- What's
a Region Coded DVD / What is Region Coding?
- PAL
and NTSC
- Will
a region coded or PAL DVD play on my USA / North American
DVD Player?
- Any
advice on how to get a DVD to work in my player or computer?
- What's
RCE or regional code enhancement?
- Is
my PS2 or Xbox region free? Will it play a PAL DVD or
VCDs?
- Are
extreme temperatures bad for videos and DVDs?
- Oops,
I broke something that I rented from you - should I
repair it for you?
- I'm
not getting any sound out of my DVD player or sometimes
the sound is really quiet.
- What
do I need to properly view MOVIESville.com?
- The
picture of my DVD or VHS tape is fading in and out on
my TV - what should I do?
- I
can't find the English subtitles!
- DVD
Termilology
- VCDs
- Widescreen
versus Fullscreen
- Sound
specifications
|
| 1. What's
a Region Coded DVD / What is Region Coding? |
 |
|
A: The DVD 'world' is broken up into regions (see the map
below). Most DVDs are hard coded with the region they are
manufactured in (Ex: USA is region code 1). This coding
can stop a disc from one area of the world from playing
in a DVD player in another part of the world. Region coding
is not mandatory or written law - media companies have adopted
region codes as a way to market their releases in idividual
territories and control where their DVDs are distributed
to. There are many DVD releases that are 'region free' or
region 0 - they will play anywhere in the world. There are
also 'region free' DVD players that can play DVDs from any
region of the world. Click
here for our policies regarding the sales of region
coded and PAL DVDs. |
DVD
Regions are defined as:
| Region
1 |
US,
Canada, US Territories |
| Region
2 |
Japan,
Europe, South Africa, and Middle east (including Egypt) |
| Region
3 |
Southeast
Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong) |
| Region
4 |
Australia,
New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico,
South America and the Caribbean |
| Region
5 |
Eastern
Europe (former Soviet Union), India subcontinent,
Africa, North Korea and Mongolia |
| Region
6 |
People's
Republic of China |
| Region
7 |
Reserved |
| Region
8 |
Special
international venues (aeroplanes, cruise ships, etc.) |
Region
0 (NTSC)
or "Region All NTSC"
|
Region
free, can be played on any DVD player in these countries:
Bahamas
Bolivia
Canada
Central America
Chile
Columbia
Ecuador
Jamaica
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Peru
Surinam
Taiwan
Philippines
United States
Venezuela |
Region
0 (PAL)
or "Region All PAL"
|
Region
free, can be played on any DVD player in these countries:
Australia
Austria
China
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Holland
Hong Kong
Italy
Kuwait
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
United Kingdom |
|
If
you need to make your computer capable of playing DVDs from
all over the world, please visit:
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/region.html
If
you need to buy an all-region DVD player that
plays DVDs from Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, anywhere
in the world, please click "go!"
(a new window will pop up and you can choose
from a bunch of all-region multi-TV-system DVD
players):
|
|
|
Another good source:
http://faq.inmatrix.com/
|
| 2. What is PAL and
NTSC? |
|
A: If region coding wasn't confusing enough - many countries
have a different video standard (the way the actual video
signal gets to your TV - also referred to as "TV System").
The two main power frequencies widely used arround the World,
50Hz and 60Hz divide the World's TV systems into two distinct
systems: the 25 frames per second system (50Hz) and the
30 frames per second system (60Hz). PAL will NOT play in
an NTSC VCR / DVD player (and vice versa) without a video
signal converter or internal converting hardware inside
the VCR / DVD player (not a common feature on consumer players).
We carry multi-standard DVD players and VCRs for rent that
convert all of the different signals digitally. There is
no difference in quality from the orginal video signal during
these conversions.
Computer DVD drives are PAL/NTSC-indifferent, i.e., a computer
DVD drive can play both PAL and NTSC DVDs.
There are currently 3 main video standards used throughout
the world:
PAL - Phase Alternating Line.
Developed in the United Kingdom and Germany
NTSC - National Television Standards
Committee. The oldest existing standard, developed
in the USA.
SECAM - Systeme Electronique pour
Couleur avec Memoire. Developed in France.
If you are unsure of what format to buy, here is a common
guide of the formats used around the world.
PAL
System
Countries |
NTSC
System
Countries |
SECAM
System
Countries |
Australia
Austria
China
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Holland
Hong Kong
Italy
Kuwait |
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
United Kingdom |
Bahamas
Bolivia
Canada
Central America
Chile
Columbia
Ecuador
Jamaica
Japan |
Korea
Mexico
Peru
Surinam
Taiwan
Philippines
United States
Venezuela |
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
France
Guyana
Hungary
Iran
Iraq
Monaco
Poland
Russia
Slovak Republic
Ukraine |
|
| 3. Will a region coded
or PAL DVD play on my USA / North American DVD Player? |
|
| A:
Chances are - no. Most region 1 DVD players are locked to
ONLY play region 1 discs (check your manual to be sure).
