Multi Format Internal DVD Player

[seekermeister]

Since many of the movies that I would like to buy are only in PAL, instead of NTSC format, I would like to buy a internal player that will use either format. It seems that everything that I have found is either external, or the description in the specs is obscure on this point. Does what I want exist?

 

[Kari]

As PAL and NTSC are video standards rather than file standards, all drives being capable to play both if the region on drive firmware is set correctly, I think that the easiest way would be to buy and use two internal DVD drives, one's region set to America (NTSC) and the other's region set to Europe (PAL).

I have not heard of region free internal DVD players.

Kari

 

[Zepher]

Isn't there an app that can remove the region code from the playing DVD? Not remove the code physically, but tells the system that the DVD that is playing is a Region 1 disc?

 

[seekermeister]

As PAL and NTSC are video standards rather than file standards, all drives being capable to play both if the region on drive firmware is set correctly, I think that the easiest way would be to buy and use two internal DVD drives, one's region set to America (NTSC) and the other's region set to Europe (PAL).

I have not heard of region free internal DVD players.

Kari

If I can't find what I want, then that is what I will do. Thanks.

 

[seekermeister]

Isn't there an app that can remove the region code from the playing DVD? Not remove the code physically, but tells the system that the DVD that is playing is a Region 1 disc?

The problem is that the region and the format are two different things.

 

[Zepher]

I googled and found this,
dvdunlocker.net - DVD Region Unlock Codes. Unlock DVD Player Region Codes
maybe this will work for you.

or this one,
http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html
EDIT: Any DVD basically makes your PC a region free player, so this will work for you.

 

[seekermeister]

I googled and found this,
dvdunlocker.net - DVD Region Unlock Codes. Unlock DVD Player Region Codes
maybe this will work for you.

or this one,
SlySoft AnyDVD | any dvd, region free, dvd copy, copy dvd movies, dvd decoder, dvd ripper, macrovision, dvd copying software
EDIT: Any DVD basically makes your PC a region free player, so this will work for you.

Thanks, but unfortunately none of my drives are on the compatibility list for the unlocker on your first link, so I guess that it isn't a solution. As for AnyDVD, that removes the codes via encoding, making a file that is playable, which DVDFab 8 will also do, and I already have it.

I found the following on Wikipedia:

PAL/SECAM vs. NTSC

DVDs are also formatted for use on two conflicting regional television systems: 525/60 (NTSC) or 625/50 (PAL/SECAM). Strictly speaking, NTSC, PAL and SECAM are all analog chroma-encoding formats which have no relevance in the digital domain (as evident in the conflation of PAL and SECAM, which are actually two very different analog color systems). These terms continue to be used (improperly) as a method of identifying refresh rates and vertical resolution.

NTSC is the analog color TV format historically associated with Canada, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan, United States and other countries. PAL is the analog color TV format historically associated with most of Europe, most of Africa, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, North Korea, and other countries (and Brazil, but using the refresh rate and resolution commonly associated with NTSC). Some DVD players only play discs identified as NTSC or PAL, while others can play both standards.[9]

In general, it is easier for consumers in PAL countries to view NTSC DVDs than vice versa. Almost all DVD players sold in PAL countries play both kinds of discs, and most modern PAL TVs can handle the converted signal. However, most NTSC players cannot play PAL discs, and most NTSC TVs do not work with PAL video. Those in NTSC countries, such as in North America, generally require both a region-free, multi-standard player and multi-standard television to view PAL discs, or a converter box, whereas those in PAL countries generally require only a region-free player. There are also differences in pixel aspect ratio (720 × 480 vs. 720 × 576) and display frame rate (29.97 vs. 25). Again, NTSC discs play on over 95%[citation needed] of DVD systems worldwide, while PAL discs play on very few players outside of PAL countries.[9]

As of 2008, NTSC players and TV's are becoming increasingly capable of playing PAL/SECAM discs, thus beginning to equalize the ability for PAL machines to play NTSC discs and vice-versa. Needless to say, this reduces the need for a multi-region, standard player and TV (or converter box) to view either discs. Now consumers in both countries will most-likely require only a region-free player to view discs from anywhere across the globe (though a converter box or multi-standard system may be necessary if your TV and player can't handle a different format).

