Is there a way to retain menus when recoding from PAL to NTSC? I am able to recode with no problem, but regardless of what I do, I only get the main movie. I would like to retain the original DVD structure as well.

Thanks is advance for any help.

Tony

Nope, not seen that this would work so far.
On the other side, animated menus si video too.

Actually it IS possible, there is no simple way to do it, and it will cost you some $$$ to have it done at a facility - They will RIP the original menus and reconstruct them.

You can do it yourself, but it's a lot of work - you could use tools like vobedit and RIP individual MPG files or use MPEG video wizard and extract individual JPG frames for still menus, and using an advanced authoring software, re-create the links and buttons, sub-Ps, etc. Production company I work for uses Scenarist, I have used it myself to pull this off - Depending on the complexity of the menus, it could be a very long job - Which is why facilities charge a fortune

You could also use a tool like VOBLANKER/IFOEDIT to FOOL your DVD player into thinking it is processing 720x480 NTSC by changing information about the MPEG stream - You might away with it on some DVD players as people reported it works - However, not all players will accept this. Using this method (that you can try for yourself) you will retain EVERYTHING - there are other threads on this forum about how to do this.

Thank you both for your replys. I appreciate your help. Sounds like I will just be satisfied with the main movie. I thought I might have been doing something wrong.

Tony

You could always get a multi region dvd player, then you wouldnt have to worry about recoding at all

A multi-region player may not be of any use. This is not a region coding problem, it's a TV system problem.

Well my DVD-Player & TV will play PAL & NTSC..Does it AUTO---So will my Friends n Brothers n Nephews..So what's your Problem..

But we're in the UK where we have to provide these features as we import alot of US stuff.

In the US PAL compatability I think is less common.

Most NTSC DVDs should play fine on PAL DVD players (with some rare exceptions). however, not all NTSC players will support PAL. The ones that are more likely to support PAL are the made in China, inexpensive type DVD players you find in cereal boxes,

it's true.

NTSC devices will ONLY play NTSC formatted material. I've read about ONE instance on cdfreaks where an NTSC dvd player played PAL, and it was some cheapo $20 computer fair find or something like that.

our options are convert or spend a fortune on shipping and currency conversion surcharges to have a multi-region dvd player imported from another country.

and that only takes care of the playback device. most of our TVs are very picky about their formats as well

My JVC plays PAL (as do many other brands) as long as it's not region coded here in the USA. And my old Panasonic TV complains not a bit.

what model is your JVC dvd player?

XV-N50, it's a couple years old.

This is inaccurate and untrue - I can give you examples of DVD Players that will play PAL no problem:

Many APEX DVD players support PAL. I have one myself, Apex AD-1200, while most of these players do not document the feature, they support PAL. Another example is the NOVA DVD Player, it too supports PAL, there are many more that play PAL DVD, especially the less expensive brands.

Apex is an good exception.
www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers