DVD Player/Recorder thru VCR - why not?

[akrako1]

I just purchased a Pioneer DVR-320 recorder. In it's manual, along with in my DVD player manual, it states to specifically NOT hook up the unit 'thru the vcr' - by using the front or rear rca ins. But rather to hook up directly to the tv. I'm assuming this is usually because some vcr's wont pass thru dvd signal without degrading (MV protection related?). Well, with my RCA vcr, I've never had any problems running my JVC dvd player thru the rear rca ins. I sometime tape vcd's onto video tape for my less tech inclined friends, and I need to run everything thru the vcr. Well, now I just got my DVD recorder (not cheap), and again in the manual it states to NOT hook up 'thru' any device - specifically cable boxes, vcr's, etc. Well, I hooked it up 'thru' and everything looks/plays/records fine. Now that I've got an expensive unit, I'm a little concerned about damaging it. But how could the output signal really efect the player/recorder? can someone break down the logic of not hooking up 'thru' other devices - other than tv picture quality. I'm not worried as much about the picture quality, because that's down the chain - my camcorder runs into my dvd recorder, then into the vcr, then to the tv and stereo amp.

Any help would be much appreciated! and sorry for the long post.

thanks.

ark

[Capmaster]

You won't damage it. It will probably degrade the signal though.

The manuals are probably addressing the Macrovision issue when they recommend you don't pipe the DVD recorder into the VCR. Many VCRs will not pass through a MV-protected video signal

[Epicurus8a]

A MacroVision protected disc might not play properly thru the VCR, as the VCR circuitry is being hosed by the MacroVision. There shouldn't be any damage to the equipment, it'll just look funny. On the other hand, if it looks okay to you, try to record/playback the video. If it works, don't question it, just be happy.

[handyguy]

Yep, should look okay, but once you push record, things change...

[RowMan]

...Well, I hooked it up 'thru' and everything looks/plays/records fine...

It's possible that you have a VCR that is immune to the copy protection. Macrovision supposedly only works on 85% of VCRs. I had a Panasonic machine that recorded anything with Macrovision perfectly. In fact, the copy protection was transferred to the copy so that others could not duplicate it.

[akrako1]

That must be the case. My vcr does seem 'immune' to copy protection - good thing! Thanks for all the responses!

[lordsmurf]

In fact, the copy protection was transferred to the copy so that others could not duplicate it.

That's not supposed to be possible.

[RowMan]

I should add that not all DVDs and tapes are copy protected, but most major releases are. The first Harry Potter movie (Region 1) comes to mind. It was a big surprise to consumers when it was found out that the DVD was released with no copy protection.

And to LordSmurf...

I know it sounds impossible, but it was true. My Panasonic VCR ignored, yet recorded, the Macrovision signal onto the copy. The same goes for my Lite-On 5001 DVD recorder. It has been hacked to ignore copy protection. When I record a Macrovision encoded tape, the copy protection is not eliminated, but transferred to the DVD copy.

[zleepy]

Confirmed. The hacked 5001 copys everything, including CP, to the DVD.

... my Lite-On 5001 DVD recorder [is] hacked to ignore copy protection.
When I record a Macrovision encoded tape, the copy protection is not
eliminated, but transferred to the DVD copy.

[subzerosuperman]

the main reason for rca three jack cable is to help stop people from copying copyrighted material. they always are over protective in the player manual too, the companies hate it when they have the DVD players sent back to them(so they tell you a bunch of useless crap). odds are very bad that you will have any problems except like one of the guys said, when you got a lot of cables connected you might have a little bit of quality downgrade but that's it. i'm doing the same thing.

[handyguy]

"I should add that not all DVDs and tapes are copy protected,"

Never found it on XXX stuff, but that was years ago. I wonder if that is because they are too cheap to pay macrovision.com or macrovision.com won't have anything to do with it.

haven't seen any closed captioned xxx stuff either.