NES PAL playback

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:54 am

- Regarding this topic on FamiTracker forums, the guy says the PAL plays slower than the NTSC. Well, yes, PAL uses 50Hz and NTSC 60Hz. By the way, for my best, the tempo and music pitch does not change.

- Just to be sure I'm not crazy, is his argument wrong? o.O

Dwedit · Post by **Dwedit** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:10 am

The famitracker player code includes NTSC/PAL detection, and adjusts the frequency table and playback speed accordingly.

Yes, given identical playback, PAL would be 5/6ths the speed, and one half step lower (G becomes F#, etc). Some games adjusted their playback code properly for PAL, others didn't. Some only changed the tempo, some only changed the sound pitch. Some even autodetected PAL to change tempo, but left the sound pitch alone.

But the Russian Dendy system is not the same as a PAL NES, so you'd be playing NTSC region games on it instead. But it did output PAL video at 50FPS. On a Dendy, you'd get NTSC sound pitch and PAL tempo.

Teppic · Post by **Teppic** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:34 pm

I've made some PAL recordings, you can listen for yourself :)

Clu Clu Land: (slower speed, lower pitch)
http://www.mediafire.com/?y5jzwki0iow

Guardian Legend (normal speed, normal pitch)
http://www.mediafire.com/?jmfdmijdmda

Kabuki - Quantum Fighter: (slower speed, lower pitch)
http://www.mediafire.com/?20yyzyljweo

Metroid: (slower/normal speed, lower/higher pitch)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ztgqjwmqnql

Shadowgate: (lower pitch)
http://www.mediafire.com/?djglmmijmaj

Super Mario Bros: (faster speed)
http://www.mediafire.com/?mzwmjj00mtz

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:39 pm

- You have used a NES PAL console with PAL cartridges, right?

Teppic · Post by **Teppic** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:54 am

Zepper wrote:- You have used a NES PAL console with PAL cartridges, right?

Yes.

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:19 am

- I wouldn't say there's a problem with tempo or pitch. All the soundtrack seems to have been rearranged for the PAL system in a very cool way. Now I know why some Kraid music remixes are slower than the NTSC standard. ^_^;;

Eugene.S · Post by **Eugene.S** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:44 am

But the Russian Dendy system is not the same as a PAL NES, so you'd be playing NTSC region games on it instead. But it did output PAL video at 50FPS. On a Dendy, you'd get NTSC sound pitch and PAL tempo.

I confirm this.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5O3A3Q34 *Deadlink fixed 26.03.2010*
Raf World (J) [NTSC] recorded from real Dendy (6527P chip)