Anyone familiar with zip spin stand-alone duplicators?

[AngieM]

Why am I not seeing any info at all on this website for Zip Spin stand-alone DVD duplicators? Their ads claim "not intended for duplicating copyrighted or copy encrypted Hollywood materials."
If they didn't actually do that, why the need for the warning????
Can anyone clear that up for me, please?

[redwudz]

Just about any DVD backup program/device will have similar warnings. Copying copyrighted DVDs is a violation of US law, especially for profit. But most of those devices should be able to backup non-copyrighted/non-encrypted DVDs.

I'm not familiar with ZipSpin, but there are a lot of duplicators around. All of them require a unencrypted file.

[AngieM]

Thanks for your response, and please forgive my ignorance, but what does that mean, "an unencrypted file"?

[redwudz]

Most all commercial DVDs are encrypted. That's to prevent easy duplication. Home made DVDs wouldn't be encrypted. Some commercial videos aren't encrypted, though they still may be copyrighted. If you check the beginning of most any commercial DVD, you will see the copyright warning and the penalties for illegal copying.

[AngieM]

I do know all that, but when you say they "require an UNencrypted file," that means the stand-alones will not copy encrypted(copyrighted) materials?

[redwudz]

Correct. None that I know of anyway. They would end up getting sued if they did.

[jjeff]

Redwudz is correct on all counts. My father purchased a Zip Spin duplicator from Heartland America and it would not copy Copy Protected DVDs. In fact even some DVDs that he could copy on his DVDR (that didn't have MacroVision) wouldn't copy due to the discs having some sort of PC copy protection. Other lesser known cheaper commercial DVDs (without ANY CP) would copy with the duplicator, but that was very few commercial discs.
The duplicators are really best for backing up you're own homemade DVDs or copies of commercial discs where the first copy removed any CP.
The build quality of the Zip Spin wasn't junk but I wouldn't call it top quality either. I'd say they were good for occasional use or a small project.

[classfour]

www.copystars.com has excellent pricing on duplicators - CD or DVD.

No: None that I know of - the ones that I have were Acard processors (one a one to one, now a one to three) would touch an encrypted disc - That said: They would always duplicate an unencrypted, unscratched disc with zero problems - and pass Nero CD Speed at 95% or greater.

[classfour]

Just an FYI: copystars (linked from this site - I've used them, and they're more honest than Heartland America, and the shipping is free) starts at $159 shipped for a one-to-one with what appears to be an Acard controller - the one at HA that is similar has no controller card that I can see. I'd go with copystars myself, based on past purchases.

[AngieM]

It is heartwarming that all of you took time to answer my questions. Your doing so has saved me from ordering one from Heartland, finding out what you just told me, then I'd have to ship it back and take a possible stocking fee loss if I don't return it on time. A giant HUG to all of you and THANKS for saving me all the trouble!