VHS Capturing - software solutions to macrovision?

[pglenn]

I am trying to backup/convert VHS tapes to disk and/or to DVD and have encountered a few that have macrovision. ATI itself will not copy them ("copy protected" warning), VideoDub records in very poor quality, and I have tried installing the "hacks" from lordsmurf site without any real effect.

As I dont have very many to convert, I would prefer a software solution to removing the macrovision. Too much cost in a hardware solution and I am better off in "re-investing" in the DVD anyways.

Patrick

win xp-pro
AMD 1.8gig
1gig ram
ATI AIW-9800-pro

[Matt D]

Hopefully this will be of use to you.

http://www.biline.ca/ati_macrovision.htm

[Fos]

that doesnt work with the newest ati . At least with my 9200 it doesnt work! (dont install anything driver)

[pglenn]

so, that seems to work by turning off the "cant record" option if I am correct, leaving remnants of the macrovision distortion. but is there anything "software" that will actually turn off the effects of the macrovision?

It seems like this should be possible, as the ATI card (aiw-9800-pro) will actually allow me to WATCH the movie perfect, just not record it.

Patrick

[Fos]

perfect? i dont think so... you will see a white band at the top , isnt?

[pglenn]

actually not at my home PC, there may have been the white band at top but not 100% sure. anyways "perfect" is relative as the WATCH version is rather good and the RECORD version is quite bad. must be a way to make the RECORD'ed version as good as the WATCH'ed version?

[brianwrx]

Bump.

I just ran into this problem. My wife does her Tae Bo videos alot and they are on VHS. Now that I have this great TV wonder pro, I thought it would be better to back them up to DVD so they won't wear out. And then I ran into Macrovision...

I may just have to record it through the input on my DV camcorder. No macrovision protection there AFAIK.

[thecoalman]

I may just have to record it through the input on my DV camcorder. No macrovision protection there AFAIK.

Depends, most devices that can record or convert analog video have MV detection in some form.

[brianwrx]

You are correct, my camcorder stop recording after it detected macrovision.

I did find a very simple way to bypass MV protection within ATi's MMC software though....

1) Insert VHS tape with Macrovision, hit play, then rewind or fast forward.
2) Start capturing with MMC
3) Stop FF or RW and play the VHS normally
4) MMC will bring up a pop-up window saying copyprotected material, MMC will stop recording now, blah blah blah.
5) Simply do not hit the OK button and MMC will continue to capture
6) Hit the OK button when you want to stop

There are 2 or 3 horizontal lines of white/distortion at the bottom of the capture, but other than that it came out perfect.

Biline is going to kick himself when he finds out this method. Its so easy compared to all the crap he went through to bypass macrovision. No special drivers, no downrev version of the software (until they read this post and fix it), no external signal conditioner.

[thecoalman]

Well having had a lot of experience with the ATI card I find it hard to believe. You don't have any flashing, no whit band across the top, skipping frames..... you are viewing the captured footage and not referring to the preview correct? The only thing I see different is the FF or RW, interesting though if it really works.

Edit:.. also note it's been over a year since I've used ATI to capture and it was a AIW.

[brianwrx]

Yes, it is so simple it is hard to believe, but the capture (not the preview) came out great other than the 2 or 3 horz lines of distortion at the bottom of the capture.

Its not the FF or the RW that does anything magic, its just that you start recording before there is any macrovision signal present and then once you start playing the source with MV embedded, MMC does bring up an error, but you just don't hit 'OK' and it keeps recording.

Remember the flashing, whitebands and skipping is just how an analog recording device makes a macrovision copy unwatchable. Capture cards have software to stop the recording when macrovision is detected. This is clearly a hole in the software that continues to record until you hit the OK button. Its no suprise as the rest of ATi's MMC is crappy too.

I fear by posting this, they'll fix the hole though (if they read this).

[thecoalman]

Remember the flashing, whitebands and skipping is just how an analog recording device makes a macrovision copy unwatchable. Capture cards have software to stop the recording when macrovision is detected.

That's exactly what the AIW does though, which card are you using.... www.nepadigital.com/mv/

[brianwrx]

TV Wonder Pro (with Radeon 9800 Pro as the video card)

[SatStorm]

Well.... Why you don't get a cheap second hand bt8xx card and use it with the freeware btwincap drivers, just for those macrovision protected tapes?
I believe a good old Hauppauge win TV Go, cost about 10 / 15$ second hand those days....

[lordsmurf]

the rest of ATi's MMC is crappy too.

Totally disagree. It's one of the few capture softwares out there that does a good job, has many options, and works as stated.

Backing up MV-protected tapes is not written on the box. You are wanting to do something you're "not supposed" to do. This is why TBC's and other methods are required.

Remember ... don't like it? .... vent the anger at MPAA where it belongs.