Brand specific decks required to convert/digitize PAL HDV to NTSC? at DVinfo.net

Aya Okawa · June 19th, 2013, 06:29 PM

Hello all,
I have about 15 HDV tapes shot in PAL for a job. The tapes were shot on two separate cameras, one a Canon and one a Sony. I don't have any more details from the shooter. I took them a place that does PAL-NTSC conversions (Dub Express/Express Media - in California), but for some reason their Sony PAL deck wouldn't read the tapes. I had never heard of this before. The guy there said that if it was shot on a Canon sometimes their Sony decks won't read the tapes. Does this mean I have to somehow track down someplace with a Canon PAL deck in order to convert this footage to NTSC, or even to digitize it? Has anyone had to handle this before? I didn't realize these tapes and decks were brand specific. Any ways around this? So far I have a relatively flexible deadline, but I"d like to get these at least digitized soon if possible...

Chris Soucy · June 19th, 2013, 11:01 PM

If the Canon tapes were shot using their propriety 24f system, the Sony decks will not reckognise them.

You're going to have to find a Canon HDV camera to get them downloaded, no other way to do it.

Cheapest way is to find a s/h HV20, 30, or 40 and snap it up, it'll do the job.

CS

Aya Okawa · June 21st, 2013, 08:34 PM

dang... there's always surprises with these tapes. do you think that if I find a PAL Canon Vixia that it will be able playback the Sony HDV tapes? thanks for your help!

Chris Soucy · June 26th, 2013, 03:10 PM

Don't think so, for the same reason the Sony decks won't read the Canon tapes.

However, as you're definitely going to need a Canon HDV camera to read the Canon tapes, no harm trying.

CS

Aya Okawa · June 27th, 2013, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the advice Chris. I think I may just wait until I'm in PAL-land in a month and see if I can have things digitized there. Does anyone know of any companies that might do this kind of either digitization or conversion in Amsterdam?

June 19th, 2013, 06:29 PM	#1
Aya Okawa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2010 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 77	Brand specific decks required to convert/digitize PAL HDV to NTSC? Hello all, I have about 15 HDV tapes shot in PAL for a job. The tapes were shot on two separate cameras, one a Canon and one a Sony. I don't have any more details from the shooter. I took them a place that does PAL-NTSC conversions (Dub Express/Express Media - in California), but for some reason their Sony PAL deck wouldn't read the tapes. I had never heard of this before. The guy there said that if it was shot on a Canon sometimes their Sony decks won't read the tapes. Does this mean I have to somehow track down someplace with a Canon PAL deck in order to convert this footage to NTSC, or even to digitize it? Has anyone had to handle this before? I didn't realize these tapes and decks were brand specific. Any ways around this? So far I have a relatively flexible deadline, but I"d like to get these at least digitized soon if possible...

June 19th, 2013, 11:01 PM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Re: Brand specific decks required to convert/digitize PAL HDV to NTSC? If the Canon tapes were shot using their propriety 24f system, the Sony decks will not reckognise them. You're going to have to find a Canon HDV camera to get them downloaded, no other way to do it. Cheapest way is to find a s/h HV20, 30, or 40 and snap it up, it'll do the job. CS

June 21st, 2013, 08:34 PM	#3
Aya Okawa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2010 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 77	Re: Brand specific decks required to convert/digitize PAL HDV to NTSC? dang... there's always surprises with these tapes. do you think that if I find a PAL Canon Vixia that it will be able playback the Sony HDV tapes? thanks for your help!

June 26th, 2013, 03:10 PM	#4
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Re: Brand specific decks required to convert/digitize PAL HDV to NTSC? Don't think so, for the same reason the Sony decks won't read the Canon tapes. However, as you're definitely going to need a Canon HDV camera to read the Canon tapes, no harm trying. CS

June 27th, 2013, 01:00 PM	#5
Aya Okawa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2010 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 77	Amsterdam companies - convert/digitize PAL HDV to NTSC? Thanks for the advice Chris. I think I may just wait until I'm in PAL-land in a month and see if I can have things digitized there. Does anyone know of any companies that might do this kind of either digitization or conversion in Amsterdam?