PAL-M signals are in general identical to North American NTSC signals, except for the encoding of the
color carrier. Both systems are based on the monochrome
CCIR System M standard, therefore, PAL-M will display in monochrome with sound on an NTSC set and vice versa. Nevertheless, due to the different
gamma correction values (2.2 for NTSC, 2.8 for PAL-M), gray tones will be incorrect. PAL-M is incompatible with
625-line based versions of PAL, because its frame rate, scan line,
color subcarrier and sound carrier specifications are different. It will therefore usually give a rolling and/or squashed monochrome picture with no sound on a native European PAL television, as do NTSC signals.
PAL-M details: Note: displayed colors are approximate and require a wide gamut display for faithful reproduction. PAL-M systems conversion issues PAL-M being a standard unique to one country, the need to convert it to/from other standards often arises. • Conversion to/from NTSC is easy, as only the
color carrier needs to be changed. Frame rate and scan lines can remain untouched. • Conversion to/from PAL/625 lines/25 frame/s and SECAM/625/25 signals involves changing the frame rates as well as the scan lines. This is achieved using complicated circuitry involving a digital frame store, the same method used for converting between NTSC and the 625/25 standards. The fact that the color encoding of PAL-M and PAL/625/25 is the same does not help, as the entire signal goes through an
A/D-D/A conversion process anyway. However some special VHS video recorders are available which can allow viewers the flexibility of enjoying PAL-M recordings using a standard PAL (625/50 Hz) color TV, or even through multi-system TV sets.
Video recorders like
Panasonic NV-W1E (AG-W1 for the USA), AG-W2, AG-W3, NV-J700AM,
Aiwa HV-MX100, HV-MX1U,
Samsung SV-4000W and SV-7000W feature a digital TV system conversion circuitry. Some recorders support the other way around, being able to playback standard PAL (625/50 Hz) in 50 Hz-compatible PAL-M TV sets, such as the Panasonic NV-FJ605.
PAL 60 The PAL
color system (either baseband or with any RF system, with the normal 4.43 MHz subcarrier unlike PAL-M) can also be applied to an NTSC-like
525-line picture to form what is often known as "PAL-60" (sometimes "PAL-60/525," "Pseudo-PAL," or "Quasi-PAL"). This non-standard signal is a method used in European domestic VCRs and
DVD players for playback of NTSC material on PAL televisions. It's not identical to PAL-M and incompatible with it, because the color subcarrier is at a different frequency; it will therefore display in monochrome on PAL-M and NTSC television sets. == Technological obsolescence ==