macrovision?

[LostProphet]

What exactly is macrovision. What does it do. How do you get rid of it?

[markadamwood]

Macrovision is built in to virtually all DVD players, it basically stops you recording DVD to VCR.

Some players such as the Cyberhome ADM512 (About UK£100) have the facility to turn it off & thus you can create fantastic VHS copies.

[banjazzer]

How do you get rid of it?

You can use a Mac Master. £21.50 from http://playstationmods.com/dvd.htm 8)

[wingman]

i have just looked at that site, now i have just bought the alba dvd 108 player and i have this pal/ntsc button on the remote control..does this mean i can turn macrovision off and on when i feel like then?

Wingman.

[banjazzer]

The PAL/NTSC button is unconnected with Macrovision. Basically you will not be able to copy to VCR any disc with Macrovision protection. This means all PAL discs. I'm not sure about NTSC.

[Gargoyle]

Banjazzer is correct - the 'PAL/NTSC' button has nothing to do with Macrovision; it doesn't matter if the DVD is PAL/NTSC/SECAM, etc., if it is encoded with macrovision protection, you won't be able to record it to a VCR.
What one version of Macrovision does is insert a high amplitude "pulse" to the video output; the VCR detects this high-level pulse, and decreases the recording gain to almost nothing, so the recorded video is very dark/grainy. There is another version that messes with the video sync; this will cause horizontal instability and distorted /garbled colors.
The only ways to get rid of Macrovision are:
Upgrade your DVD players' firmware to a "hacked" version that disables the macrovision signal - but not all players can be upgraded - see the "DVD Players" section.
Or purchase a "Macrovision removal" device (search the web; you'll find several), and put that in-line between your DVD plater and VCR.
Finally, you can Rip the DVD to your HD using something like SmartRipper, which has a feature to disable macrovision, then re-encode it to VCD/SVCD (or DVD, if you have a DVD burner)