--- Forwarded Message from Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date:  Wed, 4 Aug 1999 14:31:38 -1000
>From: Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum   <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5133 PAL conversion tape length question
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
Ursula,

If I'm interpreting the chart correctly at the web site given below, a
T-120 PAL tape will become a 175 minute NTSC tape.  

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Contrib/WorldTV/video.html#tapes

Using that information, I calculate that you would multiply 120 by a
factor of 1.4583 to get 175.  175/120 = 1.4583.

It appears that the most commonly used PAL video length is the E-180 as
opposed to the T-120 in the US.  Multiplying 180 by 1.4583 yields 263
minutes in NTSC.  I've seen T-240 videos, but I don't know about anything
higher.  

I suppose an easier way to calculate the converted length is to just
remember that the NTSC version will be roughly 50% longer than the PAL
version.

Daniel Tom
Language Telecommunications, Resource & Learning Center
University of Hawaii
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
FAX:     808-956-5134
Voice:   808-956-5118

On Wed, 4 Aug 1999, LLTI-Editor wrote:

> --- Forwarded Message from Ursula Williams <[log in to unmask]> ---
> 
> >Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 09:21:16 -0500
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >From: Ursula Williams <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: PAL conversion tape length question
> 
> Must be the Dog Days; I actually find time to ponder this:
> 
> When converting video from PAL to NTSC, I have noticed that, while the
> length of time is the same (of course) the amount of tape needed is not.
> It's usually a guessing game, and if I run out of NTSC tape, I just insert
> another cassette. Most people don't mind this, but I'd rather be able to
> figure it out ahead of time. Also, it seems that people bring me 180
> "minute" PAL tapes. I don't know how long these tapes would run on NTSC.
> (It's a little confusing because tape length is conventionally measured in
> time rather than feet, yards, meters or inches. Conversant with IPS speeds
> for reel-to-reel tapes (UGH!) I am, alas, not familiar with the IPS, FPS,
> or MPS of video tapes.
> 
> Anybody got a formula? Anybody willing to come up with one, while sipping a
> daiquiri and dangling your feet over a dock?
> 
> 
> PS: I don't like to use the fail-safe of EP record speed because of the
> downgrade in quality of the copy.
> 
> PPS: Of course I don't convert copyrighted tapes, Lynne!<smirk>
> 
> Ursula
>