Computers equipped with a DVD drive should have no problem
playing PAL or NTSC and many of these drives are region
free. Sorry, we don't know how to make your DVD player or
computer region free - It's probably harder than flipping
a switch and we're guessing it voids your warranty. |
| 4. Any advice on how
to get a DVD to work in my player or computer? |
|
| A:
Because of how different each hardware DVD player and computer
is - there's no easy answer to this question. Most computers
and DVD players have hardware changes each time they're
manufactured - hardware manufactured in one month might
be different than the same model manufactured a few months
later. Feel free to rent a title to test if region coded
/ PAL discs will work in your machine - if you rented a
title that doesn't work, we'll give you a credit for another
rental. Searching the web for info on your player or computer
and checking your manual is always a great place to start.
We recommend purchasing a good software DVD player to watch
movies on a PC or MAC - Windows Media Player and Quicktime
tend to have problems playing DVDs. |
| 5. What's RCE or regional
code enhancement? |
|
| A:
Regional Coding enhancement (RCE) is an additional layer
of protection which some studios have placed on certain
DVDs to prevent them from playing on region-free or multi-region
players. RCE is something completely different than region
coding - It's an additional piece of programming on the
DVD that checks to see if your DVD player is set to 'no
region' ... if it is, it stops playing the DVD. A lot of
region free players will set automatically to the region
of the disc that's being played - RCE discs will work fine
on these players. If you do experience a problem, try 'hard
setting' your player to the region of the disc you are player.
Typically these options can be found in the setup menu of
your DVD player. There have not been many RCE DVD releases.
For more details, check http://www.dvdtalk.com/rce.html |
| 6. Is my PS2 or Xbox
region free? Will it play a PAL DVD or VCDs? |
|
| A:
Your PS2 or Xbox is not region free (and we've never heard
of one that is), it most likely will not play VCDs and we're
pretty sure it won't play any PAL DVDs (sometimes they even
have trouble playing DVDs they're supposed to play). We
always recommend that you should get a standalone hardware
DVD player to watch your movies. We agree, it's pretty nice
to watch movies and play games on the same system - but,
ultimately that console is made to do one thing ... play
games. Consoles are being manufactured with constant hardware
changes, bios changes and programming changes - each batch
of new consoles may play a DVD differently. If you're into
tweaking your console - you can update the OS and modify
settings on it that may make it more compatible with DVDs
(we haven't done this though, good luck!). |
| 7. Are extreme temperatures
bad for videos and DVDs? |
|
| A:
Yes! The number one killer of DVDs and video tapes is nature.
You name it and we've seen it done: left in cars, by the
window, rain, direct sunlight, the BBQ. By leaving a tape
or DVD in the open elements for even just a short time,
you can easily melt or warp it. Just imagine that these
are your little children - please don't leave our children
in the hot, hot car with the windows rolled up ... they'll
melt. Try to keep any form of media in a steady, medium
tempeture and enviroment. |
| 8. Oops, I broke something
that I rented from you - should I repair it for you? |
|
| A:
Please no! Have no fear, our experts here can probably have
that small problem fixed in no time. By attempting to fix
something (a case, a crack, etc) - you may actually damage
it more. Even if the tape is stuck in the VCR - we can get
it out safely. |
| 9. I'm not getting
any sound out of my DVD player or sometimes the sound is
really quiet. |
|
| A:
Sometimes DVD players have multiple sound outputs in the
back - 5.1, stereo, SPDIF. Make sure that you have plugged
into the correct outputs on your player. Usually it will
have a note next to each plug: 'audio left', 'audio output',
etc. If you don't have a 5.1 system - check to make sure
your DVD player is set to 2.0 or stereo and not 5.1 (this
is usually in the menu system, check your manual for more
info). Use the color coded wires - they always help out
making sure you plug the right things in the right places. |
| 10. What do I need
to properly view MOVIESville.com? |
|
| A:
Computer settings recommended to view this website: The
newest version internet browser you prefer, a monitor display
setting of 800x600 or higher and the newest version of the
Macromedia
Flash plugin.
