I occasionally supply a VHS tape to Americal and just send it as PAL and leave it to them to get converted to NTSC.
I have just spotted an ad in Computer Video (Page not numbered but it's between 62 & 64 - why do they do this?) for the Ace Converter and have looked at their web site and reviews etc.
Has anyone practical experience of this item? For £300.00 it might be with investing in. I assume of course that I would need a VCR to record the NTSC. Any suggestions on this at all. Naturally not broadcast gear. Just something for the home to use occasionally.
We started a new strand on this a week or so back: http://www.dvdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum8/HTML/001270.html
Hi Peter
There were some posts some time ago about a Thompson vcr that could record in NTSC,about £200 in Comet,no idea on quality.
The ACE has other strings to its bow but if you only send the odd tape your looking at a outlay of a few quid.
I and others on the board offer a conversion service,for vhs it seems to be a standard charge of £15.
Regards
Charles
Dear Charles, and all
have been doing a bit of reading up on this subject, mainly from your kind help charles 
The Thompson from its reviews is meant to offer extremely good picture quality, however i think it only "records" NTSC it will not convert the signal so would still need the "ACE" or Samsung to convert and then Record the converted signal on the Thompson.
Kind regards all.
Thank for feedback. Isn’t learning wonderful? Perry, I went to the site mentioned and what an enlightenment! I didn’t understand a B****y word of it!!! But that’s my age isn’t it?
Charles, I appreciate your points. Throughout life I have frequently pondered on whether to buy the gear and ‘do it myself’ or subcontract. In my days as a pro photographer I frequently bought equipment to do a task and sometimes contracted out. It just depended.
What I would like to ask is about the quality of the finished NTSC tape if it was produced from a MiniDV master? Or indeed from a VHS/SVHS tape. I know you will say it depends on the quality of the original of course, but in general terms please.
You mention a price of £15.00 is this dependant on length of the programme? Is it cheaper for –say- 5 or 10? Etc.
My slight view is that if this tape of mine was sold at – say - £15.00 to get it converted by your company, that would be an extra £15.00 plus postage costs etc. Thus the price to the client has more than doubled. What the conversion price for him in The States is I don’t know of course.
Having my own gear, I could offer it for less than what he might have to pay in USA and from yourself. I would therefore have been able to offer the product and give a service that would be appreciated. I realise that it might take me forever to get back my investment, but I doubt if I will get back the investment on camera, computer, software etc.
All this is a bit theoretical I know. What are your answers to my quality points Charles and what are the thoughts on others re my ponderings.
I await with interest. Pete.
Peter - you will be amused to know that Gordon (ACE designer) and I got into an extensive off list discussion to REALLY get into the nitty gritty!
Regarding your pricing point, you would be much better considering getting the programme converted to an 'NTSC' DV sub-master and then using that to duplicate as many copies as you need. There are many companies in UK that will dupe NTSC although you might have some trouble finding ones that can use a DV master.
Hi Peter
Quality is in the eye of the beholder or words to that effect,it really depends on the viewer.
I've been doing conversions for just over four years now and untill recently had never had any problems and since that problem have done quite a few more with no problems.The £15 charge for a single copy includes tape and return postage with the option of recorded Delivery at 63p.
For single conversions i've started to use Fuji SHG Hi-Fi tapes which are a bit dearer than standard tapes when you ask about duplication you go to the duplication grade of tapes while very good,but not as good as the fuji,i think most duplication houses start at 50 copies before you get the duplication rate.
E-mail me with length of tape required and number required, but remember NTSC takes up more tape than Pal.
Hi Perry
I can convert to both Mini DV,DVCAM,& S-VHS NTSC and duplicate from either.
Regards
Charles