PAL vs NTSC Videos

Most videotapes and DVDs are in NTSC format. These will play in all US players and are often not designated as NTSC in the bibliographic record. The container of a commercial video should include information on format.

European and some Asian videotapes and DVDs are in PAL format. PAL videotapes do not play in US players and must be reformatted to NTSC. PAL DVDs play only on designated DVD players and most computers. Bibliographic records should always be designated as PAL in the 538 field.

Definition from Webopedia: PAL: Short for Phase Alternating Line, the dominant television standard in Europe. The United States uses a different standard, NTSC. Whereas NTSC delivers 525 lines of resolution at 60 half-frames per second, PAL delivers 625 lines at 50 half-frames per second.

Processing PAL videotapes for the Media Center/Government Information:

• Make sure the bibliographic record reflects PAL in the 538 field.
• Arrange for conversion to NTSC format:
  • obtain 1180 purchase form
  • contact Learning Resource Center (located at 001 Buttrick Hall, phone 322-4855)
  • take videotape to LRC for conversion
  • retreive both original and reformatted copy from LRC
• Create second call number record for the reformatted copy.
• Assign accession number to video. Then:
  • Add PAL to end of call number for original copy.
  • Add NTSC to end of call number for reformatted copy.
• Send both copies to Marking.

Processing PAL DVDs for the Media Center/Government Information:

• Add PAL to the end of the call number

The Media Center/Government Information has purchased a region-free DVD player which can play PAL DVDs, so no other processing is required for PAL DVDs.

Created Feb. 1, 2006. ZB