We prefer: A monitor display setting of 1024x768, the
newest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer. We also
recommend: Updating your operating system (Windows, Linux
or Mac), the Real audio plugin, Apple Quicktime plugin,
audio speakers installed and more than 128 megs of system
memory. We do not recommend Netscape Navigator (any version)
or AOL (or other similar online services) to view this
website - these browsers tend to display the web and it's
content incorrectly. Even if you don't think you need
all of these upgrades - it will probably make the internet
work better for you ...
|
| 11. The picture of
the DVD or VHS tape i'm watching is fading in and out on
my TV - what should I do? |
|
| Chances
are you're running your DVD player or VCR through a VCR
before it get's to your TV - right? If this is the case,
that flickering or fading is a result of MACROVISION - a
copy protection encoded into the video that is enabled if
it detects that the player is being run through any additional
hardware or VCRs. Connecting your player directly to your
TV is the only way to view Macrovision encoded titles without
the 'flicker'. If you are having this problem after connecting
your player directly to your TV - we recommend switching
cables or hooking the same player to another TV. From the
Macrovision bio: 'Macrovision's copy protection technologies
are designed to allow content owners to protect their videocassettes,
digital Pay-Per-View (PPV) programs and Digital Video Discs
(DVD) from unauthorized recording on VCRs. Major Hollywood
studios, independent home video companies, and special interest,
corporate, and educational program providers use the company's
videocassette copy protection technology to protect against
unauthorized home copying of rental and sell-through videos.' |
| 12. Subtitles problem |
|
Some
foreign movies we have come entirely in a foreign language:
from the cover art, the mumbo-jumbo they speak, to DVD menus.
If you can't find the English subtitles:
*If you are using a DVD player: use the "subtitles"
button during playback to switch between different subtitles
and to switch subtitles off.
* If you are using a computer: I figure you already figured
it out! |
| 13. DVD Terminology |
|
- Anamorphic
DVDs: Anamorphic DVDs have been specially mastered
to allow for the vertical manipulation of resolution
lines. The technology enhances resolution to 480 lines
on a TV with a16:9 aspect ratio , resulting in finer
detail. Anamorphic DVDs are intended for specifically
enhanced widescreen TVs with aspect ratios of 16:9,
but they can still be played on regular TVs.
- DTS:
Our DVD Store does offer titles equipped with DTS (Digital
Theater Sound). You can find these titles by conducting
a keyword search for "dts." Please note that, in order
to best take advantage of any DTS-encoded product, a
5.1 audio system must be employed. While DTS-encoded
DVDs will operate on other DVD players, you will need
to select Dolby 2.0 sound on your receiver when playing
these DVDs on non-DTS players.
- Dual-layer:
A dual-layer disc has two layers of data, both of which
are readable from the same side. This allows for twice
as much storage as a single-layer disc--more than 4
hours of video. These discs are often used for longer
movies or to provide different editions of a film (such
as the theatrical release and the director's cut) on
the same disc. All DVD players can read dual-layer discs.
- Keep
case: A keep case or snap case is a plastic case
that holds DVDs. It's about 40 percent larger than a
CD case and snaps open and closed.
- Regional
Coding Enhancement: Warner and Columbia have recently
added a Regional Coding Enhancement (RCE) to Region
1 titles like The Patriot, The Perfect Storm,
Hollow Man, and All the Pretty Horses.
Some, but not all, of our international customers have
had problems playing these enhanced discs on Region-free
DVD players. Multi-region players are not known to be
affected by RCE. For more information on RCE, click
here.
|
| 14. VCDs and
Laser Discs |
|
We
usually carry a very limited stock of VCDs (Video CDs) and
laser discs. VCDs are all-region, and can be played on all
DVD players and computers. VCDs use MPEG technology to compress
images, the same technology used by DVDs. VCDs are widely
popular in some Asian countries.
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/vcd
|
| 15. Widescreen
Versus Standard Editions |
|
| Many
of our DVDs are available in both standard and widescreen
versions. Widescreen, or letterbox, editions reproduce
the film as it is shown in a theater, as a rectangle with
an average aspect ratio of 16:9, as opposed to the more
square TV aspect ratio of 4:3. Black bars are placed at
the top and bottom of the screen to preserve this rectangular
image on a TV screen.
Standard versions
of films, on the other hand, have been reformatted to
fit the proportions of your television screen. This reformatting
often means cutting off the left and right edges of the
original picture. Because films are produced in a variety
of height-to-width ratios, the amount of picture loss
would be different for each title. The format of each
video should be listed on the product information page
for that item.
There is not
currently a way to search specifically for DVDs in widescreen
format, but the format of each DVD title offered on our
Web site should be listed on that item's product detail
page. Many DVDs feature both widescreen and standard format
on the same disc. |
| 16.
Sound specifications |
|
|
DD2.0 |
DD5.1 |
DTS5.1 |
DTS6.1 |
Mono |
|
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