Macrovision Problem

[BlueWolf]

Hi I recently bought a Panasonic DMR ES35V VHS/DVD Combo. The whole purpose of my buying it is because I have an extensive collection of VHS tapes all pre recorded, they cost me a fortune and I wanted to transfer them to DVD to protect the content, having noticed that some of my older VHS are starting to deteriorate in picture quality.

Anyway, the attaction of the combo unit was one touch copying and so far I have managed to copy 2 dozen tapes with no problems. But suddenly I started getting an error message saying this is not allowed to be copied. I tried several times but no joy. Finally I did some research and learned about Macrovision.

My question is, is there any way or any equiptment that can be used to by pass Macrovision? And please do not suggest using my computer to copy the tapes, I have got a capture card and I did try that once before, but it took me three months just to copy 12 tapes and then the disks would not play in my DVD anyway. I am pretty much a newbie with this kind of technology and even reading the how tos on all the different software to use, confused the hell out of me.

Can anyone offer any solution?

[FulciLives]

There are so-called "black boxes" which are designed to eliminate copy protection. Generally speaking these "black boxes" have a video input and a video output.

So the video output of the VHS VCR goes to and through the black box to the DVD recorder. The black box filters the video signal removing the copy protection so that the DVD recorder will copy it. Generally the audio does straight from the VHS VCR to the DVD recorder as there really is no reason to pass it through the "black box" as the copy protection is always in the video signal not the audio signal.

Unfortunately there are many so-called black boxes and some work better than others. One popular choice is a device known as a TBC (short for Time Base Corrector). There are "Line TBC" devices and "Full Frame TBC" devices. The Full Frame type of TBC will eliminate all forms of copy protection (although it is unclear if it defeats the so-called broadcast flag which is a form of copy protection being used now on some cable/satellite TV channels). The removal of copy protection done by a Full Frame TBC is actually a side effect of the real purpose of a Full Frame TBC ... it is actually made to "re-sync" the video and give a stable continious video signal ... a very handy device for converting analog video to digital especially VHS videos. Unfortunately a Full Frame TBC is in the range of $200 - $300 US Dollars.

The other option is a "black box" as I mentioned before. One that seems to be popular because it is cheap and seems to work most of the time (knock on wood) is the ... well there is no real model number for this so here is a link: CLICK HERE

Now that little wonder is only $19.99 although some sites sell it for as much as $29.99 but believe it or no many people have said that this simple device works very well with most VHS videos. It does appear to not work with all VHS videos ... also ... it is known to be very hit or miss when using another copy protected source such as a DVD from a DVD player.

On the other side of the price scale is the VIDEO FILTER found here: CLICK HERE

This little number is expensive but many people have used it and said that it absolutely works and works great with all forms of copy protection including the dreaded broadcast flag form of copy protection. I list this as being the "ultimate" black box.

There are many devices in between but many of them seem to be very hit or miss as to how well they work ... some are also known to remove copy protection but degrade the picture quality in the process.

Oh and if you are interested in a Full Frame TBC then here are the two most popular choices:

1.) DataVideo TBC-1000 Link ---> CLICK HERE
2.) AVT-8710 Link ---> CLICK HERE

I hope that helps some.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[guns1inger]

I don't know how useful a TBC will be with a VHS/DVD combo where the circuitry is all internal. TBCs sit in between the playback and recording devices.

Is it too late to take this one back and get just a DVD recorder ?

[FulciLives]

I don't know how useful a TBC will be with a VHS/DVD combo where the circuitry is all internal. TBCs sit in between the playback and recording devices.

Is it too late to take this one back and get just a DVD recorder ?

Well I've never owned a combo unit so I don't know if one can use the VHS VCR output ... in order to use a TBC or "black box" ... then loop that back to the input of the DVD recorder.

I think I read that some combo units will allow that situation and some do not.

If not then a separate VHS VCR will have to be used for those VHS videos that are copy protected.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman