Posted by Steve on 03/01/06 11:33

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 20:35:51 GMT, steveroberts@compuserve.com (Steve
Roberts) wrote:

>On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:56:13 -0500, Steve
><jazzhunter@atcollectorAGAIN.org> wrote:
>
>> DVD information is stored digitally,
>>so it's just simply up to how the "bits" are read upon playback. A
>>standards convertor will add far more artifacts than simply using a
>>Player for cross-standards playback.
>
>Sorry Steve, but that's really not true. DVD may be digital, but the
>information on them is still fundamentally stored at one of the two
>world standards - 720 x 576 @ 25fps or 720 x 480 @ 30fps.

Yes of course, I was just simplifying things for the OP. The fact is
that the first stage of a standards convertor is to convert to digital
data, which is then resampled and stored and whatever else is needed.
A DVD has done the first stage of "converting" to digital data. An
external convertor means taking the analog outputs, converting that to
digital, then rescaiong, then turning back to analog. There are
something like three extra A/D conversions counting the one in the
player.
>
>DVD players which can take a disc of one format and output it at the
>other format simply have a standards conversion chip built into them.
>It's rather unfair to state that a standalone converter will add more
>artefacts than one built into a DVD player, especially as a standalone
>converter is likely to contain more sophisticated conversion hardware
>than the single chip version built into a budget DVD player.

Thye chip in a DVD player is truly not a "convertor." But players vary
in how well they resample the DVD.
>
>Nonetheless, the simplest solution is probably going to be the
>'one-box' one - ie a budget player with built in converter, although
>it may not offer the best quality.
>
>The *best* solution is to buy a multi-standard TV in Brazil, if such a
>thing is available. That would allow him to view each disc in its
>native standard, just as most of us here in the UK do...

Brazil PAL is not NTSC with a reversing colour burst,which would be
good, but European PAL forced into a 60/525 scan rate, meaning
non-standard colour burst frequencies. The OP is best off with an
NTSC set for DVDs.

... Steve ..
>
>Steve
>
>The Doctor Who Restoration Team Website
>http://www.restoration-team.co.uk

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