Copy protected video tapes

[Mållgan]

I have, by the help of a device, copied a copy protected videotape and produced a videotape which is not copyprotected. Unfortunately the produced tape is white and black (the colors are lost). Now, I´m trying to capture this produced videotape into Win.dv but Win.dv does not "accept" the tape. Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 shows the same problem. When I record the produced tape in my DVD-recorder (Panasonic), the pircture gets bad (not in the middle of the screen e tc ). My goal is to produce a DVD. Anyone with suggestions?

[hech54]

You are in Sweden?
Is the tape an NTSC format tape?

[Mållgan]

The tape is from Japan, and on the cover the format "VHS(CGV)" is printed. But I think that it is a NTSC-format tape as it can be played in a NTSC-videoplayer but not in a VHS-PAL-player.

[hech54]

What you are capturing/recording is what is called a "quasi" signal. European VHS machines(most of them) are able to play NTSC tapes in color...but they do not output a true NTSC signal....nor do they do a true conversion from NTSC to PAL...they output this "quasi" signal that shows up as B&W when attempting to record or even capture.
I cannot record NTSC VHS tapes to my DVD recorder either with the equipment I have here in Germany.
Believe it or not...the easiest way to accomplish what you want is via your computer/capture device BUT I'm not the expert on that....I suck at capturing..

[Lyris]

Yes, you're getting a PAL-60 signal which your capture card doesn't recgonise. Try using the BTWincap drivers:

http://btwincap.sourceforge.net

These are SUPPOSED to support PAL-60 but it doesn't work properly for me - it ends up repeating frames.

You might have to end up importing an NTSC video recorder or somehow modifying the one you have to not output PAL60.

[Mållgan]

Thank you for your comments. But as I mentioned, the capture via my computer/device does not succeed. I think the program WinDV does not "like" the signals it receives from the device (this device ignores the copy protection but produces a picture that is black&white).

[hech54]

The "quasi" signal and the copy protection removal device have nothing to do with each other. The B&W you are seeing would also happen with an NTSC VHS tape that does not have any copy protection on it.

There is no easy solution to your situation.

I grew up in America (NTSC) and now live in Germany (PAL)....I have come across your particular problem dozens of times in my life...there is no easy way to do it.

Problem #1 - Copy Protection - solved
Problem #2 - NTSC output on a PAL machine - NOT solved.

[Northpole]

Living in Norway I am familiar with this problem. The "best" solution for me was to buy this item - here's the link to the producers site:

http://www.gthelectronics.co.uk/featurec.htm

It's a combined conveter/enhancer/proc-amp who gives fantastic quality.

It converts to/from about every standard in the world, and it also converts pseudo PAL in to "pure" PAL out of course.

It's not cheap - GBP 300 is a lot of money, but well worth it consider all the little miracles this box does.
(NB: I'm NOT involved in the company - just a satisfied customer)

It's a one-man company, and the producer himself answers on support (Gordon). Fantastic service. If it's within the possibility consider the price, I would say give it a try. It also enhances quality of VHS great.

[Mållgan]

The BTWincapdriver did not help capturing the videotape into WinDV.
It`s annoying that I get a decent videotape (not copy protected) when I run the copy protected videotape through my device using two video tape players/recorders (though the picture is black&white but it does not matter for my purpose) BUT when I copy this produced tape into the DVD-recorder (in my TV-videoplayer-DVD-recorder system) the DVD-picture shows a little stripe (border) at the lower part of the picture (screen). Nor my TV or my videoplayers have options to adjust the picture.