the Pan DMR-E30 and its protection BS

[Viper187]

Is there a way around that doesn't cost $300? I have a good deal of VHS movies that were a b*tch to get (old and new), and I want to preserve them on DVD. And just my luck, most of them have copy protection and the Sima SCC ($100) doesn't cut it; I still get that bloody message. I've heard the TBC-1000 can do it, but that's $300 (added to the $100 I already spent on the Sima and the $500+ I spent on the friggin recorder in the first place). So has anyone found anything else that works with this particular model?

[wulf109]

If you have 2 vcr's copy the tape to tape with the Sima SCC in line. Then see if the DMR-E30 will accept the input from the copy. Surprised to hear the Sima won't work,I've copied DVD to SVHS without any problem. I don't have a DVD recorder but I know they have digital encryption protection but I didn't think there is any digital copy protection on VHS.

[pan-dmre30s]

how do you know when it is unable to copy due to Copy protection?
What exactly does it show on the system.
will it not even allow the record to start?

just curious

[dood]

It displays "cannot copy..." or something like that and it will not go into record mode. Panasonic and Pioneer DVD recorders honor CGMS, a digital signal on the source tape or DVD which tell the recorder whether to allow recording or not. (There are actually four "states" reported by CGMS, including don't record, record, record once, and something else I can't recall). And yes, most modern (past 8 years or so) commercial VHS tapes do transmit CGMS, as do 99% of all DVDs.

The cheapest current solution for VHS is http://home.cfl.rr.com/filter/ this video filter. The only down side is that it only works on Pannasonics usinf the composite video input, not S-video. This is not a problem as I use composite in for VHS anyway as the Panny does a much better job of color spe than my VCR...hence better transfers.

For recording DVDs, get a Cyberhome or Apex or Sampo player that allows Macro/CGMS off. The Cyberhome 500 progressive scan ($50 @ Beast Buy) works great for this. Or better yet, rip the DVD for a truly digital copy.

I am holding out hope that the HS2/E30 is hackable to turn off copy protection. I'm sure there are secret menus or something that someone will figure out. But the HS2 costs too much for most people to tear apart and try to hack.

[ejai]

I also own a E-30 and have found a solution to the macrovision problem. There is a way around the copy protection, I use a Time Base Corrector. DataVideo TBC-1000, it works like a dream it cleans up the video signal and bypasses all, I MEAN ALL macrovision protection.

It cost around $300.00 believe me it's worth the money.


ej

[verchad]

I used a black box found on ebay between my vcr and panasonic dmr-hs2. So far, vhs tapes that I have that would give the copy message haven't yet and the backups look good on the hs2 and my daughter's apex 703.

[telemike]

hmm......my good old Terapin vcd recorder just records whatever I input to it. Looks like getting a dvd recorder can wait until all the bugs are worked out. seems like too much hassle. VCD looks ok even on my hdtv.....

[pan-dmre30s]

Finally I saw the "Cannot copy" message on my unit.

Curiously it was not a commercial tape but something someone had recorded at home.

They taped over it with a completely different movie which was obviously dubbed from VHS several times (this movie copied to DVD-R fine).

Just 2 mins of the protected movie and the trailer for the movie remained.

Curious if they removed the macrovision but still passed on the CGMS signal which I heard about here.

Their VCR was able to ignore the CGMS and copied it fine.

But the Panasonic DVD recorder is more picky and will not record it.

I would like to hear more about if this is possible.

Also where can you learn more about CGMS?

Thanks

[dood]

VCD looks ok even on my hdtv.....

Yeah, I could have an XBox, but my Atari 2600 looks just fine on my HDTV, too.

[danylab]

Hi Viper187,

A friend of mine is using a dc10+ and says it works well. Connect the source in the dc10+, connect the dmr-e30 to the output. No need to capture.

[pooh-bear]

I have an HS2 and use a Pioneer 535 to record from. There is a cheaper way to get around the copy protection (sorry US readers but this is a SCART cable solution). I use the Macrovision Scart lead from www.multiregionmagic.co.uk which is where I got my HS2.
I have used it to record from region 0(ntsc), region 2(PAL), Region 2(NTSC) and Region 1 (ntsc). All worked fine with slight reservations....

1. Recording NTSC with this lead the HS2 will only record from composite input (PAL wil record via RGB).

2. I have noticed when recording Region 2 and the scene cuts quickly from a dark to very white/bright scene there is a brief jitter at the top of the screen. I can live with it though.

All in all for £49 it does the lot (I got it for £29 as I bought it with my recorder) and I am very pleased with it.

PS. If anyone gets one, don't make the same mistake that I did, there are no instructions provided with it but you MUST put the powered Scart into the PLAYER and not the HS2 (otherwise macro & CGMS is not removed).

[KTH]

My friend has a Panasonic E30 and says the Sima SED-CM Video CopyMaster works. You can buy it from J&R Music & Computer world (http://www.jandr.com) for $49.88 plus shipping. I was thinking of trying it on my E30 as well.

[ejai]

I use a TBC AVT-8710, this product is great. It costs around $170.00 and works like a champ, it bypassess the copy protection on DVD's and tapes with no problem. I use it with my E-30.

Also this little gadget has sharpness, color, hue, brightness and contrast controls. One thing I like about this product over the Sima is that it shows less noise in the video.

[Erwin]

"VCD looks ok even on my hdtv....."

Why settle for "OK"

[handyguy]

I have a E30 in US.

