Trouble Recording VHS to DVD with Digital Video Stabilizer

[jc daly]

I've been having the same problem listed in this thread: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=318172

and as one of the posts suggested I bought this Digital Video Stabilizer: http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

When I got it today I plugged my main VCR's Video out cable into the Stabilizer's In port, and took another AV cable and hooked it up between the stabilizer's out port and my DVD Recorder's(Toshiba D-VR4XSU) In port. But it still gave me a "Can't record, Protected Image" message. And this is something recorded off TV also, not even a store bought tape. Anyway, I realized after reading this site: http://www.checkhere22.com/stabilizer_tech.html that I needed to play the tape from a separate VCR(kind of a "duh" moment in retrospect)

Problem is I tried that, but after playing back what I've recorded on the DVD, I get either a blue screen(if recorded while on a channel on the DVD Recorder), or a black screen(if recorded on Line 1 or 2 on the DVD Recorder).

I feel like it's something obvious I'm missing but I can't figure out what it is. Anybody have an idea?

-jcd

[dnix71]

I had one of those but gave it away and got the Sima GoDVD ac-powered version from CompUSA.

Did you make sure the 9 volt battery is fresh?

[jc daly]

I had one of those but gave it away and got the Sima GoDVD ac-powered version from CompUSA.

Did you make sure the 9 volt battery is fresh?

I haven't checked, but I assume it is because there was no interruption when I figured out where to put the tape, and subsequently got the blue screen. Would getting the blue and blacks screens be a symptom of a dead battery?

Would you recommend the Sima over the other one?

(as you can tell I'm sort of new with this kinda stuff!)

-jcd

[didikai]

I had one of those but gave it away and got the Sima GoDVD ac-powered version from CompUSA.

Did you make sure the 9 volt battery is fresh?

I haven't checked, but I assume it is because there was no interruption when I figured out where to put the tape, and subsequently got the blue screen. Would getting the blue and blacks screens be a symptom of a dead battery?

Would you recommend the Sima over the other one?

(as you can tell I'm sort of new with this kinda stuff!)

-jcd

It probably hasn't even got a battery in yet if it's new

[jc daly]

I had one of those but gave it away and got the Sima GoDVD ac-powered version from CompUSA.

Did you make sure the 9 volt battery is fresh?

I haven't checked, but I assume it is because there was no interruption when I figured out where to put the tape, and subsequently got the blue screen. Would getting the blue and blacks screens be a symptom of a dead battery?

Would you recommend the Sima over the other one?

(as you can tell I'm sort of new with this kinda stuff!)

-jcd

It probably hasn't even got a battery in yet if it's new

I thought that at first but a piece of paper that came with the device says "9V battery installed". Is it possibile the battery which came with it somehow got damaged during shipping and won't work?

[didikai]

I had one of those but gave it away and got the Sima GoDVD ac-powered version from CompUSA.

Did you make sure the 9 volt battery is fresh?

I haven't checked, but I assume it is because there was no interruption when I figured out where to put the tape, and subsequently got the blue screen. Would getting the blue and blacks screens be a symptom of a dead battery?

Would you recommend the Sima over the other one?

(as you can tell I'm sort of new with this kinda stuff!)

-jcd

It probably hasn't even got a battery in yet if it's new

I thought that at first but a piece of paper that came with the device says "9V battery installed". Is it possibile the battery which came with it somehow got damaged during shipping and won't work?

Have a look inside!

[jc daly]

I had one of those but gave it away and got the Sima GoDVD ac-powered version from CompUSA.

Did you make sure the 9 volt battery is fresh?

I haven't checked, but I assume it is because there was no interruption when I figured out where to put the tape, and subsequently got the blue screen. Would getting the blue and blacks screens be a symptom of a dead battery?

Would you recommend the Sima over the other one?

(as you can tell I'm sort of new with this kinda stuff!)

