAL v. NTSC Re:Mini DV. I need help choosing a new video camera, but have some concerns about my future. I'm from the US (the old US, not the new one) and am living in the UK. I have reason to be buying a video camera but need to make sure that I can watch my home movies either in the UK on PAL TVs or in the US on NTSC TVs when I move back there.
I am most interested in the MiniDV format or the newer HDR models. How much is the PAL/NTSC format going to come into play? Am I better off buying in the UK to play in the UK and US or vice versa? Is it even an issue?

Are the cameras actually encoding the video differently or does the encoding occur when the DV signal is sent to the TV?

Any suggestions on specific models that might make this a non-issue? Also, are the HDR cameras worth the extra dough? My justification is that eventually I will own an HDTV (or the technological equiv. of the future).
Don't tell my wife I said that.

NTSC / PAL diagnosis

Anders Levant — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:11:16 -0800

I live in the US , and am trying to trade DVDs with a correspondent in the UK. They wish to know a quick and easy way to determine if their DVDs are in NTSC or PAL format. Not looking for an NTSC/PAL conversion, just a diagnostic tool. Any ideas?

DVD PAL NTSC

bright77blue — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 04:20:27 -0800

I would like to use my PC to convert a PAL DVD to an NTSC DVD in as few easy steps as possible. Is the a util? Thanks

Multi region DVD players for USA

cushie — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:51:06 -0800

Can you recommend a multi region DVD player for use in the USA? Amazon lists several all from third party sellers, it's not clear which ones have had their hardware hacked. I am looking for something that either plays discs from all regions right out of the box, or only needs a very simple hack via the remote, i.e. I prefer not to void the warranty.

PAL-to-NTSC on a Mac

AlexReynolds — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 19:11:30 -0800

My Sony DVD player is being obnoxious about playing Brit DVDs. I'd like to convert my BBC DVDs from their native PAL signal to the North American NTSC signal, region code-less, all on a Mac, so that I can create working DVDs... What tools (and commands, if CLI) would you recommend to this Mac OS X user? Thanks for all advice!

US TV for Australians

Dreama — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 19:41:59 -0800

What's the best way to get a copy of an American television program to someone in Australia? I'm going to be on a U.S. television show in a couple of months and some friends in Australia want to see me. This is not a program that is put out on the torrent networks. Is my best bet:
a.) to make friends with a torrent-maker and ask for a favor
b.) pay to have my videotape duplicated in the PAL format
c.) ask someone with a TiVo with built-in DVD burner and ask them to make a DVD (are those discs regionless?)
d.) ask someone with a TV card on their PC to make an .avi and burn it to a data cd
e.) something else?

Watching Region 2 DVDs

biscotti — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 20:26:05 -0800

DVDHellFilter: I live in Region 1, I want to watch a Region 2 PAL disc (or a copy of it) on my NTSC TV, how can I do this? I'm willing to either go with a new player or try to copy the disc and convert the region, or whatever will work. (further questions await your expertise inside) Also, where does the PAL or NTSC information come from? Is it in the way the disc itself is encoded, or does the disc just tell the player to put out PAL or NTSC, or what? Also also, are Japanese NTSC Region 2 discs different from other Region 2 PAL discs (if so, why are they both Region 2?)? Also also also, why is it that some films aren't made available in Region (foo), so that film buffs like me who just wanna see the frickin' movie have to ask experts like you questions like this?

I'm looking for a small portable radio to take on a long trip.

josh — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 16:15:06 -0800

Anyone own a Tivoli PAL portable radio? Or have another lightweight, portable radio with audio-in they'd like to recommend? I'm looking for a small little gadget to take on a long trip, to the beach, and other places. The PAL looks great, but it's $130! I would be up for it if it were certified amazing by the Metafilter Review Committee....

How can I convert a video from Sony Mini Cassette to NTSC, PAL and DVD?

NotMyselfRightNow — Thu, 27 May 2004 09:36:23 -0800

I find myself in possession of a Sony Mini Digital Video Cassette tape that was taken while I was in Scotland a couple of weeks ago. I need to get it converted over to NTSC, PAL, and DVD, but am having trouble.... (I know you didn't see it coming, but there's more inside!) My office is in Boston, but I work in Scotland. The video I have was taken on a digital video camera in Scotland and taped onto a Sony mini-DV cassette. We watched the tape in Scotland by hooking up the camera to a TV, and it was fine. I popped out the tape, tossed it in my pocket, crammed myself into an economy class seat on a transatlantic flight, and seven hours and five time zones later, I was back in Boston with the tape.

(We won't talk about where BA sent my luggage.......)

I took the cassette into my Media Services department at work, who handle conversions like this. They either do it internally, or outsource the work, depending on how complicated the request is, and how busy they are. They took a crack at it, but didn't have much luck. Sent it to two of their vendors, who also weren't able to do anything with it. I'm being told that it is a "long-play PAL format" and that for whatever reason, they aren't able to convert it to the three copies that I need (NTSC, PAL, and DVD).

I need this tape.

Best I can tell, I have a couple of options....
1. I can buy a video camera to play it on in the US. This is a valid option, but a last resort in an effort to cut down on expenses.
2. I can try and get it converted next time I'm in Scotland (two weeks from now). This is also a valid option, but I would love to have it copied much earlier than mid-June.
3. Some lovely folks on AskMeFi can recommend a Boston-based company who can handle this.....

Anyone? Anyone? (Bueller? Bueller?)

Many thanks........