Re: [CH] Why different formats?
joemama (joemama@ticino.com)
Wed, 26 Mar 2003 21:03:36 +0100
> > Does anyone know why the mini-brains decided to use different formats
for
> > videotaping and DVDs between Europe and the U.S.? They probably
designated
> > a third format for Asia.
> > ...
> > Can't even buy a DVD player with European format from amazon.co.uk for
shipment to U.S.
>
> I understand the DVD issue is purely a business decision by The Recording
> Industry, that the world was carved into several regions with separate
> codes to restrict access for marketing purposes, and big money gets its
> way.
Yes. However in Europe it is perfectly legal to buy and sell 'Code Free'
DVD players (they will play DVDs from all regions), and nowadays they are
the only type you will find for sale here, as no-one will buy the
'local-only' items.
> In contrast, the VHS issue is purely technological, I believe. I have
been
> told that NTSC is inferior to PAL -- significantly lower video quality.
It's minor (nowadays). I have both at home on the same TV.
Actually, until they invented 100Hz overscanning, NTSC was better because
there was no noticable flicker, unlike PAL and SECAM. Nowadays, the flicker
problem with PAL and SECAM is gone.
NTSC (Never Twice the Same Color) had problems untilthe late '70s/early '80s
with color stability, which for the past 20 years has no longer been an
issue due to improved electronics.
NTSC color dates from the '50s, PAL form the '60s. VHS came later ('70s),
and the differences between tapes in US/Canada/Japan/Asia and Europe are due
to the different TV standards of NTSC and PAL/SECAM.
Anyway, even if everyone used the same standard, there is also the
frame-rate problem. NTSC (color) uses 29.97 frames/second (30 for B/W),
whereas PAL/SECAM use 25. This is not due to the formats themselves, but
due to the line frequency of 60 Hz for US/Canada/Japan/etc. and 50Hz for
Europe/etc. and the fact that when these standards were created all
electronic devices used tubes that were heated at line frequency. So, even
if you had the same standard in both places, European tapes would play 20%
faster on US machines.
> Presumably ditto for the 2-3 other formats in use in
> different regions around the world,
All other formats are versions of either NTSC or PAL/SECAM and are basically
compatible with one or the other.
Tom