*LORD SMURF* Help with Macrovision ATI Card

[jfvan]

This worked for me on my AIW Radeon 7500 AGP card. Go into /windows/system32 forder and delete atitvo32.dll. Or you can move it to another folder if you want it for backup. I found this easy hack on some site a year ago. I guess this file hadles mv. If it cannot find this file, it just skips over the MV. Worth a try, it has worked for me.

[presto]

This worked for me on my AIW Radeon 7500 AGP card. Go into /windows/system32 forder and delete atitvo32.dll.

There's a lot of confusion in this discussion because macrovision is not just one thing. I'm going to list the different versions that I am aware of. I don't know the correct names or technical details but maybe we can work togethor to clarify this.

#1 Bright/Dim macrovision - a signal is added to the overscan area of a vhs tape which causes the automatic gain circuitry in a VCR to alternately lighten and dampen the picture about every 8 seconds. This should disturb VCRs but not TVs. What I don't understand is why it shows up on my computer when trying to copy with MMC 8. I think this type of macrovision is only on VHS tapes. This can be defeated by running the signal through a box (clarifier) first but the one I have (Sima Model SCC) puts out a weakend signal which is jumpy and can't be copied much of the time!

#2 Refuse to copy macrovision - Some kind of signal is on the DVD, VHS tapes or even some TV shows that informs compliant video cards and VCRS that they are not allowed to copy this material. This will not work on older cards and VCR's or on newer ones that have been hacked. I think all of the Hacks on the internet apply to this form of macrovision but do not addresss the Bright/Dim form.

#3 Freeze Frame macrovison (same as above but found on early ATI cards according to Foo) - When you try to copy a source that has this form of protection you get a few seconds of video and then the same frame repeats over and over again. I've seen this but I'm not sure where it is used or if the hacks work on it.

#4 Color Burst macrovision (Added after Foo's next post) - Quoting Lordsmurf in later post "Pick up KICKBOXER on VHS, the movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme. The tape has it (at least mine does). If I can find mine, I'll post image. It screws with both color and brightness (on a VCR)."

Ok, That's a rought start. The hacks have beat #2 on my ATI AIW Radeon 7500 card and I don't seem to have #3 problem but I still have #1. I didn't think video cards had automatic gain circuitry so I don't understand this. If you guys can correct or add to my quicky macrovison list please please do.

[Dude_Son]

JFVAN

I tried it but I had no luck. thanks for trying though... anyone else have any ideas?

still trying to find somethin

[FOO]

#2 & #3 above are the same.
The capture chip is detecting the false (early) horizontal sync signals
and reporting it to the software. Old ATI software just did the freeze
frame thing. Newer software simply puts up a message box and refuses to
capture. The original purpose was to screw up the VCR head/Drum phase lock

Another MV trick (#1) is to increase the video brightness on about 5 lines
just before display time (line 21) . This causes the AGC to reduce the
video gain for the next lines, and make it look dark. This is not detected
by the software, it works without help.

There is also another one that screws with the color burst signal. I don't
have scope pictures of that one. (yet)

I know that Brooktree chips could ignore all of it if the software wanted to.
I have insufficient info on the ATI chips.

[lordsmurf]

There is also another one that screws with the color burst signal. I don't have scope pictures of that one. (yet)

Pick up KICKBOXER on VHS, the movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme. The tape has it (at least mine does). If I can find mine, I'll post image. It screws with both color and brightness (on a VCR).

[kevinp]

I used to have an ATI Rage Fury Pro card, a SIMA Video Copymaster Model SED-CM, and used the DisableATIMacrovisionDetection.exe and everything worked fine. I use that computer (my secondary one) to play games once in a blue moon when a friend comes over. The Rage Fury Pro is too old to play the latest games, so I bought an All-In-Wonder 9600 Pro for Christmas and put it in tonight. I can't get rid of the MV no matter what I try. I use a Ulead program to capture and I end up with a green screen with a couple lines at the top.

My question is, if I spend $$$ on a better TBC will it get rid of the MV? If so, which ones are recommended?

[lordsmurf]

Yes. I like the DataVideo TBC-1000.

[Dude_Son]

Ok Im a lil confused now
if I bought a "Digital Video Stabilizer :RXII" would this take care of my problem? do I even have to use a MV hack at all if I buy this?

[kevinp]

Dude_Son - From what I've been reading on these forums, there's no hack for Macrovision on the newer ATI cards. The only way to avoid the 'green screen' is to buy a TBC that removes MV before it even gets to your capture card. In that case, you wouldn't need the hack (even if the hack would work). The cheapest one that works is the AVT-8710, which is only available from the manufacturer. I did find one other distributor, but there's never any of these on ebay (that I've seen). They go for $180. The next alternative is the one Lordsmurf keeps hootin' about, the TBC-1000. It sells for $300 new and there's always a few of them on ebay for around $250 (not much of a savings for used stuff). I think I'm going to try the AVT-8710, not just because it's cheaper, but it also has a few adjustments like brightness, contrast, etc.

[Dude_Son]

I see, so is a Digital Video Stabilizer RXII a "TBC"??? cause they claim to take away any kind of copyrite.

[kevinp]

What you're talking about goes by several different names and sells for anywhere between $30 and $200 (for the same thing!!). I've read lots of posts where people say they don't work against the newer versions of MV. In my opinion, I wouldn't waste your money on it. If you have the money, go with Lordsmurf's recommendation - that fancy JVR VCR ($270) and the TBC-1000 ($300).

[kevinp]

Think of it more like a filter than a TBC. Do a search of these forums and you will find people that say your device doesn't work on the newest versions of MV. If it doesn't work for only one person, that would be reason enough for me not to buy it, because guarantteed it wouldn't work for me! Your device (or ones exactly like it) sell for as low as $30, while the TBC-1000 sells for $250 used. That should tell you something already.