# Best (consumer grade) Multi-System VCR? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 13, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466 "2003-09-13T23:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/1 "2003-09-13T23:50:17Z")
The deal: I collect videos, and have discovered that some oof the titles I seek have been released only in UK (i.e. PAL format). I, being a red-blooded NTSC type, have a problem: I can either: a) pay approximately $20/hr to have the PAL tapes converted to NTSC b) acquire the technology myself. So far, option b is looking good, so I am in the market for the following pieces of hardware: 1. VCR (or cheap duplicator) which can read AND write both NTSC and PAL (SECAM would be a bonus). This device should output whatever format it’s fed - give it a NTSC tape, get a NTSC signal; give it a PAL signal, get a PAL tape. Must operate on 110-120volts, 50-60 cycles AC. NOTE: the VCR need not have a tuner of any kind - it will deal strictly in tapes. 2. Digital NTSC \<-\> PAL converter (eventually, I want to burn everything onto DVD) \*\* Mods note: legal under DMCA, as long as I own a licensed copy \*\* (I hope). For the converter, I’m looking at this: [SB-3686](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3045741701&category=3319&rd=1) So - any Dopers have this kind of setup? Any advice? tia ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/2 "2003-09-14T03:10:06Z")
A [Multi System VCR](http://www.dvdoverseas.com/store/index.html?catalog62_0.html) would be your best solution. ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/3 "2003-09-14T03:57:37Z")
Yes, but which one? ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/4 "2003-09-16T02:29:14Z")
\ C’mon folks - SOMEBODY has had to have some experience with this technology! Eurodopers - do you watch US tapes? How? (let me head off a few of the obvious: 1. With great regret 2. Under duress 3. Only when drunk 4. Only if it will get me laid 5. Just for cheap laughs ) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/5 "2003-09-16T03:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Extraneous \* > \*\*Yes, but which one? \*\* VCR technology has gotten to the point they are pretty much applicances at this point and quite frankly given the rise of DVDs not much more quality and features development or R&D investment is likely for VCRs. The multi-format units offered in the link are dirt cheap with 150 for the basics to 350-400 for the higher end units that can record and play tapes made on Venus. This is about 1/2 the cost they were just a few years ago. Punching the machine and model # into google along with the word “review” will get you a lot of review sites and reviews for each machine. You can also try [www.epinions.com](http://www.epinions.com). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/6 "2003-09-16T16:34:53Z")
Since opinions from this side of the pond have been solicited: my bog-standard off-the-shelf video converts between PAL and NTSC quite happily, and if I want to play a US tape (I have a few), all I have to do is stick it in the slot … I’d probably have to look a bit harder if I wanted a machine that handled SECAM as well, but not all _that_ much harder. I think automatic PAL/NTSC conversion is pretty much a standard over here. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/7 "2003-09-16T17:30:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\* my bog-standard off-the-shelf video converts between PAL and NTSC quite happily \*\* Actually, **Steve** , your VCR converts from NTSC to PAL. This is a pretty straightforward technology. **Extraneous** wants to go the other way, which is definitely swimming upstream. Anyhoo, I use a Samsung SV-5000W, which happily converts PAL, SECAM (in all their many flavours) and NTSC. Never had a problem with it and you can get hold of one through [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004TEUK?v=glance) as well as many specialist video stores. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/8 "2003-09-17T14:40:42Z")
You could ask the people at [http://www.tvone.com/](http://www.tvone.com/) Or [http://www.avtoolbox.com/ntsc-to-pal.htm](http://www.avtoolbox.com/ntsc-to-pal.htm) e.g. $179.00 " Standards Converter - Bi-directional NTSC-PAL-SECAM" That is pal to ntsc or ntsc to pal. ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-consumer-grade-multi-system-vcr/201466/9 "2003-09-18T02:36:37Z")
Looks like the folks at the video transfer shop will continue to extract $ from this boy - a passable VCR runs $230, and a decent converter (TR-10 family) is over $500. Don’t expect to have enough need to justify that expense. oh well, already have too many toys as it is… and if you really want giggles, look up pro-grade telecine gear (film to video) - good (your diety here)! project creep kills another perfectly good charge-at-windmill. As Pepe says “le-sigh…”