Remove Video copy protection

[Mållgan]

Is it not be possible to make a program (like DVD Decrypter for DVD) which removes the copy protection which some video tapes have? For example, it would be perfect if Win.DV.exe had that option.

[jimmalenko]

As in, remove Macrovision ?

[thecoalman]

Is it not be possible to make a program (like DVD Decrypter for DVD) which removes the copy protection which some video tapes have? For example, it would be perfect if Win.DV.exe had that option.

No, MV is part of the video. It's just an error. This error doesn't affect playback on TV but plays havoc with a VCR. It has no affect on capture cards either, they have to look for the signal.... It's the card that throws up the copy protected flag. The only way around it is use a device that doesn't detect it, there's a few. There's also a few hacks avaialble for some devices. Just for example if you have a Nvidia VIVO card if you get the WDM drivers 1.08 or prior it will ignore any MV. Any ones after that and you won't be able to capture a video with MV. That's at the expense of a better quality capture though, the newer drivers produce better results.

Besides that the only alternative is to remove it before it gets to the capture device using a TBC or other similar device.

[Cornucopia]

IIRC, in digitizing--but not DV capturing--you start with an ANALOG signal of 525NTSC/625PAL lines, where the Macrovision resides a part of the sync signal in the NON-picture lines, and this sync part is separated from the active video lines (480 or 486 in NTSC, depending). The computer is acting a a frame buffer/tbc and so has no need for sync. In throwing those lines out, it is also throwing out the Macrovision.
However, "compliant" devices will test for the presence of MV before throwing it out, and if it is present aren't supposed to digitize (aka "record") at all.
DV doesn't work that way, since it is digitized and recorded in-camera. With just 480 lines, there is no "sync", so there can be no MV signal. There could, however, be an MV flag similar to DVD's flag in the VOB/MPEG stream. DV does support non-media User and OEM data, so that certainly is possible. Haven't seen any DV examples though...

Scott

[thecoalman]

Actually there was a thread not too long ago where someone had captured VHS material with a DV cam via passthru. Oddly he was unable to send this file back to the cam, it would give him a copy protected warning. Converting to DVD was not a problem. He had some links where he found some info where it was in the header.... I forget the whole story but what's odd is it allowed him to convert it to a DV-AVI file but wouldn't allow him to send it back to the cam.

I forget the exact circumstances but it was something like that.

[jagabo]

Actually there was a thread not too long ago...

This one maybe:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1341758#1341758

[Mållgan]

I tried to use my new Sony videocamera as recorder and connected it to the videorecorder where I played the copyprotected tape. The camera recorded the sound but not the picture.

[RowMan]

If you're just transferring VHS tapes through your computer capture card via the RCA connections, check out the device shown here...

http://site.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

I have used this type of device for over 10 years to make back-up copies of VHS tapes to VCRs and (more recently) DVD recorders with great results. It seems to "mask" the macrovision signal very well.

[thecoalman]

I tried to use my new Sony videocamera as recorder and connected it to the videorecorder where I played the copyprotected tape. The camera recorded the sound but not the picture.

The only solution to that I'm aware of is a TBC or other device that removes the signal. If you don't want to go for the money a TBC costs try your local electronics store and have a look at some of the Sima products. They usually work.

[whitejremiah]

I know that there are also hacked drivers available (at least there used to be) for ATI AIW cards........i'm not sure if they still work correctly, or even where to find them, but i know that they used to work at least........just basically makes the flag for macrovision not pop up on the video card's end.......so yes, the video itself would still be macrovision protected, i believe (though converting it from say huffyuv or mjpg to dvd may throw that out the window..particularly if any form of a noise reduction filter is involved.......but yes, it can be done and yes it (at least used to) works........ive converted several VHS tapes to homemade dvd format before i eventually replaced them with retail dvd's......still got a few vhs tapes that i wanna convert though, because they plainly dont exist on dvd....

[thecoalman]

The hacks have no affect on the newest AIW's, at least as far back as the 9000 sries. there is one newer hack I seen floating around that is supposed to work but I've also seen people post that they have screwed there card/system up using it.

