DVD TO VHS CONVERSION

[dalt]

Hello,

I am trying to backup some of my dvd's to vhs, quality is not an issue as im doing this basically to put some of the kids dvds on vhs so they do not scratch them and get all kiddie gook mess over the dvds.

I know that the macromedia protection will not allow simply to hook up the dvd to the vhs player, but my friend bypassed this somehow by using two video players and going through the tv output r/c plugs. (somehow).


any help much appreciated!!

[geek rock]

what dvd player do you have? some players have hacks that will allow you to turn off the macrovision enabling you to tape your DVDs.

-Mark

[Innershield]

I have a Samsung VCR that is about 8 yrs old and it does not respond to macrovision. I just hook my dvd player up to my VCR and hit record and it comes out just fine. You should probably be able to pick up an old VCR off of eBay for pretty cheap.

[Bob W]

http://www.facetvideo.com/

[Innershield]

That product cost $89.95. I am sure you can pick up an old VCR for much cheaper.

[Tommyknocker]

Provided of course, the old VCR will last as long as this device. When you buy a used, eight year old VCR, who can guarantee the machine still works, or will still be working a few months from now?

[Innershield]

What's to guarantee that the device from facetvideo will still work in a couple of months.

[dalt]

thanks

Well i got the hack off the guides(nec ndv-23) to the left that allows me to change the region but nothing comes up on the dvd about changing the protection.

When i copy the dvd the picture and sound are fine exept for the picture comes out black and white(on the vhs copy).
It looks fine on the tv when copying but i have the black and white pic when playing back the vhs.

[Tommyknocker]

What's to guarantee that the device from facetvideo will still work in a couple of months.

I do know certain members here have bought this device and say it works quite well. I would not go so far as to say that for an eight year old VCR sight unseen. And finally, Facetvideo guarantees this device will work in a "couple of months". (Edited to add an omission).

[Bob W]

What's to guarantee that the device from facetvideo will still work in a couple of months.

My device still works and it's been about two months to the day.

[Hazza]

Call me silly but can't you simply record from your television output jacks to your VCR? As opposed to recording from your Dvd player outputs if this is what you are currently doing.

I know I tried it once (a few years ago) with an oldish TV and it was fine. Maybe the newer TV's also pass the macrovision through the output jacks I dunno. (I don't have much need to put DVD's on VHS). If not then your friend must have had a VCR that doesn't recognise macrovision as others have said.

Can you use your computer to output non-macrovisioned source to your VCR (TV out card)?

Hazza.

[Innershield]

What's to guarantee that the device from facetvideo will still work in a couple of months.

My device still works and it's been about two months to the day.

My VCR is 8 years old and it still works.

[Innershield]

What's to guarantee that the device from facetvideo will still work in a couple of months.

I do know certain members here have bought this device and say it works quite well. I would not go so far as to say that for an eight year old VCR sight unseen. And finally, Facetvideo guarantees this device will work in a "couple of months". (Edited to add an omission).

So what happens when the device malfunctions on the 91st day? You are out $89.95. I am sure you could get an old VCR for 10 or 20 dollars and it will last 90 days

[Bob W]

What's to guarantee that the device from facetvideo will still work in a couple of months.

My device still works and it's been about two months to the day.

My VCR is 8 years old and it still works.

I still have a Beta recorder in my garage that works bwahaha so there.

[Innershield]

I still have a Beta recorder in my garage that works bwahaha so there. [/quote]

You have just made my point!!

[Tommyknocker]

I have gone through three VHS this year. Can you buy an eight year old VCR with a three month guarantee?

[lgh529]

VCR's built today are disposable. Especially those Wal-mart $39 jobs. Eight years ago, they built VCR's quite a bit better. I would rather have an 8 year old VCR than the POS that I use today. My local church has a VCR that is 15 years old and it rocks; top loader and all!

Just a thought.

[overloaded_ide]

Sorry double post
Got error on my end and page would not load after clicking submit.
The I got a double post when it did work after several tries.
See next one

[overloaded_ide]

I think ya'll got side tracked. Maybe he don't want a vcr!!!!
First getting a good used one might not be as easy as just walking into a store and saying give me a Samson from 1992!

Second, who's gonna gaurantee the model he buys doesn't detect Macrovision? I have one that's over 10 yrs old, and IT DOES detect it, though it' a Sharp!

Not all VCRs are Stereo! Maybe he would like to preserve his audio at good Stereo quality!
Not all older VCRs are that good! Some have poor recording, or maybe the heads in the one he buys are shot?

Maybe a certain model was great, but It might be alittle hard to find that one cetain model in perfect working condition!

So to some it up, If he has one in the basement already, use it! If not then look for something that does work that you can find!

As for Facet Video device, it's $100.10 with shipping and handling! I have one. Lately I have been busy with other projects and not used it. It did seem to work well when I first got it and tested it. But I have not used it enough to know of any problems yet, if any. So far I do like it, and I think it works ok, several tapes not working for me before do work now!
I go from VHS to DVD, so I have to use something on some of the tapes!

