Definition of NTSC & PAL DVDs
DVD players and discs are manufactured to different standards in different parts of the world. Discs that work in players the U.S. may not work in players in other countries, due to encoding differences. The two regional classifications are NTSC and PAL.
Other People Are Reading
-
NTSC
-
The National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) standard is used in North America and much of South America. Though the group was first created to set standards for black and white TV, the classification is still used today to signify other broadcast and video-related products for this region, including DVDs.
PAL
-
PAL is short for Phase Alternate Line, and denotes the standard used in Australia, the Middle East, and many parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, including China.
-
Broadcast Differences
-
The difference between the two standards goes back to analog broadcasting, with NTSC having 30 frames per second (fps) and 525 scan lines on the screen, and PAL having 25 fps and 625 lines. The difference in frame rate continues today with DVDs.
DVD Differences
-
Standard NTSC and PAL DVDs have different picture resolutions, with NTSC having 720x480 lines of resolution and PAL having 720x576. This gives PAL a slightly better picture, though since NTSC has a faster frame rate, and thus updates the screen more frequently, NTSC handles motion better, with less jerkiness to the images.
Recording/Playback
-
Some computer software programs and other recording devices give the option when recording a DVD to choose either the NTSC or PAL standard, though in the U.S. most players are only designed to play NTSC discs. Conversely, all PAL DVD players output NTSC video, and most PAL TVs will display NTSC as well.
-
References
- Photo Credit a dvd-r disc image by wayne ruston from Fotolia.com
