To convert or not to convert...

[tommy2k]

Hi,

I very often get these NTSC movies that I want to burn on a DVD which I can play on a European DVD player. Do I really need to convert these files to PAL compliant Mpeg2 files in order to be able to play them on a european DVD player or can i just burn NTSC dvds?

[Doom9]

most European DVD players can handle NTSC discs. All that can handle those discs can output in a hybrid format called PAL-60 (PAL but 60Hz refresh rate rather than the usual 50). Unless you have a pretty old TV screen that's not going to be a problem. Some also support plain NTSC output, which requires that your TV supports NTSC input. Then there's a few that can do a full format conversion (60Hz NTSC -> 50 Hz PAL), which works even with crappy TVs that can't even handle PAL-60, but is usually somewhat lacking in quality (it appears less smooth than a pure NTSC or PAL-60 output).

[Mug Funky]

most standalones that do standards conversion do them by field-discarding and duping full frames. ugly as hell.

just as a test, try making an SVCD in NTSC and see how it goes on your equipment. use a CD-RW if you don't want to waste a disc.

i have several commercial region-4 (PAL land) titles that are in NTSC... it's not much of a problem i guess.

[Slogra]

Just burn the NTSC movie to a DVD+RW and see if it works. Make sure that you made the disc region free.
Most PAL DVD players have some options how to manage NTSC DVDs, so check what looks best on your TV.