Looking for "Easy" recorder for VHS to DVD

[oldandinthe way]

I and others on various forums were unable to copy Lite-On disks with DVDShrink and Nero with older firmware. DVDShrink would crash, and Nero would hang. Happended with DVD+R and DVD-R media. Upgraded firmware fixed it.

The hacks provide the additional recording times and region-free operation when applied to the latest firmware they just don't ignore Macrovision.

[otpw1]

oldandintheway said:
I and others on various forums were unable to copy Lite-On disks with DVDShrink and Nero with older firmware. DVDShrink would crash, and Nero would hang. Happended with DVD+R and DVD-R media. Upgraded firmware fixed it.

There are some guides on this site about this problem. The workarounds are very simple.
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1461882#1461882

[shakabrah]

Please note that even cable/satellite TV can now have copy protection on some channels so the Clarifier SX will also work for such sources (you will need to use a cable/satellite box as the source). So a better choice might be the Clarifier LX as it is only a bit more than the SX but the LX adds 3 inputs. This is nice as you can hook the VHS VCR to it and the cable/satellite TV box and then use the single output of the LX to go to the DVD recorder. This way the box selects the source (VHS or cable/satellite TV) and you don't have to swap cables (the SX only has one input).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

You seem to be referring to the "Broadcast Flag." This has been discussed in several other threads, but I wasn't sure if the device you mention -- or any other such device -- was capable of defeating this specifically. If correct, that's good to know.

Some posters seemed to be reporting that the BF was being mandated more and more by different subscription channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.), pre-empting this decision on the part of particular cable/satellite providers. I'd say that cannot be true -- Yet -- because I have never been blocked from recording any movie or program I wished to record. It must still be up to the particular cable or satellite provider as to whether or not the BF is being transmitted.

But I tell you this: I'm paying upwards of $90./month for an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink digital cable package, and the day they tell me I can't record whatever I wish, to watch it whenever happens to be convenient, is the day I cancel their service.

To the best of my knowledge ... the FacetVideo Clarifier SX and the FacetVideo Clarifier LX both defeat the "broadcast flag" ... however ... I am not 100% on that.

The Clarifier LX seems like a nice unit as it has 3 inputs and 1 output. So far I've had no issues with the "broadcast flag" even when recording stuff that should be flagged (like HBO ON DEMAND). When the day comes that I need a "broadcast flag" busting device then I can see myself getting the Clarifier LX as the multiple inputs will come in handy as I can also use it for my VCR without switching cables.

One device I know for sure that will defeat ALL forms of copy protection ... including the "broadcast flag" ... is a TBC (Time Base Corrector). Unfortunately not that cheap of a thing to buy. I bought one used on eBay once for just under $100.00 and it turned out to have "issues" and was not usable. I got burned

The cheapest TBC is the AVT-8710 which goes for about $190 US Dollars. The next cheapest is the DataVideo TBC-1000 which goes for about $300 US Dollars. After that the price jumps up to around the $1,000 US Dollar mark (and beyond) for the more "professional" models.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

The original Clarifier will not work with the broadcast flag. I have it and am not able to record digital HBO sports with a Toshiba DR 4. I don't know if the newer Clarifiers will work either.

[FulciLives]

The original Clarifier will not work with the broadcast flag. I have it and am not able to record digital HBO sports with a Toshiba DR 4. I don't know if the newer Clarifiers will work either.

This is straight from the website of the company that makes the Clarifier units:

Removes all forms of Macrovision and CGMS/A copy protection systems.

Now I do NOT have one of these units BUT if it can defeat Macrovision and CGMS/A then it is filtering the same "region" of the video signal that contains the "broadcast flag" and therefore theoretically should be removing it.

But if it isn't working for you then that is bad news as I guess it doesn't filter out the "broadcast flag" although that doesn't make much sense.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[bevills1]

I've had a LiteOn LVW-5005 about 3 years and never had any jitter problem. About a month ago I modified firmware to Macrovision free. To copy LiteOn disks I simply use DVDDecrypter ISO read to copy to hard drive and ISO write to write to blank disk which has never failed to work. Nero image recorder may be used for same task with identical results. I also have DVD burner on PC set to DVD-ROM booktype for +R media to insure player compatibility. On CDFreaks I read some 5005 users had problems with 16x meida on LiteOn and fixed that problem by updating to latest official LiteOn firmware and then down grading to Macrovision free firmware which remedied the 16x problem and regained Macrovision free advantage. I did same with mine just in case I get any 16x media which I've not yet done. Most recently I order 2 more 5005s from NewEgg, and both hacked successfully to Macrovision free.

[shakabrah]

The original Clarifier will not work with the broadcast flag. I have it and am not able to record digital HBO sports with a Toshiba DR 4. I don't know if the newer Clarifiers will work either.

This is straight from the website of the company that makes the Clarifier units:

Removes all forms of Macrovision and CGMS/A copy protection systems.

Now I do NOT have one of these units BUT if it can defeat Macrovision and CGMS/A then it is filtering the same "region" of the video signal that contains the "broadcast flag" and therefore theoretically should be removing it.

But if it isn't working for you then that is bad news as I guess it doesn't filter out the "broadcast flag" although that doesn't make much sense.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

You know, I'm starting to think that it was probably the Toshiba and not so much the Clarifier. Prior to the Toshiba I had it paired up with an APEX 9000. I had no problems recording anything. As soon as I hooked it up to the Toshiba I could not record HBO sports.