# Converting Video tapes to US: PAL/WHATEVER **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493 "2002-06-29T01:16:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493/1 "2002-06-29T01:16:18Z")
I want to convert a European tape to my VHS. I want to do this as independently as possible. It’s not gay porn or kiddies or anything like that, it’s just that I don’t know anyone whom I would trust not to ruin the tape and it is becoming more of a rarity as time goes by. Also, if I knew someone I could trust not to ruin it, I could also trust them to charge me more to copy it than to go to Europe my self and reproduce it with the original cast. What are my options? ---
**Author:** ![OddTunes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f475e1/32.png) [@OddTunes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OddTunes)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493/2 "2002-06-29T02:29:52Z")
When I lived in Seattle I remember there was a shop near my home that did conversions like that. You might just check your local yellow pages. Also, and this may not be the same situation as in the states, but here in Oz it’s normal to find TVs, VCRs, and DVD players which playback all standard formats like PAL/NTSC/SECAM etc. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493/3 "2002-06-29T02:37:07Z")
Google “multisystem VCR” and see what turns up. It took me about 15 sec to come up with these people [http://www.planetomni.com/CVCR\_RENT.shtml](http://www.planetomni.com/CVCR_RENT.shtml) who sell a convertying VCR for $375 or rent the same for $70/wk plus shipping. However, they do say you will get better copies with a dedicated converting unit. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493/4 "2002-06-29T02:41:05Z")
Google “multisystem VCR” and see what turns up. It took me about 15 sec to come up with these people [http://www.planetomni.com/CVCR\_RENT.shtml](http://www.planetomni.com/CVCR_RENT.shtml) who sell a convertying VCR for $375 or rent the same for $70/wk plus shipping. However, they do say you will get better copies with a dedicated converting unit. They recommend the Tenlab TR-10SP Multisystem Video Converter at $540. It can evidently convert NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, PAL B-G-D-K-I-M-N-60, SECAM to NTSC 3.58-4, PAL B-G-D-K-I-M-N, SECAM. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493/5 "2002-06-29T02:55:05Z")
I actually looked up video converting places in my area a while back, and the prices were something like $30 for the first 30 minutes of tape, and $5 for every ten minutes after that. So it looks like I’m going to have to wait a while until I can get that copy of the G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover episode. Consarnit. :mad: Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-video-tapes-to-us-pal-whatever/116493/6 "2002-06-29T14:51:12Z")
A local college might have the machines to do it for you. My friends in england say their vcrs can play usa formats but usa vcrs playing Pal seems to be an option.