VHS/DVD Capture Problems

[peterc]

I have two questions kind of concerning the same subject, "Macrovision".

I have searched through all of the forums but haven't really seen the answer that I am looking for. Hopefully someone will be able to help me out.

1. I am using an ATI AIW Radeon 7500 Capture card with a Panasonic VCR attached via composite. I just got the setup therefore I haven't actually ran into a Macrovision problem yet, but I know it is coming. I haven't really begun playing yet. I have heard of boxes and things that can be used to kill the MVision but I am really wanting to know if there is a Software solution to this problem. I have also heard of using an RF converter but that just sounds cheesy, no offense to anyone. I read about some "Stinky" guy that had a hack for the older MMC software but can this help me using MMC 7.7?

2. I was playing around an hooked my Sony DVP-NS400 to my ATI via SVideo output. Well, same problem is occuring, "MVision". I know that there are programs to defeat MVision if you have an internal DVD Rom, such as SmartRipper, but I suspect there is nothing that can be done in my setup using a standalone DVD Player. Am I correct in this though?

Help on either of these issues would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[peterc]

60 Views and not a single reply.

Come on people. I need help

Any info is great.

Thank you

[gf]

http://members.fortunecity.com/finkenzeller/page7.html

[peterc]

Thanks GF but that didn't seem to do anything. When I capture from my standalone DVD Player, it still is either a big green screen or a twitchy repeating movement of one frame.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks so much.

[bolta]

PeterC,

Whywould you want to capture FROM a dvd player TO a capture card? It would far cheaper and less hassle to buy a DVD-ROM drive for your computer, and then use any of the tools available under "Tools" on the left of the screen here to do your ripping for you.

As far as VCR-to-PC recording goes, have a look at my pc specs - I've never had a problem with Macrovision-like protection on video tapes, and (again) anything on tape I want to rip is generally available on DVD anyway. About the only thing I rip and convert from tape now are old VHS children's movies and cartoons

Cheers,

B.

[oldfart13]

Hmmm...and I have a list of 900 movies not coming out on DVD anytime soon...

But seriously, I use the Macrovision hack for the ATI Multimedia Center 7.6 and it works great on my ATI All In Wonder 7500. I'm under Win 98SE so your OS might be a problem. Look in the Tools menu for the hack...

[peterc]

Oldfart13:

Which one are you talking about? I looked in the Tools section and didn't find anything. I found the registry editor, is that what you are refering to?

I have tried the "DisableATIMacrovisionDetection.zip" hack, found in several places on the net but this hasn't worked either. This may not be working because I have updated to the latest ATI software. You rekon if I backed down to some older software that I may have a little more luck with these patches?

My current MMC is 7.7.

I am having so much trouble with this ATI stuff, "the constant lockups and reboots", that I am on the edge of just powering off my computer and giving up. I read on www.rage3d.com and this lockup problem is widespread.

I have been a Network/System Administrator for about 4 years and if ATI cant make products that we can follow, I really feel for the occasional user that don't know how to dig around in the system.

Thanks

[Bizuser]

I agree with several other posters that you should not even think about trying to copy a DVD using capture cards. Buy a DVD drive, download free software, and do it that way.

But if you really, really feel it's the right thing to do .... then another approach is to buy one of the many 'hackable' DVD players on the market. Goto www.nerd-out.com and read all about the numerous APEX players you can buy, all less than $100, that have a remote-control key code you enter, which magically disables macrovision. It also disables region coding so you can play DVDs from other countries. I've previously bought the Apex 3201 and the Apex 1500D, both have this feature. There are lots of others.

I can't imagine why you would run into a problem copying a VHS tape, though - is macrovision used to encode VHS tapes also? With studio-produced VHS tapes costing around $5 these days (costco, etc) I can't imagine wasting my time copying one.

[oldfart13]

*Peterc* Yes, Stinky's Registry Tool supposedly works on 7.7 as well. I do know it works great on 7.6. DVDs use Macrovision as well as CCS. VHS tapes use Macrovision. Beta tapes and Laser Discs did not have copy protection which is why I still buy them when I find old movies I want to copy. DVD players that disable macrovision/CCS are starting to become rare now that pressure is being put on manufacturers. You might have to do some surgery on your DVD player to make it "vcr friendly" these days. My old Apex players (thankfully) were easy to do. The newer ones are much harder...

[oldfart13]

*Bizuser* Well, though a lot of things are getting re-released a lot of stuff seems to be in re-release limbo. I sell old tapes on Ebay and have a running list of over 900 movies that go for $30US+ each on Ebay and aren't coming out on tape or DVD anytime soon. Of course, to copy these to DVD requires a DVD burner at $600 CAD which I can't afford right now. Maybe when the standalone DVD recorders come down a bit I'll look at those. Doing quite well with VCDs and SVCDs these days...