PAL and SECAM, WTF?

[dory_breaux]

What is the difference? (to my understanding) There both 25fps, both have the same pixel count.. so whats the deal?

[David Jimerson]

One's French.

[TimurCivan]

secam and pal are sort of compatible.....

But, as much as i hate to say it. Yes, one IS french and its different for that reason.

[David Jimerson]

It is French in origin, but it's also used in a number of countries:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/PAL-NTSC-SECAM.svg

Interesting history behind it. Lots of Cold War intrigue.

[MikeGunter]

Oui.

[Simon Höfer]

Well, - in simple - the way color is transmitted is different in PAL and SECAM. In SECAM they use frequency modulation and in PAL they use Amplitude Modulation.

PAL is definately the most superior format. For SECAM they also say "System Even Crueler (than the) American Method" :D You've often got color shifting and cross color effects.

[Barry_Green]

Close, but it denies the inherent amero/franco rivalry. The better definition I've heard is that France invented SECAM so that it could be a:
System
Essentially
Contrary to the
American
Method.

:D

[Simon Höfer]

That's also a good one :D

[mikkowilson]

As opposed to - for the record - "Never The Same Color" used in the USA.

Of course with digital TV, it's been upgraded to "Almost The Same Color".



SECAM is a great reason for the French to have the "SCART" connector (used as standard throught Europe), which normally skirts the issue of color in SECAM by providing component connections between gear.

SCART sucks.

- Mikko

[Sad Max]

How about some love for PAL - Perfection At Last?

[Barry_Green]

Well, depends on where you're coming from. For those of us who grew up on 60Hz, the slower 50Hz rate of PAL means that it:
Phlickers
A
Lot

[mikkowilson]

That must be beacuse you 60Hz pholks can't spell.

:)



(And 25p works with 50Hz, whereas 24p needs pulldown in 60Hz .. resulting in phlicker.) :laugh:


- Mikko

[David Jimerson]

There ain't no flicker in 2:3 pulldown. :)

(If you're delivering for viewing in 2:3:3:2 pulldown, hey, that's your own fault.)

Seriously, though, you do have more temporal options available to you with NTSC.

[Skyler]

Well, depends on where you're coming from. For those of us who grew up on 60Hz, the slower 50Hz rate of PAL means that it:
Phlickers
A
Lot
It only phlickers if you have a cheapy monitor that does not do 100Hz.

At least PAL has consistant Colour, not like ntsc.

[mikkowilson]

Nice NTSC (SMPTE) color bars there Skylar... :)


- Mikko

[Skyler]

As opposed to - for the record - "Never The Same Color" used in the USA.

Of course with digital TV, it's been upgraded to "Almost The Same Color".



SECAM is a great reason for the French to have the "SCART" connector (used as standard throught Europe), which normally skirts the issue of color in SECAM by providing component connections between gear.

SCART sucks.

- Mikko
Scart does not provide Componant Connections, only RGB.
In Europe componant is on BNC or what was always known as Phono. Scart is used on consumer equipment.

NTSC........Never TWICE the same colour (color)

[mikkowilson]

Touché. Yeah, RGB, not YUV Component in SCART. Good call.



BNC however is this:
http://www.nudata.com/cables/videocables/bnc_bnc.jpg

Whereas "Phono" (also called "RCA" [especially in the USA]) is this:
http://teachdj.com/images/rca-cable.jpg


Professional gear is almost always BNC, whereas consumer equipment is normally RCA/Phono.

- Mikko

[bikefilms]

Ahhhh, "never twice" is classic. How about:

Accidentally
Transmitted
Some
Color

[mikkowilson]

Nice. :grin: :thumbsup:


- Mikko

[David Jimerson]

It only phlickers if you have a cheapy monitor that does not do 100Hz.

At least PAL has consistant Colour, not like ntsc.

He's referring to the slower frame rate, not the refresh rate.

[dory_breaux]

One's French.



ohh well that explains it:violin: