copy protected vhs to dvd set top recorder

[demonstalker]

I have a Toshiba set top dvd recorder and want to make backups of my vhs collection. Does anyone know of any filters or devices or bios upgrades for the recorder that will let me get by the copy protection?

[lordsmurf]

No.
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=246129

[Wingpal]

Have been backing up my VHS collection now for a while, I am on number 52 so far. I use a Sansui 4005 fed by an external VHS and a Sima CT-2 Video Enhancer between the two. It has worked very well for me so far and can be found at Best Buy.

[Mistress Diana]

This does not apply directly to the VHS copy problem but is a question about the SIMA CT-2 equipment. I bought one, as I wanted to do a backup of some of my Disney DVD's, so that when we travel the grandchildren can watch them, but I would not have to worry about damage or loss to the originals. I followed the directions perfectly, but could not get it to work. I was going from a DVD Player to the DVD recorder. I have a rather complex arrangement which may or may not be why I have a prob. If it is OK to ask about this here, let me know and I will go in to more detail.

TKS

DS

[samijubal]

Some DVD recorders are more picky about copy protection than others.

[lordsmurf]

A SIMA-CT2 is not designed to remove analog protection. It might, but not always.

[Mistress Diana]

Maybe I misunderstood something, but the package said The GoDVD also transfers DVD to DVD and supports NTSC and PAL formats. This is the SIMA-CT2 GoDVD equipment. It was also what the salesman said I would need to do the backups, not that I believe everything salespeople tell me. Is there any equipment that would allow me to do backup copies of my purchased DVD's

TKS DS

[lordsmurf]

No. That's for non-protected content. And even then, entirely unnecessary. Most salesman are as clueless as it gets, especially ones that sell technology.

It's an "enhancer" device. Totally worthless. It may remove proection, it may not.

You can use a computer with a burner to do a digital transfer. This is the best method.

You can also buy a TBC for analog transfers, put it between player and recorder.

[Bob W]

This device works great going from DVD to DVDR or VHS to DVDR.
http://www.facetvideo.com/

[RowMan]

This does not apply directly to the VHS copy problem but is a question about the SIMA CT-2 equipment. I bought one, as I wanted to do a backup of some of my Disney DVD's, so that when we travel the grandchildren can watch them, but I would not have to worry about damage or loss to the originals. I followed the directions perfectly, but could not get it to work. I was going from a DVD Player to the DVD recorder.

DS

Going from a DVD player to a DVD recorder usually requires that you bypass not only Macrovision, but also a second type of copy protection called CGMS/A. This device does the trick...

http://www.facetvideo.com/xcart/customer/home.php

I know two people who use it ans they say it works like a charm.

[lordsmurf]

This device works great going from DVD to DVDR or VHS to DVDR.
http://www.facetvideo.com/

But it's just another enhancer. Not flawless, not like a TBC. May work, may not.

[zleepy]

Consider the cost of a DVD burner for your PC
vs the cost of a TBC.

DVD Decrypter is free real simple to learn.
It duplicates the entire DVD instead of just the movie.
It's also quicker than playing a DVD for hours.

[RowMan]

Consider the cost of a DVD burner for your PC
vs the cost of a TBC.

DVD Decrypter is free real simple to learn.
It duplicates the entire DVD instead of just the movie.
It's also quicker than playing a DVD for hours.

Very true. I bought an Optorite DVD burner for less than $50 and have been using two very easy and FREE programs (DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter) to make all of my DVD to DVD-R back-ups. I now only use my DVD recorder to make VHS/ Laserdisc to DVD-R back-ups.

[Mistress Diana]

Thanks for all the input. Don't mean to be dumb but what is TBC? I have used DVD Decrypter and have never been able to get anything but the movie, none of the extras, etc. My computer is not the fastest in the world, so it takes me 4 to 8 hours to encode the movie and I thought if I could just copy from DVD to Recorder it would be ever so much faster and not keep puter tied up so long. Yes I know I can still use puter, but that slows the process down even more. I would like to try the other equipment, but if it is not sold in local stores it makes it a bit of a nusiance if it does not work with my overall setup. Never used DVD shrink, I know there is someplace in this area I can find dir for it, point me in right direction, might give it a try. Currently I have a VCR, DVD player and DVD Recorder all hooked into my TV along with cable line (no box, direct line into TV) Since recorder and player need to be plugged into TV to work, also have a splitter box, player and recorder plug into and I hit a button to choose which I want to use, and thought perhaps this would cause me probs with using another go between to copy from one place to another. Again thanks for all the input and hope I can eventually find a way to copy from player to recorder. Everyone on these forums are so helpful and really nice to work with. Definitely better than support from manufacturers.

