Just received 533hs

[adagio]

I just received my Pioneer 533hs and I love it! The first thing I did was enter the Canada A0A0A0 zip code to defeat the TVGuide. Worked like a charm. I mostly wanted it for time shifting and chase play. It's easy to use and works as I'd expect. I am very happy. The folks on this site helped me make an informed decision.

The only thing slightly negative is that I tried copying a purchased VHS movie and it says it is copy protected. Not the Pioneer's fault. I will need to find another way to do that.

[Guitarman]

If you are like some of us who own other recorders (I have a Pioneer 420), you will pick up a cheap LiteOn recorder and use the hacked firmware for it. This will allow you to record Macrovision protected tapes. I have an ILO HD04 that I do all my VHS archiving on since it can be hacked and copy the tapes. I use the Pioneer for everything else. Something you might want to look into. You will enjoy the Pioneer though. It is a great recorder.

[dphirschler]

If you don't mind telling, how much did you pay for the 533?


Darryl

[adagio]

Sure.

$348.95 from bsless.com, includes shipping.

Nevered ordered from them before, but they were very professional and up front. They had to back order it for a week, but they gave me the option of canceling at any time.

[BobK]

If you are like some of us who own other recorders (I have a Pioneer 420), you will pick up a cheap LiteOn recorder and use the hacked firmware for it. This will allow you to record Macrovision protected tapes.

I have a Pioneer 420 (two actually). I've only tried to record a few tape with Macrovision (less than 10 I think), but I use this and it's worked fine so far:

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

Quite a bit cheaper than another recorder.

[Guitarman]

I have a Pioneer 420 (two actually). I've only tried to record a few tape with Macrovision (less than 10 I think), but I use this and it's worked fine so far:

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

Quite a bit cheaper than another recorder.

I actually had the HD04 before the Pioneer or I probably would have went that route. But I have had great success with the ILO HD04. I have used it to transfer all my Hi8 tapes from old bands I've been in to DVD. I tried on the Pioneer but the video would drop out throughout the recording. This is something I have heard before about the Pioneer. Since I have a DVR from my cable company, I will use it to record most everything. If I want to save something, I will play it from the DVR to the Pioneer. I only use the ILO for my video transfers.

[Frobozz]

You'll find some products at this site that will resolve your Macrovision issue: http://www.im-uk.net/dvd/index.html

[adagio]

I just ordered the DIGITAL VIDEO STABILIZER. I'll report back with my results after I receive it.

[adagio]

Just received the DIGITAL VIDEO STABILIZER that I ordered. Plugged it in and tried copying one of my purchased VHS tapes. It works great! I no longer get the 'can't copy' message. I can now get all my tapes moved to DVD. I highly recommend the product.

[BobK]

Glad to hear it worked for you.

[FulciLives]

I keep hearing people say that this silly black box ... apparently using "old" technology ... is able to allow VHS to DVD copy on stand alone DVD recorders.

Seems silly for such a cheapo device but thank you again for that link because $20 is the cheapest I've seen it.

I may have to get one myself at that price.

As much as I would like to get a Full Frame TBC (both for copy protection circumvention as well as the benefits of a TBC) I just can't afford the price ... as soon as I have that much money saved up something traumatic happens (like a car repair bill) and I never end up getting one.

But I can afford $20 for now

BTW I have the Pioneer DVR-531H-s which is the same as the 533 model except mine has no FireWire input. I am very pleased with mine but I noticed that I was getting some really strange artifacts on my recordings (especially during dark scenes) when I had the two noise reduction settings both set to the "middle" position. I set both to the far "left" position (which says OFF) and the odd picture artifacts went away. Go figure.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
I'm talking about the YNR and CNR functions. I also have the DETAIL set all the way to the "left" or "off" position. Again something about the combination of all 3 being in the "middle" position caused strange MPEG artifacts like a shimmering in certain parts of the image ... especially on brighter spots on a mostly dark screen.

[BobK]

I keep hearing people say that this silly black box ... apparently using "old" technology ... is able to allow VHS to DVD copy on stand alone DVD recorders.

The box does use "old" technology. I bought mine about 12-13 years ago. But the macrovision used on video tape is old technology too, so since it hasn't changed since the 80's the technology to beat didn't have to change either.

[FulciLives]

I keep hearing people say that this silly black box ... apparently using "old" technology ... is able to allow VHS to DVD copy on stand alone DVD recorders.

The box does use "old" technology. I bought mine about 12-13 years ago. But the macrovision used on video tape is old technology too, so since it hasn't changed since the 80's the technology to beat didn't have to change either.

Makes sense but I thought there were several forms of copy protection (something called copy guard and then more than one form of macrovision) so I was under the impression that this "black box" works on some but not all VHS videos.

Hell I've even heard that some VHS videos even have some form of CGMS on them even though I thought that was a DVD only thing.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman