Finally I ran into a VHS tape that won't let me back it up.

[Bob W]

I'm backing up and converting to DVD format some of my VHS tapes using my Panasonic E50 recorder and find that the Star Wars VHS tape must have some special copy protection. Thing is I come out of the VCR with the Sima CopyMaster box (which should remove any macrovision)and to date all my tapes have recordered without any problems but the Star wars tape causes the recorder to display "cannot copy" or something like that. Anyone here able to back up this VHS tape.

[crazeplaya]

That really is quite strange, I wonder if anyone else has had this kind of problem. Could it be a problem with the E50? Have you backed up anything since?

[Bob W]

So far I have backed up about 12 old VHS movies using the recorder. It's just that one Star Wars tape that is giving me a problem.

[chaseru]

I transferred my StarWars Special Edition VHS tapes to DVD recently with a JVC HR-DVS2U VCR without any problems.

[Nolonemo]

I belive there are three types of levels of Macrovision protection. I wonder if your box only handles two of them. Just a random thought.

[simonko]

If its the Sima CopyMaster SED-CM for $50 bought like at walmart and circuit city: It only does level 1 macrovision "dark/light"

If its the Sima SCC for $100 -$150 bought online it does level 1 and level 2 " dark/light, color stripping"

[FulciLives]

This is what you need:

AVT-8710 Time Base Corrector

This will eliminate ALL forms of MACROVISION and CGMS/A from any video source including VHS and DVD.

This allows you to then record to ANY recording device such as the PANASONIC line of stand alone DVD recorders.

A few people have used this thing with Panny DVD recorders and have reported that it works 100% in eliminating copy protection plus it is a TBC so it will help to stablize the analog image.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman