Capturing a VHS to PC for DVD

[devnulllore]

Hi,

I own a VHS of a macrovision protected movie that is currently not available on DVD. Unfortunately I no longer own a VCR. Untill they release it on DVD I would like to copy it to my PC and to a DVD-R. I have a TV in card but the tape is macrovision protected. Is there anyway I can do this?

Thanks,

[guns1inger]

Without a VCR ? Very difficult. Macrovision prevents the 'copy by osmosis' method required when a VCR isn't present.

Assuming you can get a VCR, you still need either a full frame TBC or one of those cheap 'video enhancer' units to sit between the VCR and your video in port to strip out the signal corruption.

[pinetop]

Here are two options:

http://hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html

http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

[lordsmurf]

Here are two options:
http://hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html
http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

Where's the VHS tape slot?

[pinetop]

Here are two options:
http://hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html
http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=MCMProducts&product%5Fid=80%2D4280

Where's the VHS tape slot?

I'm hoping he realizes he'll need a vcr.

[guns1inger]

Unfortunately I no longer own a VCR

Not convinced that he does realise this, yet.

[devnulllore]

Unfortunately I no longer own a VCR

Not convinced that he does realise this, yet.

Of course I realize I need a VCR to copy it. I can borrow one to do the copy but do not own one to watch the film whenever I want. That was the point... lol. Actualy I thought there was some software or driver solution I could use with my DVR software.

[ht0160]

if you own a digital video camara and fire wire in your computer this are the steps
1 hoock up your camera with the computer using the apropiate cables
2 remove the tape from the dv
3 insert the vcr and open the capture software in your pc
3 start recording

[TheFamilyMan]

Actualy I thought there was some software or driver solution I could use with my DVR software.

Some TV/capture cards are forgiving of macrovision and some (most?) aren't. And even if they are, macrovision can still mess up the picture quality. There is no software that can fix/overcome this, but those inline devices can. And BTW, you'll need software to convert, author and burn to DVD your captured movie. The how-to guides are a good place to start.

P.S. You'll soon discover that this conversion for the first-timer is not for the faint of heart or wallet. I hope that film is very dear to you, or you have several others to convert. Good Luck!

[dphirschler]

Both my Hauppauge WinTVand my Pinnacle PCTV Pro card ignore the macrovision. They are both bt878 based cards. I've used the default drivers in the past, but currently I am using the btWinCap wdm driver.


Darryl

[pinetop]

What capture card are planning to use?

You need one that caps in mpeg2.

[Marvingj]

You might be able to find a older vcr which ignores macrovision. If they are still around....??

[classfour]

I have an old Emerson that doesn't have a clue as to what Macrovision is. Unfortunately, it also only has mono out, sucks.

Playback was always good, provided you were fast cranking the tracking knobs in a pinch LOL.

It's fast becoming a classic - still working after 20 years....

[devnulllore]

What capture card are planning to use?

You need one that caps in mpeg2.

ATI TV Wonder Pro. Captures to MPEG2. Very good quality too.

[thecoalman]

Having a VCR to play the tape certainly will help.

What capture card are planning to use?

You need one that caps in mpeg2.

You don't need one that captures in MPEG2, you need one that doesn't care that it has macrovision protection or a TBC, or one of those stabilizers that will remove the signal before it gets to the capture card.

You might be able to find a older vcr which ignores macrovision. If they are still around....??

I'm not completely familiar with it but from my understanding that would only apply to the VCR you are using to copy another tape. The MV is embedded in the video and is passed along no matter what VCR you are using. Also from my understanding this will affect most VCR's. Most can't ignore it, the original MV took advantage of the limitations of the first VCR's. It was later made law that VCR manufacturers couldn't fix these limitations, effectively hobbling them. At least that's my basic understanding of how it works.

Perhaps yours was bought in the interim?