This will often be indicated on the front panels as either NTSC 3.58 or NTSC 4.43 and in some cases both. If it s not obvious from the machine itself, check the manuals. Multi-system VCRs generally have some sort of switch or button that lets you change between NTSC and PAL output, or an Auto setting. If you just want to play tapes then leaving it on Auto is fine. This is definitely the way to go if you can afford it.
All video signals contain what is called a chroma subcarrier .
This is simply a portion of the overall signal that carries information specifically about the colour of the picture. PAL signals only ever have a 4.43Mhz chroma signal, so it s not normally written. Now here is the bit that confuses many people. There is no such thing as an NTSC 3.58 tape or an NTSC 4.43 tape. These subcarrier signals, of either frequency, are not recorded onto tape.