Perhaps a job for Lordsmurf??

[jpsprack]

or anyone else who may be able to assist me...

Okay here we go. I am a Star Wars geek, and found out that the original Trilogy will be released on DVD this fall... as the Spec. Editions! Ack!

Okay so what I wanted to do is to copy my old VHS tapes of the original movies on to DVD. I have a AIW 9600 Pro and have backed up some of my old movies before onto DVD without issue. However... the AIW wont let me record from my composite connection due to copy protection from these SW tapes!!! NOOOOOOOOO! Am I doomed to be stuck with the Spec. Edition versions?!?!

The tapes were from 1995-96 if that matters...

Anyone think they can assist this SW fan keep the memory of the movies he saw as a kid and not the crap released the last 10 years....

Thx in advance...

[Nick Burns]

or anyone else who may be able to assist me...

Okay here we go. I am a Star Wars geek, and found out that the original Trilogy will be released on DVD this fall... as the Spec. Editions! Ack!

Okay so what I wanted to do is to copy my old VHS tapes of the original movies on to DVD. I have a AIW 9600 Pro and have backed up some of my old movies before onto DVD without issue. However... the AIW wont let me record from my composite connection due to copy protection from these SW tapes!!! NOOOOOOOOO! Am I doomed to be stuck with the Spec. Edition versions?!?!

The tapes were from 1995-96 if that matters...

Anyone think they can assist this SW fan keep the memory of the movies he saw as a kid and not the crap released the last 10 years....

Thx in advance...

Hehe. I was thinking of doing the same thing with my tapes as soon as I heard about the news. I've got the ADVC-100 which will circumvent the Macrovision.

[gab2001uk]

The AIW cards are notorious for their deliberate prevention of using Macrovision sources. You can use a video filter but will get better results with alternative capture device. My choices are detailed in This Post[/url]

[lordsmurf]

I have several time base correctors. Such flaws are not something I deal with because of it. The hacks on my site may help, may not.

[BrainStorm69]

With the correct driver version (Cat 2.X) you can use the MV hacks on LS' site to remove all MV except the alternating light/dark problem. For that, you will need else. I have a Sima Color Corrector on order, I'll let you know how it does with that problem after I get it and do some testing.

[lordsmurf]

I have CAT 3.x and the hacks are fine. In fact, they work on CAT 4.x on another system too. Seems to be random.

[7500man]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe you would be able to address the MV issue by using MMC Reg Edit tool.

[jpsprack]

okay there is an MMC Reg Edit tool? if so where do i get it?

and Lordsmurf you say there are hacks for MMC/Cat on your site? Okay i will look for em.

If anyone else has ideas keep em comin!

Thx again...

[BJ_M]

http://www.vcdhelper.com/MMC_Reg_Tool.zip

[Nelson37]

I have those tapes and an AIW 7500. Have also used both Macrovision hacks. They did NOT resolve the problem. It is interesting, though, that while the $40.00 Sima CopyMaster removed all visual evidence of Macrovision, mainly the brightness pulsing, the MMC still gave the message about unable to record until the patches were applied.

[hech54]

There is a guy in Florida I believe that makes "The Video Filter". His name is Max Zorrilla. When I lived back in the states...that Video Filter was the BEST I had ever seen at removing Macrovision. It is a bit pricey(over $100)....but it is well worth the money.
I used it from both DVD and VHS to my Philips DVDR985 recorder....worked like a charm.

Here is a link:
http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Reviews/Zorrilla/

[jpsprack]

BJ_M that link you posted actually redirects me to DOOM9's website. I cant seem to find it there.

Is there somewhere else I could d/l it?

[indolikaa]

All good ideas, but wouldn't just purchasing a decent TBC solve the problem and help with other issues that are common with older VHS tapes?

Just a thought...

[MrMungus]

[quote="Nick BurnsHehe. I was thinking of doing the same thing with my tapes as soon as I heard about the news. I've got the ADVC-100 which will circumvent the Macrovision.[/quote]

I have the Sony DVMC-DA2 which supposedly has Macrovision enabled, but the only thing that happens is that a little red light comes on on the face of the unit.

[jpsprack]

if i do go the route of a TBC(which i thought my JVC wouldve had).. where would i find them? Who would sell them? Anywhere that I go drive over and pick it up would be good...

Also spending $100 just for the 3 movies isnt what i had in mind when i already paid for the tapes!

I would still prefer a hack for ATI MMC 8.6 as its the one that would let me record the movies

[BrainStorm69]

I have CAT 3.x and the hacks are fine. In fact, they work on CAT 4.x on another system too. Seems to be random.

Interesting, I wonder if it varies based on the ATI card. I am pretty sure the hacks didn't work with Cat 3 drivers and the 7500 AIW VE card I had (which had the newer Theater 200 chip). I actually haven't tried it with a different set of Cats since I got the older 7500 AIW (with the Theater 100 chip). May have to now.

@jpsprack - have you tried the MV hacks yet and do they work for you? As I mentioned previously, they worked for everything except the alternating light/dark for me (and I am talking specifically on the Star Wars tape I own). I have a JVC VCR with a TBC, but the TBC didn't correct that problem on that particular tape.

BTW, standalone TBCs aren't cheap. Lord Smurf recommends the Datavideo 1000 (about $300 online or $240 if you can find a used one on ebay). Others also recommend the AVT-8710 (about $179) at https://secure9.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/product_detail.asp?CS=avtoolbox&RowID=159&All=

[racerxnet]

Software implementation of the macrovision in the drivers would not be card specific if the cards chipset is embedded with the same or similar AGC algorithm.

So if the cards being discussed have the R200 chipset and the drivers have the macro implemented, then your hacks are not going to work irregardless of the model number. This is in regards to the 7000, 8000, and 9000 series of cards with the R200 chipset.

[jpsprack]

Thx guys for the tips...

What I think I will do is buy the DVDs when released and when i back them up i will remove the offending CGI scenes

Plan B it is!

[grossjamesh]

I have preserved about 100 VHS tapes to DVD.
Here is what I do:
Play the tape in a normal manner into your TV.
Take the TV monitor out into a video capture card(I use the Hauppauge WINTV PVR USB2.0)
Record at DVD quality to an MPEG2 file.
Process into DVD files using Ulead Movie Factory or TMPGEnc
Shrink as needed.
Write to DVD-RW(only for test) using RecordNow DX
Test DVD
If OK then burn to DVD+/-R
Works every time.

[jpsprack]

I too have been able to do that with MOST of my VHS tapes. But, for these 3 tapes it has not worked. My All-in-Wonder captures everything but these 3 tapes. Phantom Menace it recorded then backed up fine. Its the original trilogy that I am having trouble capturing to my hard drive with my AIW....

Quite annoying... but as i said I will go to Plan B

[lordsmurf]

The copy protection on Lucas tapes is harsh. Same for Indy Jones and Disney.

[BrainStorm69]

I too have been able to do that with MOST of my VHS tapes. But, for these 3 tapes it has not worked. My All-in-Wonder captures everything but these 3 tapes. Phantom Menace it recorded then backed up fine. Its the original trilogy that I am having trouble capturing to my hard drive with my AIW....

Quite annoying... but as i said I will go to Plan B

Since you can't go with Plan B until September, I'll let you know if the Sima Color Corrector works for me next weekend.