We are exchanging our house with a family in Paris. Presuming that they have a working VCR that is already plugged into the wall, is there any reason why our yoga VCR tapes would not work in their machine? Thanks.
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I am pretty sure it won%26#39;t work as they use an entirely different video tape format. I am copying below an explanation from a German company, not to recommend their transfer service, but to give you information about the European format:
Did you know Europe does not use the same VHS format as we do here in the United States? Most of Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland use a system called %26quot;PAL%26quot;. We, here in the United States, use a system called %26quot;NTSC%26quot;. These two formats are not interchangeable. While the video tapes look identical, they can not be played the same. Just what do you do with this problem?
Actually it is not such a big problem, because we here at the German Language Video Center can transfer your tape from PAL to NTSC (or the other way around) on professional video equipment at a very reasonable charge. To transfer a tape we charge $19.95 plus $5.50 shipping and handling. What could be easier? We even supply the blank tape. So what are you waiting for? Send those tapes to us today for conversion. Usually transfers are completed the day we receive them or at least within two (2) days. If you wish to pay by personal check include a check made payable to:
German Language Video Center
You may also pay by Visa, Master Card or Discover Card. Don%26#39;t forget to include the expiration date. Of course, money orders and bank checks are always welcome too.
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Someone has told me that they believe French vcr%26#39;s use a format even different from the PAL format that is mentioned in the information above, something like SECAM? Maybe a local will help us out. Bottom line seems to be that your tapes probably won%26#39;t work.
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American VCR tapes will not work in France. If you can convert them to DVD then you can play the DVD%26#39;s.
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Yes its SECAM. I know PAL tapes play, but in black and white on French machines, maybe one of the American expats can tell us if NTSC would work.
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SECAM is indeed the system the French use and your NTSC tapes from America will not work.
You can have them transferred to DVD (or buy a DVD version), but then you would have to either make sure they have a region free DVD (because our DVD%26#39;sare not the same region either), or bring a laptop with a DVD player or a portable DVD player. Most laptops and portable DVD players are dual current and will work with an adaptor that you can easily buy at FNAC when you arrive.
Of course, there are also yoga classes in Paris.
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I know for sure that playing American NTSC tapes on PAL equipment isn%26#39;t possible - I think it%26#39;s safe to assume that they won%26#39;t do any better on SECAM equipment.
Although I%26#39;ve never had any problem playing DVD%26#39;s from the US, France or the rest of Europe on my DVD player, you shouldn%26#39;t assume that the NTSC/PAL/SECAM problem totally disappears once you use DVD%26#39;s: it seems that DVD%26#39;s still are either PAL or NTSC based. However, most DVD players can handle both formats.
The region issue is a separate one (not as much technical as marketing/legal). The majority of commercial DVD%26#39;s is %26#39;locked%26#39; to a specific region (US, Asia, Europe, etc.) to help film companies make more money. A %26#39;region-free%26#39; DVD player can play DVD%26#39;s from all regions.
Some VCR equipment can handle multiple formats - I found that often portable TV sets with built-in VCR can play multiple formats.
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In Israel we also have the PAL system if I%26#39;m not mistaken, but all of the VCRs that we%26#39;ve bought over the past decade have been multi-system, and therefore all tapes from the U.S. can be viewed on them.
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the vast majority of vcrs that are sold in France play NTSC. It just depends on how recent / nice their VCR is.
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MorganB is right. Just did some research of VCR specs sold in France and most of them play NTSC tape and automatically convert.
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People nowadays are buying almost exclusively DVD players, and have been for years - VCR%26#39;s are hardly sold any more. It%26#39;s true that the ones that are sold today may have NTSC support - but most people that have a VCR in their home, will have bought this 5 or more years back.
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