Backing up VHS to DVD - Problem with Macrovision?

[lmdjc]

Hi,

I have done searches on this question and haven't come up with an exact answer to my question, so hopefully someone can help me.

I am looking into buying a DVD Recorder (looking at the Panasonics - maybe the E50?). I want to be able to make DVD copies of a bunch of my old VHS tapes (I'm doing this for personal use - would prefer to have everything on DVD but I have some tapes that will never be released onto DVD - exercise videos etc) but I've heard that Macrovision, which seems to have been used on many of my tapes, would prevent me from making the DVDS.

Someone suggested to me that if you use an older model VCR (I have one from 1994, if you can believe that!), it doesn't read Macrovision and that the recording will work. But I'm thinking that it's the DVD recorder that is the problem, not the VCR...

Any advice on whether or not this will work? I really don't know if I can justify the expense of the recorder if I can't utilize it to at least move everything over to DVD.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Lisa

[indolikaa]

Macrovision is an artificial glitch inserted into the video signal.

If you recorded programs onto blank tape, there won't be any Macrovision issues. If the tapes are pre-recorded, however, there could be Macrovision issues. Even on exercise videos.

Although I can't speak from experience, the DVD recorder will likely detect any Macrovision signal and you'll get a 'Copy Inhibit' warning on the machine. Just a nice little circuit to keep all of us honest consumers from copying DVD and VHS movies without proper respect for royalties and such, you understand.

VCRs that will ignore Macrovision are rare. You can use an actual Time-Base Corrector to remove the Macrovision signal (DataVideo TBC-1000) or you can use some of the 'Copyguard Remover/Color Corrector' boxes made by SIMA, among others.

Rumor has it that the Panasonic -E50 has a TBC. Whether it would defeat Macrovision signals coming through the Line Inputs I don't know, but that would kind of be unHollywood-like, methinks.

[lmdjc]

Thank you - I'll do some more research on that Panasonic model and take a look at the other items you mentioned.

Lisa

[ZzeusS]

Hi,

I have done searches on this question and haven't come up with an exact answer to my question, so hopefully someone can help me.

I am looking into buying a DVD Recorder (looking at the Panasonics - maybe the E50?). I want to be able to make DVD copies of a bunch of my old VHS tapes (I'm doing this for personal use - would prefer to have everything on DVD but I have some tapes that will never be released onto DVD - exercise videos etc) but I've heard that Macrovision, which seems to have been used on many of my tapes, would prevent me from making the DVDS.

Someone suggested to me that if you use an older model VCR (I have one from 1994, if you can believe that!), it doesn't read Macrovision and that the recording will work. But I'm thinking that it's the DVD recorder that is the problem, not the VCR...

Any advice on whether or not this will work? I really don't know if I can justify the expense of the recorder if I can't utilize it to at least move everything over to DVD.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Lisa

I know it's not the least expensive solution in the world, but I use a Sony Digital8 camcoder hooked up to the VCR in passthrough mode.

I start playing the tape, then start using Adobe Premire to capture the stream. When the tape is done I chop out the dead space and edit a little bit, then export to mpeg2. Then I use Ulead's movie studio to master a DVD.