>
> Hi,
>
> I'm looking for some technical help.  I recently received the "Now You're
> Talking" video tapes for learning Welsh.  The tapes are labelled VHS, but
> my VCR cannot play them.  My machine appears to play them too fast as I can
> hear the sound portion of the tape (at accelerated speed) but see no video.
>
> Can anyone help me with this problem?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tim Owen
>
it sounds as though you have PAL-format tapes.  there are places
that will transfer PAL to whatever the American format is, but in LA
they usually charge something like $20/hour of tape, which is a bit
steep given that you've already paid for the tapes once.  if you're
at a university, though, you might check out what equipment is
available through AV or, if your university has a motion
picture/television school, they may have the equipment.  (this video
incompatibility thing is a real pain in the neck.)  if all else
fails, you may just have to return the tapes.

leslie jones
jones@humnet.ucla.edu