Once the video is converted to digital the MV is gone unless it's a rare case like the DV one posted above where there was a copy protection method inserted into the header.

[ktnwin]

Hi thecoalman,

you are absolutely right about DV camcorder with pass thru mode, I just tried that yesterday and end up with a DVD that plays fine.

I connect the VCR (video/audio out) to the DV camcorder input, then the camcorder to the PC via Firewire. PS8 capture the video without any problem. This is the setup I used to convert VHS to DVD. And it works as with any VHS tape I tried before.

If I tried to record to DV tape the DV camcorder refuses to do it (if the VHS tape has MV in it).

When I tried to tell PS8 to output video to the DV cam for recording, my DV cam refuses to record it. This means PS8 did a very good job in sending macrovision info (some MV flag in DV stream) to the DV cam.

My Pan DVD recorder also refuses to record from VHS tape that has MV.

I have done lots of DVD from VHS tapes before and never realized that tapes with MV cause so much trouble to the folks that did not have DVD camcorder as pass thru capture device.

[thecoalman]

I have done lots of DVD from VHS tapes before and never realized that tapes with MV cause so much trouble to the folks that did not have DVD camcorder as pass thru capture device.

There's models that won't allow pass-thru either. I really find it odd to tell you the truth some will allow it to be passed thru but won't allow you to send it back to the cam. The vast majority are using pass-thru to get it to HD to convert to DVD not tosend it back to cam. Probably why it hasn't been mentioned ofn this forum more. That really came as a suprise to me.

BTW if you read the posts from that link above you'll see that reencoding it will allow you to send it back to cam..... pffft. Really no point in the whole thing.

[CheekyKid]

Guys could you tell me what you think of this :http://www.im-uk.net/dvd/products/macmaster.html

Thanks

[Mållgan]

ktnwin!

Connecting the VCR to the videocamera and the videocamere to the computer (through the fire wire port) in order to copy the VCR-videotape; which mode is used for the videocamera? (play, record?). Any tape in the videocamera?

[thecoalman]

which mode is used for the videocamera? (play, record?). Any tape in the videocamera?

Varies by model, consult your manual. Not all camcorders have this feature.

[The_Doman]

ktnwin!

Connecting the VCR to the videocamera and the videocamere to the computer (through the fire wire port) in order to copy the VCR-videotape; which mode is used for the videocamera? (play, record?). Any tape in the videocamera?

The camcorder should be in so called playback mode (VCR mode it's called on my Digital8 TRV120), I don't need a tape in my camcorder for the passthrough to work.
When everything is connected correctly you should see the picture of the incoming video signal on the LCD screen.
It's best to test things first with a source without macrovision.
Also on some european camcorders the recording function in VCR mode is disabled, but passthrough should work fine.

[Mållgan]

I tried to capture the copy protected videotape through my Sony-videcamera but the camera does not "accept" the picture. Only the sound is "allowed" and thus captured by the computer program.

[thecoalman]

I tried to capture the copy protected videotape through my Sony-videcamera but the camera does not "accept" the picture. Only the sound is "allowed" and thus captured by the computer program.

As I said above some models won't capture where MV is detected. I'd guess that is more the norm than the exception. You have to remove the MV before it gets to the cam.

[The_Doman]

I tried to capture the copy protected videotape through my Sony-videcamera but the camera does not "accept" the picture. Only the sound is "allowed" and thus captured by the computer program.

Did you also try to capture or view a non-macrovision source (VHS or Tuner) to see everything is connected and working correctly?

My camera allows me to view a MV source normally but when trying to record it indeed gives the copy protect warning.

[robroth]

I just ran into this the other day doing a test. I was learning to passthru video from my VCR to my PC using my Canon Elura 60 as a capture interface. I was playing The Lion King in the VCR, and after about 10 seconds, the video screen on the camera that was showing what was being passed changed to 'Copyright source detected - Capture not allowed' or something of that sort.