Copy commercial VHS to DVD not allowed

[Nextstop60]

Hi ~

I want to copy our commercial VHS tapes to DVDs with my new Magnavox ZV427MG9.

However, I keep getting "Error message e-25 this program is not allowed to be recorded".

I've read there is a part that lets you do this, but am confused what I'm suppose to get. Could someone please recommend one?

Or, did I buy the wrong VCR/DVD recorder?

Thanks!

[mike20021969]

Maybe the VHS tapes Macrovision protected...
You need a little "black box" (i.e. macrovision remover/video stabilizer/timebase corrector), but these only work when using separate VHS player and DVD recorder.

[jman98]

This happens all the time and it's why we don't recommend buying VCD/DVD recorder combo units.

Yes, we know that you bought the tape years ago and think you should be able to copy it, but Hollywood disagrees. They have more control than you realize over the electronics manufacturers. Basically, the made them make DVD recorders to be sensitive to Macrovision so that they cannot copy Macrovision protected VHS tapes, which is a large number of commercial VHS tapes. They made them make the VCR/DVD recorder units extra sensitive so that if the least little thing goes wrong with the video on any tape, even one you made yourself of home movies, the DVD recorder will by default freak out and assume that you are copying a Macrovision protected tape and refuse to copy it.

If you want to fix this yourself then you'll have to buy a separate DVD recorder and VCR. Magnavox is the ONLY DVD recorder manufacturer left in the North American marketplace, although there is still some older unopened stock around of units made by few other companies like Toshiba, but they have all stopped making DVD recorders for North America. You will also have to buy one of the devices listed by mike 20021969 and put it between your VCR and the DVD recorder.

[Nextstop60]

Thank you for your replies!

This is more involved than my simple mind expected! So, got more questions --

Can I use a laptop to record the DVD from VHS? If yes, what hardware or software would I need? I gotta figure this out!

Enjoy the summer,
Nextstop60

[redwudz]

If your tapes contain Macrovision, then you still need something to deal with that. After a Macrovision filter, then you need a capture card, capture box or a DVD recorder.

[mike20021969]

then you need a capture card

I have read/"heard", (either here or on Doom9), that some particular brands of capture card can remove macrovision.

Someone may be able to shed some light as to the brand/model number. (I use a black box myself).

[DB83]

then you need a capture card

I have read/"heard", (either here or on Doom9), that some particular brands of capture card can remove macrovision.

Someone may be able to shed some light as to the brand/model number. (I use a black box myself).

Never heard of any.

But maybe some confusion with early ADVC 100's which had a 'hidden' feature that allowed this. When Canopus was made aware, they removed it from later models.

[mike20021969]

Canopus was made aware, they removed it from later models.

I'd never have guessed that anytime soon, but the brand sounds familiar now you mention it.
That could be what I was hinting at.

[jagabo]

I have read/"heard", (either here or on Doom9), that some particular brands of capture card can remove macrovision.

Never heard of any.

The old Hauppauge PVR-250 ignored Macrovision and had no problems recording commercial VHS tapes protected with it. That doesn't help the OP though since it's a PCI card. I think the Haupauge HD PVR (original version) ignores Macrovision too.

[vhelp]

the original hdpvr version does ignore one form of macrovision, but not the AGC related macrovision..the (flickering/diming of the brightness levels) is still there unfortunately. a few week ago i did a quick experiement and i found that the advc-100 will pass *also* the agc macrovision fine. however, once mixing the unit with other devices brought it back. it seems that certain things cancel out the function. this same "cancel-out" function is found in other mixing around of signal clarify'er/macrovision remover devices.

[DB83]

Well fook me.

Did I say early that I did not know of any. Thanks to jagabo's tip I just tested a mv protected tape (not Disney) in my ancient hauppuage Wintv PCI and it plays fine.

But as my friend above states, mv comes in several flavours so this card may not work with all.

[jagabo]

I don't have all that many VHS tapes but my Hauppauge HD PVR recorded all that I thought were most likely to have the strongest Macrovision, including a few Disney titles.

[DB83]

I don't have that many VHS either - maybe a 100 or 2 - but most of these are non mv protected. Do not, personally, have any Disney but am curious now to see if this system can handle these.

[jagabo]

As I understand it, most commercial VHS tapes outside the USA are not Macrovision protected. Whereas most commercial VHS tapes in the USA are.

[DB83]

jagabo. You may well be right there. The tape I tested was a 'Universal' release "Under Milk Wood". I went for this one specifically since I did recall that one of my previous capture cards, a Matrox Marvel (a great card since it did PAL60 outa-de-box), spat it out.

A near-neighbour some time back had a large collection of Elvis commercial tapes and these were also mv protected. Did not have the Hauppuage card then.

[ivan_hoe]

I reckon you may be able to find a Canopus unit that does it - I had a Canopus ADVC 300 unit and it had the ability to do this. Put an alert search on eBay, they seem to pop up there every now and then. Might cost a couple of hundred but you can easily re-sell it once you are done. (Note Canopus is now known as Grass Valley so you may need to search under that). [note - just did a quick search and there are a few on there...]

In any event I thought it was well established that making back-up copies of content you have legitimately purchased wasn't breach of copyright.

[DB83]

Well I have a Canopus ADVC 300 and it does NOT do it - I tried when I read the article about the 'hidden' feature. Bit silly to suggest a product that has been changed when a prospective buyer could well get the later model.

[ivan_hoe]

Ok, fair point. I went back and looked at when I bought it. Thought it was in the last 2-3 years so he would have reasonable odds but it was actually 2007. Time flies...

Although if he could figure out when the transition happened he could simply ask the seller the age of the unit...

[DB83]

Well I bought mine NEW in late 2004. Go figure.

[ivan_hoe]

I always suspect that when these manufacturers say "they've removed it" - its just to appease the studio lawyers and its not really gone. Kinda like region control on most DVD players...

As an interesting aside, the studio lawyers lost their test case in Australia trying to enforce region control, so they can't enforce it here anyway. Be curious to confirm if it is valid to make a digital copy of your own legitimately purchased VHS tape as a backup...

[jagabo]

In any event I thought it was well established that making back-up copies of content you have legitimately purchased wasn't breach of copyright.

Not at all. At least, not in the USA..

[mike20021969]

most commercial VHS tapes outside the USA are not Macrovision protected.

Every VHS I bought in the UK is (e.g. Star Wars trilogy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind etc.).
That's why I got my "black box"