DVD Recorder - Hack -

[TimBooth4Eva]

Hey guys,

I'm having difficulty trying to transfer one or two of my pre-recorded VHS tapes to DVD via my standalone DVD Recorder.

They come up with a dialogue box saying 'copy protected' and the process stops.

Before I go to the expense of purchasing a video stabiliser for a handful of tapes, is there any way I can hack my recorder to get over the macrovision?

My machine is a Toshiba RD XS-24.

Thanx for any suggestions.

[handyguy]

left column on every page,
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

[TimBooth4Eva]

Cheers mate but I'd tried that, in fact left a short review there. Just wondered if anyone a hack they would like to 'share' with me.

[bmwracer]

The copy protection that's incorporated into tapes can't really be hacked as far as I know, since it's analog...

The copy protection is nothing more than the fidgeting of the synch signal coming out of the VCR and the only way to fix that is with a stabilizer.

If the tapes are valuable enough to you, it's worth the $20USD to get a stabilizer and make the transfer...

Good luck and cheers!

[TimBooth4Eva]

bmwracer, thanx for that. I thought I'd read somewhere that certain 'machines' claim to stop the copy protection somehow.

I've got a 'stabilizer scart lead' on order, and will see how that goes before trying a standalone stabilizer.

Thanx again

[BobK]

I've got a 'stabilizer scart lead' on order, and will see how that goes before trying a standalone stabilizer.

If that doesn't work you might try this. It's worked for a lot of people:

http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

[hech54]

bmwracer, thanx for that. I thought I'd read somewhere that certain 'machines' claim to stop the copy protection somehow.

I've got a 'stabilizer scart lead' on order, and will see how that goes before trying a standalone stabilizer.

Thanx again

I've never had any problems copying PAL stuff. I use a scart to s-video or scart to RCA cable....never tried scart to scart because my recorder has no scart connections(it's an American version Philips DVDR985).

[bmwracer]

bmwracer, thanx for that. I thought I'd read somewhere that certain 'machines' claim to stop the copy protection somehow.

If so, they might have a stabilizer built into the DVD recorder...

Haven't seen any DVD recorders in the States make that claim... Probably because that would be sort of "promoting" piracy... Heh.

[TimBooth4Eva]

Thanx all.

BobK, I've emailed the company to see if it works with PAL and if they ship to UK.

hech54, I've tried two VCRs, both only have scarts, and neither will copy to DVD, Using either machine, after 5 secs I get the 'copy protected' message come on screen.

[hech54]

I need to make a DVD today of a non-protected VHS tape....I'll try to find a factory made movie VHS and give it another shot.
Every factory made PAL VHS tape I've copied so far have been concert/performance tapes...maybe there is a difference?

[TimBooth4Eva]

Sorry hech, yeah failed to mention that. Yes I can copy tapes that I have recorded off the TV, ie programmes I want to keep and convert to DVD.

But it is some pre recorded (factory made as you call them) that have the copy protection and wont let me transfer.

[bmwracer]

Here's the poop on Macrovision for videotapes (from Wikipedia ):

--------------------------------------------------------
Starting in 1985 with the video release of The Cotton Club, Macrovision has licensed to publishers a technology that exploits the automatic gain control feature of VCRs by adding pulses to the vertical blanking sync signal. These pulses do not affect the image a consumer sees on his TV, but do confuse the recording-level circuitry of consumer VCRs. This technology, which is aided by U.S. legislation mandating the presence of automatic gain-control circuitry in VCRs, is said to "plug the analog hole" and make VCR-to-VCR copies impossible, although an inexpensive circuit is widely available that will defeat the protection by removing the pulses. Macrovision uses a legal strategy of patenting its video AGC system, giving it a more straightforward basis to shut down manufacture of any device that descrambles it than often exists in the DRM world.
--------------------------------------------------------

[bmwracer]

Sorry, double post.

[akrako1]

If that doesn't work you might try this. It's worked for a lot of people:
http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

Can anyone vouge for this device? Does it remove macrovision protection from video tapes? From the low-res picture on their web site, it apears to only accept composite video. Anyone know if there's any other connections? S-Video would be swell.. I'm also assuming that this device will work between a vcr and a dvd recorder.(?) Damn, $20 is a pretty good price!

[BobK]

If that doesn't work you might try this. It's worked for a lot of people:
http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

Can anyone vouge for this device? Does it remove macrovision protection from video tapes? From the low-res picture on their web site, it apears to only accept composite video. Anyone know if there's any other connections? S-Video would be swell.. I'm also assuming that this device will work between a vcr and a dvd recorder.(?) Damn, $20 is a pretty good price!

I've had one for over 10 years and it's worked on everything I've tried it on. Tape to tape or tape to DVD.

Only composite connections though.

[handyguy]

Circuit City has a Sima copy box. I think that it's $100

[ocean]

Hi Guys,

Facing same issues as posted here, I recently bought a modified DVD recorder, the Liteon 5005x, with a built-in copy protection remover. I'm very happy with the purchase. Records premium channels or any DVD/VHS. The same company provides also a copy protection remover device (The Videographer) that does the same but installed externally. Amazing products...
LINK DELETED

Ocean