-jcd

It probably hasn't even got a battery in yet if it's new

I thought that at first but a piece of paper that came with the device says "9V battery installed". Is it possibile the battery which came with it somehow got damaged during shipping and won't work?

Have a look inside!

Just finished taking a look and there was a battery inside, but just to be safe I replaced it anyway. Still no luck. I'm almost at my wits end!

Let me say too though I appreciate the help thus far(dnix and didi!), and further help will be appreciated also!

[VegasBud]

jc daly,

Since it's

...something recorded off TV, not even a store bought tape.

you're probably not dealing with macrovision. It's more likely to be CGMS-A that's causing the problem. While the device you bought probably can handle macrovision on commercial vhs tapes (I don't know for sure, having never used that device), it's very unlikely to be able to handle CGMS-A.

This thread might be interesting to you. In that thread, Jumbo_Holden said he would report back on a different device that is supposed to remove macrovision + CGMS-A. For some background information on CGMS-A, this article is pretty good.

In the meantime, you should test your current "Digital Video Stabilizer" on a commercial tape to see how it works against macrovision.

[thecoalman]

Have you plugged it directly inot a TV to see if the TV plays it? VCR>Your Device>TV , this will at least narrow down where the problem is.

you're probably not dealing with macrovision. It's more likely to be CGMS-A that's causing the problem.

Although the macrovision wouldn't be on the recording since he wouldn't have been able to record it to begin with it's very possible that the DVD recorder thinks it has macrovision. Especially if they are older tapes.

Not familiar with CGMS-A you mentioned but looking at the wiki article it doesn't mention that it works with older analog recorders, under the assumption he recorded it with a regular VCR that wouldn't be an issue... but I could be wrong, that's what I gather from reading the article.

[dvdcrack]

Sounds like to me there is a poor video quality from the vcr. Try to see if you can find a video enhancer. And I recomand that you use a video stabilizer from either simma or prosonic. Do a search on the net goto google or see if there is one available through ebay. I know in noverber past there was a simma for 49.00 US. I live in Canada And I can easily obtain a PROSONIC Video Clairfier/Enhancer. This unit has has 4 led's that measure the video input levels. This unit also stabilizes the picture and removes the macrovision copy protection from vhs tapes. Some stabilizers that have the warning and the diagram showing how to connect between vcr's and dvd players are junk. They will not work with dvd recorders! The prosonic that I metioned will work with transfering vhs tape's that are copy protected to dvd recorders.
You may also want a video enhancer. If you cant find a video enhancer then I can send you a diagram of a easy to make enhancer useing 2 NPN transistors. 1/3 volt resistor, 25v 400uF capisistor and a 9volt battery or adapter. soldering is required. So if you know electronics it easy to make or if you may know somebody that knows electronics can assemble you an enhancer. give the guy 10 bucks it takes about 10 to 15 min to make. The enhancer spits out 14 db of video enhanceing. also you need a varriable resistor. 50k is good.
I'll draw the schematic and post it here or e-mail it to you if you want it!

GOOD LUCK I hope this info is of help to you. I can see if I can post a video of the Prosonic stabilizer and show how it is working between the vcr and to the dvd recorder.

[VegasBud]

thecoalman,

In jc daly's first post in this thread, the description he gave as to how he has the device hooked up is the same way I used to hook up my old battery powered "black box", and how my tbc is currently hooked up. If the device works, he shouldn't be getting the error message from macrovision, whether it's real or falsely perceived by the dvd recorder. At least that's my line of thinking.

CGMS-A is embedded in the VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) of an analog signal. Actually, the "-A" at the end of CGMS-A refers to it's analog nature. The vhs recorder is unlikely to be affected by the flag, and merely passes it along in the VBI with the rest of the signal, but as soon as you try to capture the video, most dvd recorders will detect the flag, and refuse to record. That sounds to me like jc daly's situation.

