Macrovision? Explain please.

[fmctm1sw]

Been reading a few posts about macrovision:
1] Is macrovision something that is on VCR tapes, cd's, DVD's, etc or is it something that's in my DVD player, VCR, capture card, etc?
2] I found a "firmware upgrade" that will disable macrovision in my DVD player (apex ad-1100W). Does that mean I could copy DVD's with my capture card (not that I would, mind you)?
3] Does my new Hauppauge wintv radio have macrovision?

[boss]

1.macrovision uses a signal sent out by the tape or dvd to scramble the picture if you try to copy it.so your dvd/vcr player has nothing to do with it.
2 and 3. yes, you should be able to copy dvd's with the upgrade, but macrovision does not effect most capture cards anyway. i have a win-tv card as well and have never had any problems with macrovision.

[circleking]

1] Is macrovision something that is on VCR tapes, cd's, DVD's, etc or is it something that's in my DVD player, VCR, capture card, etc?

Macrovision (when applied to VHS tapes) is a signal inserted into the vertical interval area on commercial VHS tapes. This signal (periodic very bright pulses) will fool a recording VCR's automatic gain control circuitry. This causes an artificial lowering of the video level making the recorded copy unviewable (light & dark flashing). In addition to the AGC form of macrovision, DVD's employ another form called the "colour stripe". This form alters the phase of the colour burst signal every few lines. Velocity correction circuitry in the playback VCR will try to correct this phase error resulting in incorrect colour being displayed on the affected lines. (It looks like you're viewing the picture thru window blinds. A DVD disc does not actually have macrovision encoded contents, just flags to tell your DVD player to turn it on. The DVD player has specific ICs which generate the macrovision signals. You can disable this function in many DVD players (i.e. your hack for the Apex).

2] I found a "firmware upgrade" that will disable macrovision in my DVD player (apex ad-1100W). Does that mean I could copy DVD's with my capture card (not that I would, mind you)?

Yes. And why not make a backup of your DVD? You bought it. Right? It's not even illegal in the U.S. to backup your own property.

3] Does my new Hauppauge wintv radio have macrovision?

I don't know, but someone here should. If it does, you can usually find a hack for it.

[hpv]

Why would you want to do that? You'd just be degrading the quality. Just get a DVD-ROM (which you can buy for insanely small amounts of money) and rip it proper.

Been reading a few posts about macrovision:
1] Is macrovision something that is on VCR tapes, cd's, DVD's, etc or is it something that's in my DVD player, VCR, capture card, etc?
2] I found a "firmware upgrade" that will disable macrovision in my DVD player (apex ad-1100W). Does that mean I could copy DVD's with my capture card (not that I would, mind you)?
3] Does my new Hauppauge wintv radio have macrovision?

[Akai Rounin]

There is always a reason...

Why would you want to do that? You'd just be degrading the quality. Just get a DVD-ROM (which you can buy for insanely small amounts of money) and rip it proper.

OK, say you have an elderly Mom or Grandma who isn't among the most adept with technology. She has no computer, PDA or cell phone and thinks control-top pantyhose are the greatest invention known to mankind. However, Grandma really likes watching movies. Since her older, more feeble hands can't quite get a firm grip on something as fragile as a DVD anyway, and she doesn't have a PC, it's easier for her to pop in a VHS tape than anything else. So you pop the DVD of The Color Purple, Fried Green Tomatoes or Driving Miss Daisy into your hacked APEX, connect it to a VCR, record to VHS, then go... uhm, to the back room (yeah, that's where Grandma lives...), and add it to her collection of tapes. She can just grab one off the shelf and pop it straight into her auto-play VCR/TV combo and enjoy. Meanwhile, your DVD collection remains unscathed and pristine and you don't have to buy the same movie twice, once on DVD again on VHS. Joy. Besides, while she watches Cocoon in the back, you can watch Lord of the Rings in the comfort of the den or family room. O Happy Day.

Sometimes quality is not an issue. Someone might just want to get some quick clips into their PC, rather than the full feature. Y'know, like you have an alcoholic friend who really enjoys The Simpsons. That friend is having his 35th birthday soon, but he is overseas on a business trip, in the military or something. So you capture certain sections of each episode to your PC... Then make a compilation of the first 35 times that Barney ~*BURPS*~ on the show, then e-mail a 160 x 120 pixel AVI to him as a gag gift, labeled "Thinking of You..."

HUN-YA!

Akai Rounin

[KingJohn]

http://www.repairfaq.org/filipg/LINK/F_MacroVision.html

good reading...

http://www.techtronics.com

DIY kit, or purchase with chip fitted.

[AK349]

On this macrovision thing, can u turn it off on ur DVD player?

[MOVIEGEEK]

On this macrovision thing, can u turn it off on ur DVD player?

Apex seems to be "hack friendly"according to posts i've read,but there is
no guarranty they will work and my mess-up your player and void the
warranty.