Tony Pendrey

I recently started to transfer some of my VHS tapes to DVD using a Liteon recorder. Some of these have the Macrovision protection signal and the DVD recorder will not allow these to record. I know that there is a software "hack" for my machine which will remove the MV block. What I want to know is, where do I stand legally on this ? Bearing in mind that the tapes are the original commercial releases, and the DVD copies are for my own use.

Cheers

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

ChristineCB

I use ATI capture cards and their included software, as well as Nero 6 and 7, and the Pinnacle software, all of which observe this Macrovision stuff. I keep thinking I'll scour the P2P networks and see if I can locate a DVD SHRINK-like package, but I've also wondered if the capture-cards might have something in their ROM that observed this, too, making it a hardware issue as well.

I'm glad the Universal Monster Classics came out on DVD so this issue has become moot for me, but there are still so many commercial videotapes that don't have DVD equivalents.

I'll be watching this thread with great hope.

sheriff_bart

Thre is another way round this problem.
find yourself an old top loader video recorder that still works.
these don't recognise the macrovision signal and will transfer your tapes to dvd.
discounting this you could always buy one of these

Vice1000 - Multi Region DVD Hack Code

hope this helps

rjd0309

Macrovision works by messing with the sync pulses at the start of each horizontal scan line. Just buy yourself a video stabilizer unit that generates its own sync and colorburst signals, and pass your VCR's output thru the stabilizer on its way to your DVR.

If you've just got a few tapes, I can transfer them for you. Send PM to discuss.

Cheers.

JamesM

If you are making copies of your own VHS tapes as a back up, you are quite in your right to do so. In France, I seem to remember trhat some anti-copying device was outlawed because it prevented the right to make such copies.

Tony Pendrey

Yes, I had it confirmed today that, in the UK at least, simply because there is a copy protection system, does not mean that I cannot legally make backups of my own tapes.

I went ahead anyway and applied the software patch. It has removed the Macrovision protection, set the machine to region free, but best of all, has provided an additional option in the menu to record a 3 hour session.

Anyone who has a Liteon 5001 would be well advised to update their machine.

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

Pip

Following on from the hints here (thanks!!!), I am well chuffed to have downloaded and very easily applied a macrovision hack to my Lite-On 5006 (also does the region-free at the same time, although I didn't need that as I already had the code entered to do this). This will save a lot of time previously spent reprocessing through Decrypter and Shrink - now just run the disc real-time and come back near the end to stop the burn on time. And MV'ed VHS tapes just run to disc without a hitch. Brilliant!

image45

Aslong as you retain the original VHS tapes and only use the DVD versions to watch/ as a backup then most say 'Fine'. Its only when you go down the path of ebaying your originals then you are been 'naughty'

Many sites offer scart leads that have "Timebase" correction chips in them that deactive the Macrovision protection signal so allow backups to be made still.

"Seya next time!"