The many solutions for getting rid of Macrovision

[manosteele12]

I have been reading alot on this forum about macrovision and how to get rid of it. But are there any sure fire solutions for The panasonic DMR-E60S. I have read about the pro-scan VCR's, the goldstar VCR's, simacorp which didn't work for the E30 so I doubt it will work on mine, and the macro master pro. I Don't want to buy something and it not work, so I'm looking for some 100% sure answers. If there are any

[tonyp12]

CMD-850 at $290 is not a cheap solution


http://www.220giftcenter.com/cmd850.htm


read the note about it:
http://www.220giftcenter.com/dmr-e60.htm

[manosteele12]

Thats alittle more than I was hoping to pay. Is there anything under $100 dollars that could get me there? That is still a sweet product.

[wulf109]

Some DVDplayers when made macrovision free also turn off digital copy protection,i.e.=Apex Ad-500W.

[Gazorgan]

It's sad really, there aren't $20 worth of parts in De-Macrovision devices. Basically they are Video amplifiers with fast AGC ( Automatic Gain Circuitry ) to compensate for the varying intensity produced my macrovision enable devices(for DVD's, macrovision is a flag, not encoded, tapes are encoded with it). You will note your TV is immune to this but not your VCR. There is a reason for this; TV's don't make copies, VCR's do(and DVR's).

[manosteele12]

So if I used an Apex AD-500W as my source, my panasonic could make a copy of the dvd in my Apex?

[tonyp12]

You need a DVD player that can be CGMS disabled.

But who really uses a setop DVD recorder to backup DVDs?

Using a PC with DVD player and Burner gives you much more
controll and the coversion is Fully Digital.

Not what you would get if you used S-Video out on a DVD player.

[tgpo]

Yeah but he's wanting to go from a VCR to DVD. He said he tried to backup his copy of Mallrats, but the macrovision prohibited it. I told him that the only way I know to get around it is to use a converter.

[tim6661234]

I had the same problem backing up my Star Wars tapes.
I got a device from Maplin in the UK (about £30 I think).
Worked quite well.

[manosteele12]

I guess I'll Take TGPO's advice and hit the flea market to find an old VCR.

[tgpo]

Just so ya'll know. Manosteele is my co worker. And he's the dude who made my avatar.

[handyguy]

Just the other day without thinking I put in a new dvd (FD2) in my e30 & made a copy of it to JVC vcr.... no copy protection at all came up.

to copy from dvd to dvd get a apex 1500 that has firmware no macrovision.

from vhs to dvd get one of the boxes in the back of electronic mags shouldn't be more than $45-50

[ejai]

I own two products that work on both my E30 and E50, the Datavideo TBC-1000 and my favorite the AVT-8710. I haven't seen one forum that states neither item has any problem with macrovision, they work well on dvd and vhs copy protected media.

[vhelp]

hi manosteele12..

As all has suggested.. there's no better way around MV unless you strip
out the garbage, hence a TBC. Basiclaly, it takes a snapshot, w/out the
MV collects, and re-portrates it (clean)

I have the TBC-100 (now under $200, I believe) It's a PCI type card, but
does nothing to your PCI. It's a bummy slot - - no wires n things - - was
just to attach to your pc for convenience. Nonense, really, but it works.
Again, it has nothing to do w/ your pc.

I've tested this TBC-100 w/ both my CAMS, TRV-22 and ZR-10 cause they
will definately show signes of MV, by shuting off the CAM unit, or flashing
in RED a warning message about (c) Copyright.
Oh, and all passed w/ flying colors.

Sometimes, you HAVE to pay for something good.

Good luck pal,
-vhelp

[verchad]

If you want to take a chance, I went to ebay and got a little black box for about $20.00. It has removed the macro from many of my tapes I have backed up to my panasonic dmr-hs2. There are a few that it hasn't worked on in parts pf movies, but that might be due to low battery power. I'm getting an ac adapter for the box and will try it to see if it works on my difficult tapes. Worked on many movies that have been noted for macro problems.

[Hazza]

vhelp.

I am backing up my Starwars VHS tapes to DVD at the moment using my Sony TRV22E to do the analogue-digital conversion and there is no sign of macrovision on my captures. I thus figured the cam ignored it and didn't pass it on through firewire. Are you saying it doesn't remove macrovision from your captures?

So if you need a Handycam by any chance, maybe get one and use it as a capture and de-macrovision device also.

I am pretty sure my VCR is macrovision enabled. (Panasonic NV-HD670 6 Head HiFi)

Hazza

[vhelp]

Hi Hazza,

I am backing up my Starwars VHS tapes to DVD at the moment using my Sony TRV22E to do the analogue-digital conversion and there is no sign of macrovision on my captures.

Hmm... Mine, shuts off when I try to record to miniDV tapes, anything from
VHS tapes that are store bought.

