JVC DR-MV1S is Macrovision FREE!

[JSquare]

Just purchased an JVC DR-MV1S over the weekend and while doing some testing I discovered that it could DUB an original VHS movies to DVD-RAM without any problems not even a warning, also tried with a DVD-RW and finally on DVD-R with a 2h:33m movie(Apocalypse Now). So far haven't been able to go the other way DVD->VHS even with DVDs with MV removed.
I followed Lordsmurf reviews and went for what I think is the best DVD-Recorder out there, a little pricey but I think is well worth it compared to other recorders that I tried like the Panys, Lite-on's LVW-5001 and Sears cheap Sansui.

[lordsmurf]

I put in a Disney tape, a Lucas tape, and another big release. MV message on screen. Tested on DRMV1S. Have not tried on DRM10SL yet.

[JSquare]

Just tested the finished DVD-R on another player(Mintek) and it works fine, just an small pause every couple minutes probably when MV kicks in.
Lordsmurf; this JVC DR-MV1 could have some different FW, is there a way o check the version/revision #, and have you tried to DUB from a nonMV encoded DVD->VHS?

[kabanero]

I tried Pulp Fiction VHS with DRM10SL and I got MV message on the screen.

[JSquare]

I tried Pulp Fiction VHS with DRM10SL and I got MV message on the screen.

Also tried DVD->DVD thru analog(S-Video) input and the recording came out un-stable but no MV warning at all, this is weird!

[Neuron]

I tried VHS "The Fifth Element" and "Armagedon" with DR-M10SL and got no luck. MV message on the screen.

[lordsmurf]

Not all commercial tapes have MV.
Not all commercial DVDs have MV.
Not all commercial DVDs have CGM/SA.

THis is important to know.
So far, do you KNOW your source has MV or CGM ?

[tommyoz]

When I had my JVC DR-MV1S it did detect MV. Like lordsmurf said not every commercial tape has MV. I have a few of those. The capture stills that I posted of Desperatly Seeking Susan was recorded with the JVC DR-MV1S and did not have MV.

[JSquare]

When I had my JVC DR-MV1S it did detect MV. Like lordsmurf said not every commercial tape has MV. I have a few of those. The capture stills that I posted of Desperatly Seeking Susan was recorded with the JVC DR-MV1S and did not have MV.

I tested all of my commercial VHS collection and only 1/3 are MV free, but I think is due to a different version of MV and not to the fact that they're MV free, when those tapes are played with another VCR thru A/V input then the warning comes up.
Check this site:http://web.quick.cz/pejovideo/eng/how_work.htm and you'll see that they talk about 2 types of MV, LION KING and ALADDIN, maybe the JVC in immune to the ALADDIN version, but not to LION KING which is the newest.
One thing that stills bothers me about the DR-MV1S is that it freezes sometimes when using a DVD-RAM, then I have to unplug the power from the unit for few minutes to make it workable again, also can't copy from an MVFree DVD-R>VHS, maybe I have a defective unit.

[tommyoz]

I tested all of my commercial VHS collection and only 1/3 are MV free, but I think is due to a different version of MV and not to the fact that they're MV free, when those tapes are played with another VCR thru A/V input then the warning comes up.

I don't doubt that it could be possible that you just happen to have a recorder that is MV free but I don't think that JVC would intentionally do that.

When I tested mine I tested every input as well and the got the same results as with the internal VCR. My reason for taking it back was because of the internal VCR. It didn't do better than the external VCR I had.
Frankly, even if it was MV free I still wouldn't have kept it.

[JSquare]

When I tested mine I tested every input as well and the got the same results as with the internal VCR. My reason for taking it back was because of the internal VCR. It didn't do better than the external VCR I had.
Frankly, even if it was MV free I still wouldn't have kept it.

I'm also thinking of returning this unit because of the VCR and DVD-RAM problems, had a couple of old tapes stopping in the middle of a DUBBING and wasting some DVD-Rs. Seems like JVC placed a low quality $40 VCR just to fill the hole on their DVD-Recorders line. Since I already have an SVHS VCR I don't need a combo unit and for $275 I could get an LVW-5005 then add the MV hack FW, that's almost almost a $200 savings.

[lordsmurf]

I have both the LiteOn 5001 and the JVC DRM10SL.
No competition, get the JVC.
The 5001 and 5005 are the same unit inside (fan is the difference).

There are 3 kinds of MV actually.
But they are all very similar.
If it finds one, it will normally find all.

[JSquare]

Just exchanged the DR-MV1S for a new one at BestBuy, they had 2 versions based on the sticker outside the box but same mfg. date March of 2004, so I took a different version from the previous unit just in case.
Guess what?
This one is even worst than the first, it won't recognize a single disc not even an original DVD, this baby is going back tomorrow for a refund.
I opened up to see what kind of drive they're using, it's an LG GDA-4040B, don't know if it's the same as DR-M10SL since the rest of the people(Lordsmurf included) here have no problems based on your positive comments. The problem must be related to the Power Supply, when you have 2-in-1 units like this one and they're sharing the same P/S anything can happen, but I never expected 2 in a row specially from JVC, so stay away from this model if possible

[lordsmurf]

Combo units have been flukey since the beginning of time. I've never seen a good one. (I heard one of the JVC DV pro converters was, but nothing more, never seen it, used it.)

My DRMV1S combo acted odd the week I had it. Was not impressed by the VCR, and the link converting never worked right.