DVD not playing on all players

[vbalbert]

I have a region-free DVD-R that includes PAL video that does not play on all my players. It plays on my LG BD player with no problems at all but not on my Sony BD player which is my main one. I would like to make a copy of this disc so it will play on my Sony player. I've looked through the site and couldn't find anything that addressed my problem. I have no idea if it's the PAL format of the video that the Sony chokes on or if it's something in the IFO. The Sony just says it can't play the disc.

Is there a way to do this without getting to sophisticated in the tools? I've made copies of DVDs before but using pretty automated stuff like DVD Fab, DVD Decrypter, DVD Shrink, etc. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Yes, the problem is that your SONY player (and virtually all SONY players) will only play one or the other, PAL or NTSC DVDs...

Perform a Doom9 search for "PAL to NTSC"...

[vbalbert]

If you read my original message you would have seen that I already searched for this. Frankly, it's so full of clutter that no clear solution presents itself. While I realize the solution is in there, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. What would really be helpful is a sticky that is titled, "How to convert a PAL DVD to NTSC," or some such thing. I appreciate the suggestion, but I would recommend that you search for "PAL to NTSC" and see what comes up and see if anything comes up that is relevant to the question. Either that or point me directly to a thread which has information that will solve my problem.

[setarip_old]

I DID read your post. Since you don't seem enthralled with the search concept, here's a "quick and dirty" method for PAL to NTSC conversion that has worked for me every time I've had the need to do so:

Rip your movie to the hard drive with DVD decrypter. Then open your newly ripped files with VOB blanker. Under the title set block (center of program window), you'll see your VOB files. The center column says "video format". My example says NTSC 4:3 720x480. If you right click on the VOB's you want to convert, then select "video attributes", you'll see a new window pop up. In this window, you can change the "standard" from PAL to NTSC and vice versa. You can even change the resolution in this window.

I've successfully converted a PAL DVD to NTSC, by using the "VOBBlanker method" I quoted earlier, coupled with using IFOEdit to change all remaining PAL references to NTSC in all .IFOs and .BUPs (and, of course, changing it to R1). It plays beautifully on my unbelievably "finicky" SONY NS725P.

I had to use DVD SubEdit to raise the vertical position of the subtitles. What a great little tool - it took less than two minutes from initial file loading to completion!

I have but one lingering problem that I hope someone can resolve for me. On the main/initial menu screen, the selection cursor is not visible (It is, however, visible on the "Scene Selection" and "Languages" menu screens). The buttons on the main menu screen DO function properly, it's just that you have to guess which one you've selected with the left and right arrow radiobuttons on the remote control.

For kicks and giggles, you might want to read my postings in the following thread (Despite the warnings posted by others, I attained very acceptable results):

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=115963

The only specific I didn't mention in that thread is - In IFOEdit, open "VTS_01_0.IFO" and in "VTS Overview", change "Menu Attributes" to "NTSC". Save BOTH .IFO and .BUP (Although the IFOEdit screen will then look like it is still set to "PAL", it's not. Just load the revised "VIDEO_TS.IFO" into IFOEdit to see that this is true). Repeat this procedure for each Title.

Alternatively you can check out the MANY PERTINENT posts at the following ADVANCED Doom9 search link for "PAL to NTSC" "setarip_old":

http://forum.doom9.org/search.php?searchid=5999566



Let us know how it works out for you...