DS

[lordsmurf]

https://www.videohelp.com/glossary?T#TBC

[broadway]

Is there any equipment that would allow me to do backup copies of my purchased DVD's

To do back up of purchased DVDs, you don't need any additional equipment. You'll need software though.

https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?howtoselect=6#6 is a good place to start.

[handyguy]

why not get a 'vcr friendly' vcr? Should feed into the recorder just fine.

[RowMan]

Hmmm... That's strange that DVD Decrypter is taking so long as it doesn't re-enode. If the DVD you're trying to back-up is single layered, you should be able to keep everything including menus and extras using the ISO Read and ISO Write mode. I've done many myself.

Here's a link to DVD Shrink... http://www.dvdshrink.org/

Super easy for backing up dual-layered DVDs to single layered DVD+/-R. It allows you to omit unused audio tracks to help maintain video quality in full back-up mode or you can "re-author" to make a movie-only disc.

By the way, my computer isn't the fastest either so I usually set up my back-ups to encode overnight and then I just burn the disc in the morning.

Also, please explain what you meant by..."I followed the directions perfectly, but could not get it to work. I was going from a DVD Player to the DVD recorder." Would the recorder refuse to record? Did it record garbage or a blank screen? What exactly happened?

[EvilWizardGlick]

Dumb question here, but wouldn't a macrovision free ( Skyworth 1050p for example) dvd player be copyable?
I know when I try to copy some things to my Ilo DVDR04 from vhs it sets off the flag for protected content ( but then the Ilo is sensitive to some vcr's).
But if I copy the same material to my Sony 8mm vcr, then copy it to the Ilo no problem.
Is the signal sent through the hardware or through the media? Obviously on the vhs to 8mm there is no problem, and since the Skyworth is macrovision free the same should hold true. I know I could copy from it to vhs.
So, is macrovision free standalone player to standalone recorder the hassle free way to go?

[lordsmurf]

Dumb question here, but wouldn't a macrovision free ( Skyworth 1050p for example) dvd player be copyable?
I know when I try to copy some things to my Ilo DVDR04 from vhs it sets off the flag for protected content ( but then the Ilo is sensitive to some vcr's).
But if I copy the same material to my Sony 8mm vcr, then copy it to the Ilo no problem.
Is the signal sent through the hardware or through the media? Obviously on the vhs to 8mm there is no problem, and since the Skyworth is macrovision free the same should hold true. I know I could copy from it to vhs.
So, is macrovision free standalone player to standalone recorder the hassle free way to go?

Maybe. That too.

[RowMan]

...So, is macrovision free standalone player to standalone recorder the hassle free way to go?

Not quite. There are two different kinds of copy protection on most DVDs. Macrovision was designed to mainly prohibit copying from DVD or VHS to VHS, but most DVD recorders recognize this signal and will not record anyway. The second form of copy protection is CGMS/a. This is a system designed to prohibit copying the audio and video output of a DVD player to a DVD recorder.

While some DVD players are or can be made Macrovision free, this doesn't mean CGMS/a is absent as well.

The MOST hassle free way to back-up a DVD is still doing it with your computer and a writable DVD drive.

[handyguy]

I used an apex 1500 dvd player as a source, it can be hacked & then use it to feed into my dvd recorder works great. I never get any CSS messages, I think thats for the computer, not a dvd recorder.

I can also backup a dvd from my Panny e30 to a jvc vcr just fine, but can't then put it back on the panny. Odd....

I also once pushed record, without thinking about it, on my dual deck govideo player when it was playing some commerical dvd & it recorded to vhs just fine.

[RowMan]

You have hit upon some exceptions to the general rules, handyguy!

1. On the the Apex 1500 it is known that the firmware hack not only disables Macrovision, but CGMS/a as well. I bought a few of them way back when because of this.

2. Macrovision only affects about 85% of VCRs which is probably why you could record a copy protected DVD to your JVC VCR. The reason why you could not record that copy back to the DVD recorder is because the copy protection was transferred to that copy. The VCR just ignored it. I had a Panasonic VCR that did the same thing.

3. The Go-Video units are supposed to prohibit the copying of protected sources. That was one of the things the company touted to the movie industry before their dual-deck recorders were released. Remember that most, but not all commercial DVDs are copy protected. Including copy protection adds to the total cost of producing a DVD. The first Harry Potter movie (Region 1) comes to mind. It was one of the few major DVD releases without protection. I imagine this may have been the situation when you were able make a VHS copy of a DVD on the Go-Video unit.

[julytree]

. I have found a relatively big number of bad references to Sima especially in what is related to video quality.
I have recently ordered the DVD Red PRO from Dimax at http://www.xdimax.com/dvd/dvdredpro.html and received it very quickly. Dimax device is working flawlessly, I do mean it, without any problems and it is very cute and sexy. I'm wary happy with it.
Thanks to everybody who guided me to make the right decision