Most DVD PC software and hardware can play both NTSC and PAL video and both audio standards.

Although it sounds as though my drives may play the videos, I won't be certain until I try. Still, even if the DVD drive plays it, I'm wondering if the monitor will display it, since the FPS and refresh rate is different?

 

[bobkn]

As for AnyDVD, that removes the codes via encoding, making a file that is playable, which DVDFab 8 will also do, and I already have it.

I think that's false.

I haven't tried to use it to play any DVDs from outside my region (1), but I have used it to help copy a protected disk. I actually used a third party package (Nero) to do the copying. AnyDVD allowed the utility to copy the disk as if it wasn't protected.

Itr might be preferable to install a hacked firmware on the drive to remove the region restrictions. It may be cheaper to buy a drive that has such firware available than to spring for AnyDVD.

 

[seekermeister]

I'm not exactly certain to what you are objecting to. AnyDVD says themselves that they remove region codes, although it is not exactly clear as to when it does it. I'm assuming that it is when it encodes a DVD, making a file on the PC. If that is so, then I assume that if one burned that file back to a DVD, that it would remain region free. However, burning back to a DVD is not what I'm interested in. I only want to either play a DVD directly, using the internal DVD drive on the PC, and/or encode it to a PC file. If the drive will work with a DVD, then encoding it is no problem. The only question that remains is if the TV/monitor will display it. On the desktop, I just have a monitor, but on the HTPC I have a TV working as a monitor. The latter is what I'm most concerned about, because that is the ultimate target for the video files.

 

[Zepher]

from what I was reading on the forum, AnyDVD will remove the region code on the DVD that is playing so that the PC sees the DVD as a region free disc.
Pop in the disc, AnyDVD intercepts the Region code and tells the PC that the disc is region free and you can play it with your DVD player program.
Shoot them an email to confirm or find a trial if you can.

 

[jimbo45]

Since many of the movies that I would like to buy are only in PAL, instead of NTSC format, I would like to buy a internal player that will use either format. It seems that everything that I have found is either external, or the description in the specs is obscure on this point. Does what I want exist?

Hi there
OK breaking the rules a bit because I'm not answering your actual question but the solution I propse will save you money and is a lot more flexible.

1) Install (FREE) alcohol 52% FE (Free edition) -- this essentially enables you to mount an ISO image as a virtual drive.

2) Install AnyDVD (very small cost) but it converts any DVD into a Region Free ISO image which you can then mount with the alcohol 52% FE program and play with normal DVD playing software.

3) Install VLC as your DVD playing software -- its free and will play almost anything --NTSC / PAL or whatever.

For DVD-RAM (not so much used these days) simply copy the files to a HDD folder and you can play these directly by just double clicking on the video file.



Links 1) alcohol 52 FE Alcohol 52% Free Edition

2) VLC VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

3) AnyDVD SlySoft AnyDVD | any dvd, region free, dvd copy, copy dvd movies, dvd decoder, dvd ripper, macrovision, dvd copying software


The advantage of this is of course all your DVD's are on ISO files UNCOMPRESSED IN REGION FREE ORIGINAL FORMAT on an HDD drive which you can play on any computer --and its much easier to have loads of movies on a small HDD than carry a lot of DVD's around. (You've also got an archive backup copy of our DVD's too).

THis program has NO problem with ripping any DVD I've tried to use it for.

You keep Menu's, soundtracks, subtitles etc just like the original DVD but you can remove these if you want.

You can re-burn again to DVD if you really want to and you can compress -- but HDD's are CHEEEEEEEEEEEEAP these days so why not keep the best quality recording.

Cheers
jimbo