CGMS-A problems are currently kind of spotty. As an example, this page on the HBO website says they put CGMS-A in all their signals, but by the time my dvd recorders get it from the DirecTV system, it's not there anymore. On the other hand, I've seen quite a few postings (on various boards) that indicate the cable companies, especially Comcast, pass the CGMS-A flag through to their customers. Evidently, it depends entirely on your provider.

[jc daly]

jc daly,

Since it's

...something recorded off TV, not even a store bought tape.

you're probably not dealing with macrovision. It's more likely to be CGMS-A that's causing the problem. While the device you bought probably can handle macrovision on commercial vhs tapes (I don't know for sure, having never used that device), it's very unlikely to be able to handle CGMS-A.

This thread might be interesting to you. In that thread, Jumbo_Holden said he would report back on a different device that is supposed to remove macrovision + CGMS-A. For some background information on CGMS-A, this article is pretty good.

In the meantime, you should test your current "Digital Video Stabilizer" on a commercial tape to see how it works against macrovision.

Thank you for that info, hope to see what Jumbo's findings were. I did try a commercial tape and still got the blue screen. The timer on the DVD Recorder goes up as if I'm recording something but when I go to play it back it's just blue.

Have you plugged it directly inot a TV to see if the TV plays it? VCR>Your Device>TV , this will at least narrow down where the problem is.

I tried that noticed no difference in the playback. Is there some visible way to know that the Stabilizer is working?

It looks like I'll probably return the Stabilizer I got, based on what Vegas and dvdcrack have written(if you are able to post that video dvdcrack that could be helpful to see that my connections are correct, may take you up on that video enhancer diagram offer later, also!)

Here is some more info about the situation that may or may not help.

The "Can't Record, Protected Image" error seems to sort have been a gradual thing. It would happen every once in a while, but usually after a couple of tries I would be able to record past it. But lately it had got steadily worse, I felt like snapping my remote in two! That's when I found this site and ordered the Stabilizer.

Also, yes the tapes are old, I guess depending on ones definition of "old". The ones I was trying to dub were both from around 1999-2000. Though I have dubbed tapes from as early as 1995 with little problem, if any. Most of the tapes I've been dubbing were recorded by either my half sister or her daughter, off their DirecTV system during the time periods listed above.

The VCR is a Go Video DDV9500(picture here: http://images.bargainland.net/676/726.jpg , mine not brand new of course!). The 1st deck ate a tape, and still has it stuck in there, so I've been using the 2nd deck for a year or two. The VCR was originally owned by my half sister, until they gave it to us, though I don't remember exactly when. The DVD Recorder I use is listed in my first post.

The way everything is set up w/ the TV, the VCR has to be on Ch 4 to receive the satellite dish. The DVD Recorder is plugged into Line 2 on the VCR. I have also tried it in Line 1 but with the same results. The way my attempted recordings with the Stabilizer are coming out, it's as if I just turned the VCR to Ch 3(which is nothing but blue screen) and recorded onto DVD, even though I obviously am playing the tape from the VCR.

[jc daly]

Just a polite bump after waiting a few days as suggested.

[ofbarea]

and as one of the posts suggested I bought this Digital Video Stabilizer: http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

I use this Video Filter and it just worked fine in my setup.

Without it, I cannot copy DVD movies directly from my DVD player to my Panasonic DMR-ES10 recorder.

If I use the Video Filter I can copy everything.

[jc daly]

Thanks ofbarea and everyone else who replied. I was going to let this thread die peacefully, now that I've ordered a different stabilizer.

But I wanted to share the recently discovered reason why the previous stabilizer wasn't working with my DVD Recorder.

Kindly refer to my first post to see what kind of DVD Recorder I have.

Then check out this link. http://www.checkhere22.com/stabilizer/ Scroll down and on the left is the stabilizer that would not work. Notice the Comparison section titled "DVD Recorder Compatibility". Put 2+2 together and there you have it, simple as that. Wish I had known that before I bought it!