BUT..
If you have a burner in your computer and want to go from DVD to VHS, then all you have to do is ripp the dvd, make a back up, then record the Backup to VHS! The backup will not have any Copy protection!!
And you should be making back ups anyway, right!
You have the easy way out since your doing it backwards!!

If you do not have a DVD burner in your computer, then for what you want to do, DVD to VHS, I do have the perfect and best solution!

BUY A BURNER
If you have any decent fairly new type system, then it should support a burner! So put one in, rip the disk, copy the backup to VHS! Then you have the VHS and a backup of the real DVD disk. $100 for a 2x burner. maybe less.

As for the TV out, I see that mentioned sometimes, I never had a TV with output jacks though? Geuss only certain models have them, but if yours does then try that, it might work and it would be free.

[dalt]

I have a teac Tv which has Video / Audio out rc plugs at the back. It sends a signal of the audio / video of what appears on the screen, but the dvd protection remains!.
I am looking to buy a burner but the cheapest i can get one here in Australia is around $400 so im still saving.
Also i dont have an old vcr player but i'm looking.
Does the main macrovision protection come from the DVD, the DVD player or the VCR end of things? If it comes from the dvd/ or dvd player how will it make a difference what video recorder it is going to?
When i try to copy the dvd to vcr with r/c cable link up the picture is all distored and out all over the place.
When i try to copy the vcd backup of the same movie the the only prob is black and white. hmm strange...CAN YOU REMOVE MACROVIOSION ON THE VCD BACK COPY, IF SO THAT COULD SOLVE ALL MY PROBLEMS.
So i take it that when backing up a dvd with a dvd burner you can remove the macrovision protection regardless of what type of dvd player it will be played through.
Thanks for the coments / Arguments.

[Hazza]

dalt.

Yes once you rip it with DVDDecrypter or Smartripper Macrovision is gone. Only minor drawback of defeating macrovision this way is you will have to process (strip, shrink or split) the original DVD if it is dual layer and the main movie is > 4.7 GB but thats no biggie. And I am in Oz and there are plenty of burners under AUS$300 let alone $400.

In terms of VCD backup there definately wouldn't be macrovision on it if you ripped from a DVD-ROM (the only way it could have the macrovision effects is if you captured with an analogue card).

Macrovision is implemented on the DVD and sent down to the VCR, the VCR either recognises it (and starts stuffing things up) or doesn't recognise it and only outputs the raw video/audio. So you can disable it on either end or in between.

Hazza.

[MOVIEGEEK]

@dalt,
Do you have tv out on your videocard?If so just rip the DVD to your HDD and play in full screen with PowerDVD,etc and record to VHS.This method is cheaper than any macrovision removal device,you can get a cheap AGP or PCI tv out videocard for $35USD.

[tito13kfm]

Or you COULD rip the dvd to your computer (dvd players are like $49 now) play it from your H/D through video out jack on your computer (my old 4 meg Nvidia had video out probably find one for less than $19) and record the output on your vcr. Use the audio out jack on your sound card with a 1/8 stereo->RCA adapter ($6 radio shack) to output audio. I've done this multiple times with absolutely no problem.

As to your question about what causes the macrovision, I believe it is the DVD which contains the macrovision but the VCR actually causes the macrovision to show up on the tape (thereby allowing older non-macrovision aware units to bypass it).

Hope this helps

[dalt]

I have a dvd drive so i might try to pick up a cheap video card with tv out, just a quick question , are there any i should try to avoid???

[RabidDog]

macrovison simply sends an extra signal which some vcr recognize as a change to the brightness or color which is what fubars the recording.
Simply playing from computer thru powerDVD to vcr also wont work as powerdvd will refuse to output macrovision titles. You would have to rip and strip off macrovision. Why backup to tape tho? backup to svcd or vcd.

[overloaded_ide]

I think he said so the kids don't put peanut butter and jelly disks in the player in his first post

Well sort of the way I read it

Another thing about macrovision I think is some DVD players will produce it even on non protected disks!
I saw a post or heard someone personally say awhile back they contacted the manufactorer of their player to ask why they could not make copies of their own disks, and they were told the player produced a protection to prevent coping!

In other words the manufacturer of that particular player is saying you do not have the right to copy your own original content disks you make yourself! Their player is designed to stop you!

I think that is rare! But perhaps why you could not copy a Vcd to vhs if you have that brand, or one like it. I forget which it was though.
Vcd does not itself have protection! DVD R you make should not either!

[dalt]

THanks,

Yeah, the main reason was just for the kids dvds, would be much simpler to just put on the video for them rather than having them play around and scratch the dvd. (and play frisbee with them).
I can copy to vcd but they would have to change the cd half way through , as it will take two cd's without losing quality.
I could get 3 or more movies on a vhs tape with long play.
I think you are right about the dvd protection , as i have tried to copy basic vcd's to vhs with probs and also sometimes all you have to do is connect the dvd player to the video and the picture goes astray.
Just seeing if it is possoble / best way.
I think getting a video card with tv out would be the go, might look around to get a decent card that will do this plus have a tv tuner function.