SANSUI DVD 4005 Combo recorder

[bradley149]

I have had problems using the dubbing feature with the Sansui VRDVD4005 DVD Recorder(VHS to DVD) where I am using my own camcorder VHS recordings (no copyright) and receive the error message C254-Cannot Copy Data. I know what the manual says, but the source tape is not copyrighted! On one occasion, the error message was received about 30 minutes into the recording, and on other occasions the error is received very quickly after starting the dubbing. Of course, the recording stops automatically when the error is received. I am using DVD-R in the Video mode. I have made successfull dubbings on older tv shows and movies. If anyone has had similar problems or suggestions to help, it would be appreciated.

[jaybyrd32]

It's a good recorder but it won't do copy protected VHS tapes. I am trying to back up my VHS movie collection and the ones with copy protection won't back up. All the ones without copy protection record great.I am using a standalone VHS player and a FacetVideo Clarifier and the tapes will record for about 5 min. or so then freeze and stop recording. I'm thinking about getting a TBC and trying that. If the TBC won't work with my Sansui I can use it with my ATI AIW Card.

I don't think any commercial standalone DVD Recorder will copy copy-protected tapes. I think for legal reasons they have to do that.

To copy copy-protected tapes and DVDs, you have to use a computer DVD burner, and software that is capable of defeating the copy protection. (You can find info about that on this site.)

The Daytek dvr-p30 has a simple macrovision turn off menu with a simple remote control code hack. I have backed up my entire VHS collection, and copied countless DVD's from my other player.

[me]

It's a good recorder but it won't do copy protected VHS tapes. I am trying to back up my VHS movie collection and the ones with copy protection won't back up. All the ones without copy protection record great.I am using a standalone VHS player and a FacetVideo Clarifier and the tapes will record for about 5 min. or so then freeze and stop recording. I'm thinking about getting a TBC and trying that. If the TBC won't work with my Sansui I can use it with my ATI AIW Card.

I don't think any commercial standalone DVD Recorder will copy copy-protected tapes. I think for legal reasons they have to do that.

To copy copy-protected tapes and DVDs, you have to use a computer DVD burner, and software that is capable of defeating the copy protection. (You can find info about that on this site.)

The Daytek dvr-p30 has a simple macrovision turn off menu with a simple remote control code hack. I have backed up my entire VHS collection, and copied countless DVD's from my other player.

What some people do not seem to be getting is that the device we are talking about in this thread (Sansui DVD4005) is a DVDR-VCR combo. Therefore, there is no way to put another device (one of those illegal copyguard defeaters you can buy on the Internet) in between the DVDR and VCR, because they are in the same box.

However, I have read some posts on this board in which people say that some DVDRs have a secret unofficial way to turn off the copyguard protection. (Which of course the company would never admit to, as they legally are required to have that protection. But they know their product would sell better without it.) If anyone knows a way to do that with this unit, please tell us. But there is no reason (in this thread) to keep writing about these other devices that go in between the playback and recording units. (I wonder if some of these people writing about them are people who sell them, and that's why they keep writing about them, ignoring that it doesn't fit with this thread.)

Unless one finds a way to turn off the copy protection in the unit itself, buying one of these combo recorders is probably not the best idea for someone whose main usage is to copy copy-protected tapes.

[hudsonf]

You can't hook a TBC or Clarifier between the vcr and dvd burner but You can use a stand alone vcr. I haven't tried the RedPro, When I get some extra $$$ maybe I'll give it a try.

[me]

You can't hook a TBC or Clarifier between the vcr and dvd burner but You can use a stand alone vcr. I haven't tried the RedPro, When I get some extra $$$ maybe I'll give it a try.

True, but then why buy a combo unit, if you are going to have to hook up a separate VCR to it, as well as the other device?

Therefore, if one's main usage for such a unit is to copy copy-protected tapes, and if one cannot find a way to defeat the copy-protection on the unit (again--if anyone knows how to do it on this Sansui unit, please post the info), it would make more sense for someone to buy a separate DVD recorder and VCR, and one of those "clarifying" units you speak of.

That's why I said it's quite off-topic for people to keep posting about these "clarifying" (anti copy-protection) devices, that go in between the playback and recording units, in a thread about a unit where both units are in one box. I really don't understand why people keep posting about such devices in this thread, that's why I wondered if they perhaps might have a financial interest in mentioning those devices as much as possible in any thread. They are really not relevant to this thread.

[hudsonf]

I went with a combo drive because I have a lot of old VHS tapes and I thought it would be better for copying them. It does a great job on the ones that don't have macro-vision. I was having trouble with copying old VHS tapes with my ATI AIW Card. I would get a lot of dropped frames because of the Quality of the tapes. So far I'm happy with my Sansui and would recommend it to anyone who wants to backup non protected tapes and record tv shows for viewing later. Even though the ATI AIW Card captures good I don't like the fact it uses a lot of cpu power so I can't use the computer while capturing. That's the main reason I wanted a stand alone recorder. As I mentioned earlier the Sansui does play DVD+ disc. I thought I had a DVD+RW disc and was going to see if it would play it but I only have DVD-RW disc. I'm going to buy a DVD+RW and see if it will play it and let you know if it works..

[Hunterider]

Is there a particular brand and/or speed that works best with the Sansui 4005? I've read the Memorex are not always reliable.

[hudsonf]

To Hunterider; When I purchased my Sansui I bought a 3 pack of the Memorex dvd-rw's and only 2 of the 3 were usable. I bought a 10 pack of the Sony dvd-rw's and the 4 that I have tried worked perfectly. I agree with me I would like to find a macro-vision hack for the Sansui unit itself. I have found out the Sansui is very sensitive, the least little signal flaw and it will intrepid it as Macro-vision and stop recording. The one thing I wish it had is a hard-drive. I never thought about it when I bought it but there have been a few tv show marathons lately and a hard-drive would have been nice.

[kimmy37872]

I bought one of these units from e-bay. It seems to play VHS great, and DVD. When I try to copy from TV to DVD. It will not copy. Although it shows the title menu it created, there is nothing on the DVD. I used Maxwell DVD-R. Please help. What am I doing Wrong????????

[Wingpal]

I use the heck out of unit and love it. First thing being you are using a dvd-r that will be a one time recording. You need to go to setup, record setup, and select the initial record DVD or VCR, then scroll down and set the rec mode then push return. Next you need to select system setup, then scroll to disc setup, from there make sure new disc format is in video so you can play your dvd on other players then hit return till your out of the menu. After your recording is over you need to go back to setup, disc setup and select finalize to watch the dvd. A DVD-RW you will be able to use over and over but you will need to go to setup and re-format the disc...Hope this helps you and I would reconmend you get a owners manuel if don't have none. When you put a NEW DVD-R in your Sansui it will prompt you to prepare the disc for use.

[kimmy37872]

I went and bought some Memorex DVD-RW yesterday and it recorded and was able to play just fine. I Guess it may have been the DvD-R that I bought. I am wanting to put alot of VHS movies on DVD. So maybe I have figured it out. Thank you so much for your reply.