Using Nero InfoTool to determine NTSC or PAL

[Sonnet79]

Evening All,

I undertake a fair few projects where I need to convert Region 2 DVD'S that are playable in the USA on a Region 1 standalone player, that will only play NTSC.

My first port of call when converting my R2 DVD's is Nero InfoTool, to determine whether the disc is NTSC or PAL.

Now here is my question. Why do I find that some Region 2 DVD's that I have bought in the UK are using the NTSC standard? Does this not possibly mean that this disc is not playable on some players in the UK? Or do all UK DVD players/TV's have built in functionality to play NTSC discs? I was under the impression that this wasn't always the case, though if anyone could clarify this for me I would be most grateful!

I ask this question as I was worried that Nero InfoTool might be reporting the standard used incorrectly. If this is the case, does anyone know of any freeware apps that might be able to give me this information?

Thanks for any help you guys may have to offer!

:stupid:

[setarip_old]

Hi!

1) The DVD label and the packaging both indicate Region and format - so there's no need to use software to determine this.

2) Yes, there are some Region 2 NTSC format DVDs being sold. Click on the following link to see an Amazon UK ad and warning for such a package ("Sex and the City"):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005IBA0

[jel]

personally i would use ifoedit to determine whether it was PAL or NTSC ( i have never been a fan of nero :p )

+ load the dvd in your computer
+ start ifoedit
+ navigate to any .ifo in the VIDEO_TS folder and open it
+ in ifoedits description window you will see something like this:
VTS overview:

Menu attributes:
Video: MPEG-2 720x576 (PAL) (PAL 625/50) (4:3) (not specified perm.display)
SubPicture 1: Not Specified (2-bit rle )

Title Set (Movie) attributes:
Video: MPEG-2 720x576 (PAL) (PAL 625/50) (4:3) (not specified perm.display)
Audio 1: English (Dolby AC-3) 2ch 48Kbps DRC (ID: 0x80)

hth
j

[Sonnet79]

Thanks for your responses guys.

It seems very strange that production companies would release DVD's in a PAL region, in NTSC format.

Surely they're potentially losing out on a percentage of their market?

[setarip_old]

Actually, they're likely reducing their production costs, while risking little, because as I understand it, most standalone players in the UK are multi-format capable...

I'm still a bit perplexed by the methodology you stated you've been using to determine format. Surely you've seen the labeling and packaging, haven't you?

[Sonnet79]

Actually, they're likely reducing their production costs, while risking little, because as I understand it, most standalone players in the UK are multi-format capable...

I'm still a bit perplexed by the methodology you stated you've been using to determine format. Surely you've seen the labeling and packaging, haven't you?

Yes I've seen the labelling, i'm just a bit paranoid and like to double check!!

Thanks again guys!

[setarip_old]

Have you ever come across any commercial, pressed DVDs that have proven to be mislabeled regarding Region or Format?

[Sonnet79]

Have you ever come across any commercial, pressed DVDs that have proven to be mislabeled regarding Region or Format?

Well i've been doing a little bit of investigating some of my region 2 DVD's and have found some varied results.

I've taken a look at four 'League of gentlemen' DVD's I own, and found that only one of the four DVD cases actually contains any information regarding the TV standard the disc is encoded in. All discs cases contain region information. None of the discs themselves contain information on region or TV standard.

Ok now on to the disc with the TV standard marking. The case states that the DVD is a region 2 + 4 disc and uses the PAL standard. Now here is where I've been confused somewhat. If i check this disc using Nero InfoTool, it tells me that this disc is indeed region 2 + 4 though the standard, despite what the case says, is encoded with the NTSC standard. As a comparison, i checked this disc with IFOEdit, as suggested by Jel, and it told me that the menu is encoded using NTSC, though the actual title sets were in PAL.

From this I can only conclude that InfoTool measures the standard used as stated in the first IFO on the disc. I'm not really sure whether the case of this DVD can be classed as misleading at all, as the actual title sets are in PAL.

With the number of discs that I have that do not state the TV standard on it (all legitimate pressed copies that I have purchased) I find these tools that read the standard helpful (The majority of my discs are catalogued away from their actual original cases). It would appear IFOEdit would be a more reliable route to take.

Thanks for your help Jel, and Setarip, on this thread!