I copy a vhs from vcr to vcr with a macrovision stripper box between them & then copy to dvd with another vcr connected to e30. It's a bit longer that way & you might want to skip & just feed it into the e30 directly.

[telemike]

[quote="ejai"]I use a TBC AVT-8710quote]

where do you buy one in USA?

I have now been making SVCD's using DVD2SVCD instead of Terapin.


Would would be cool is if you can get an offshore SVCD or DVD recorder that uses VBR and has no copy protection. If Terapin can make a unit that ignores macrovision I am sure they can make an improved machine that does SVCD or writes to DVD-R....

[telemike]

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=3&products_id=2950&

[FulciLives]

Hello

I am sure you are NOT going to like the price ... however ...

RK MEDIA

This website has the DVE (Digital Video Editor)
This unit has a TBC and includes both S-Video input/output as well as composite input/ouput. The beauty is that it is advertised to remove all forms of MACROVISION as well as CGMS/A copy protection. It is a small stand alone unit so it can be used with any video device (VHS, DVD etc.) and not only does it have the aforementioned TBC but also has a brightness level control (5 step) and can produce the standard COLOR BAR signal which is handy to put at the start of your recording so you can properly adjust the monitor for the quality of the DVD-R recording.

No, I don't have this unit myself. But when it first came out (about a year or so ago) it was all the rage on the AVS Forum with many posts saying it worked great with the Panny DVD-R stand alone recorders.

The price is $299.00

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[KTH]

UPDATE: The Sima Video Copy Master does not allow you to copy protected DVD's to the Panasonic DMR-E30 unless you use a DVD player with Macrovision defeated as the source player. The DVD player without Macrovision by itself will not allow you to record to the E30. I've heard of units that have Macrovision defeated that will work by themselves, so my statement may not be true for everyone. It might just depend on your player and how the copy protection was defeated.

[classfour]

Actually: A MV hacked DVD player CAN be recorded from by an E-20 (or E-30, etc) without the SIMA. The SIMA Copy Master (or Color Corrector for that matter) WILL NOT eliminate the "cannot copy *#*" from the Panny. When used IN CONJUNCTION with another device - i.e. the "digital video stabilizers" sold on ebay for less than $30 - it works fine. Just be sure to connect into the "digital video stabilizer" OPPOSITE of the instructions - it'll work better - don't ask me why.

An OLDER (pre 3/1/02) , HACKED Apex 1100W can record directly to an E-20 without fear of the dreaded "cannot copy" screen.

I have it on good authority.

[rubberboy]

I bought a Digital Video Stabalizer on an auction site for 40.00, it removes the macro from VHS and SOME dvd's. It connects from the VCR to the Recorder. Real Simple to use.
Not really sure why it won't work on all dvd's, but I NEVER had any problems with copying any VHS.

[theMotoMan]

KTH,

Does the Sima CopyMaster work when copying commercial VHS to the Panasonic E30? You mention DVD's won't copy, but I'm interested in archiving some of my old VHS tapes that are degrading.

[KTH]

No, The Sima Video Copy Master & VCC (Video Color Corrector) will not allow you to copy protected video tapes on the Panasonic DMR-E30. Another alternative might be the AVT-8710 time base corrector which was mentioned in a earlier post. A Lot cheaper than the Data Video TBC1000.

[piano632]

I have the AVT-8710 which does copy-protection elimination. It has composite and s-video in/out, plus color correction controls. Works with NTSC, PAL, & SECAM. I used mine for 1 day and now I don't need it anymore. So if anyone wants it for $150 email me at piano632@cs.com otherwise I will sell it on Ebay or somewhere.

You can see a picture of it at:
http://www.avtoolbox.com/avt-8710.htm

[cerburus]

Hello!
I'm also suprised that you have trouble copying VHS tapes; even new ones. The only time the SCC hasn't copied a tape for me was (red-face) when I left the by-pass switch on. Sometimes it's the simple things. Check it!

[KTH]

No, it's not the bypass switch in my case. I've tried it in both the bypass & non-bypass positions and haven't been able to get around the Panasonic DMR-E30's protection. I even tried using both the Video Copy Master & SCC together and that also will not work. The SCC does work on VHS to VHS copies though.

[ejai]

I own the AVT-8710 and it works on all copy guarded material. I also like to mention that the Datavideo TBC 1000 works just as well, with one noticeable problem. The TBC 1000 blurs the video, I noticed that the copies were slightly muddled from the original, the original video was sharper.

The good thing about the AVT-8710 is that it has controls to sharpen, brighten, change tint, contrast and also works with PAL or NTSC fromats.

I'm planning to sell my TBC 1000, the AVT-8710 is the only way to go for me.

8)

[igman]

I have also been trying to immortalize my VHS tapes by recording them to DVD. I bought a JVC S-VHS recorder for the tapes and a Canopus mpeg encoder for the computer. I burn DVDs with a DVR-A04. I have had no luck do to the copy protection on the tapes. Looking at this and other related threads is it correct to assume that the only way to do this succesfully is with a TBC such as the AVT-8710?

Any help is appreciated.

[rw2516]

I picked up a device to defeat macrovision when I bought my E30. It works fine for copying protected vhs to dvd-r. I recently discovered it will not work on dvds released by Universal, WB, Columbia,Disney, Fox, and Paramount. Works fine on MGM, Image and all others. Will the AVT-8710 solve my problem? If so I'll get one.

[KTH]

I just received my AVT-8710 and verified it does defeat the copy protection on copy protected DVD's. I tried it on several protected DVD's that I own including one by WB and it worked OK.