Question..
* how old are those STWars tapes ?? (year purchased/made)

-vhelp

[mrlar]

For what it's worth:
There are small "black boxes" that many local electronics shops sell, usually in the $29.95 range ($25-$30). I've used one for years (from VHS days) and just bought another one to have a 2nd, only because I always hook my DVD player through the VCR to avoid an A-B switch and hassles. Works great, gets rid of Macrovision. Uses RCA in/out jacks (not S-video ones). I think I"ve seen more expensive/fancy black boxes that have S-video on them, but they'll run a lot more. For $30 though, you can find a decent macrovision defeater.

[Hazza]

Hi vhelp,

I am not recording the tapes to MiniDV I am using the passthrough feature to record straight from VCR to DV AVI on my computer. So there is no recording done by the Camcorder. I have not tried recording to MiniDV first as I don't need MiniDV backups.

Have you tried passing through to your computer and recording from Firewire in DV AVI?

The tapes are PAL VHS 1997 Special Edition Widescreen Trilogy set (Silver Box). They were purchased in 1997 or 1998.

Hazza..

[manosteele12]

Would radioshack have those little black boxes. Thats about the only electronics store that would have anything like that im my area.

[telemike]

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Product Features

Remove the MacroVision protection from any DVD player

Record DVD movies to VHS tapes

Improves the picture quality

Video & S-Video in and output

Automatic PAL/NTSC detection

Can be used with all DVD players (including PlayStation2, Xbox or Q)

Requires a 9V AC power supply, AC 9V, 120mA (included)

Does not remove MacroVision2 protection as used in some newer movies.

Use this unit with any DVD player to make it VCR and Video projector friendly

[tgpo]

manosteele is updating his computer, but he says "Sweet, I'll look into that"

[vhelp]

@ telemike..

that's an interesting little "gizmo"

But, the true test of course, is will it pass the CAM passthrough for most
CAM out their, ie ZR-10 and TRV-22 !!

Hay, can't beat the price @ ~$25.00 bucker'owes
But, I didn't see a telephone number. I like to make my purchases via
phone call, not pay pal or visa or online whathaveyou

-vhelp

[telemike]

@vhelp-

Lik-Sang is out of Taiwan....chekc out thier web page for more info.

[shandy2]

Hi I have the Macro master pro and it works great there are more people with this device on http://thewholewideweb.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=992.
Hope this helps.
Cheers

[Alfer]

I'm happy to say that when I plug my fairly new Mitsubishi VCR into my new Adaptec Video DVD capture device, I get ZERO Macrovision problems when I copy VHS movies straight to DVD. Worked on Office Space and Empire Strikes Back. Played back perfectly in all my DVD players (stand alones)

Now if I could get someone to tell me how to get more than 1:40 recording time (using VHS to DVD format) onto my blank DVD's I'd be an extremely happy camper!

[next]

Here's a novel approach. It will not work for everybody. Repeat will not work for everybody.

This works for those nasty Disney VHS's.

This does not work:

- Sima CopyMaster ($50 version at Best Buy) between my VCR and a Panasonic e-30. The e-30 says it's a no go.

Disney is tough. But my tapes are over 10 years old and I wanted a backup.

This does work:

- VCR (Philips SVHS) into the Sima Copymaster then into a home grown PC which is integrated into my entertainment center. It has an ATI AIW. Out from the AIW to the e-30. Works great.

I know it sounds like there are too many passes which will have a negative effect on quality. I have found the opposite to be true.

The quality is excellent.

Won't work for most because it requires a specific setup but I thought I'd post for those who it might help.

I have never applied the marco hack on the AIW. I may try it to see if the Sima is even needed.

edit - this was a 'spare parts' attempt that worked. Can't complain. I think if you have a capture card that does not detect macrovision you should be able to pass things through to your DVD recorder.

[harrymj3]

I bought a Sony Vaio with a Giga Pocket recorder in it. That also will not copy any protected material. Sima copymaster was no help. After much expermenting I bought a Pinnacle Moviebox USB and that copys everything with better quality, same mpeg capture as the Sony but nicer. 169.95 usd. ......... harrymj3

[next]

I bought a Sony Vaio with a Giga Pocket recorder in it. That also will not copy any protected material. Sima copymaster was no help. After much expermenting I bought a Pinnacle Moviebox USB and that copys everything with better quality, same mpeg capture as the Sony but nicer. 169.95 usd. ......... harrymj3

Has this worked feeding the signal into a DVD recorder? Especially a Panasonic? We may have something here.

[harrymj3]

Alfer,
You should try capturing mpeg2 with your Videoh, I assume, at very high bitrate then encode that file with the latest version of TMPGEnc Plus (it has it's own mpeg decoder) to get your movie file to fit on your disc. Then author and burn. ....... harrymj3