Backup Protected VHS Tapes to DVD

[Mark Zak]

I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.

Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

[Mark Zak]

Following on my earlier message, the tapes are old and I doubt they are copy
protected. When played from VCR direct to TV, the picture is perfect. When
recording to DVD Recorder, the recorded picture is distorted with a black
band at the botton. I have borrowed my friends Panasonic DMR-ES30V DVD
Recorder (Dual VHS and DVD) but it dispalyed a message to the effect that
the source is copy protected.

Once again, your help would be greatly appreciated
Mark Zak

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

[Atropos]

Post by Mark Zak
Following on my earlier message, the tapes are old and I doubt they are
copy protected. When played from VCR direct to TV, the picture is perfect.
When recording to DVD Recorder, the recorded picture is distorted with a
black band at the botton. I have borrowed my friends Panasonic DMR-ES30V
DVD Recorder (Dual VHS and DVD) but it dispalyed a message to the effect
that the source is copy protected.
Once again, your help would be greatly appreciated
Mark Zak

Macrovision protected I suspect.

You need to either
a) Find a hacked firmware or method to turn off Macrovision within your DVD
Recorder.
b) Obtain a macrovision defeating hardware that effectively connects between
your VCR and DVR units.

Technically it isn't illegal, as you own the original VHS tapes.

[GMAN]

Post by Atropos

Post by Mark Zak
Following on my earlier message, the tapes are old and I doubt they are
copy protected. When played from VCR direct to TV, the picture is perfect.
When recording to DVD Recorder, the recorded picture is distorted with a
black band at the botton. I have borrowed my friends Panasonic DMR-ES30V
DVD Recorder (Dual VHS and DVD) but it dispalyed a message to the effect
that the source is copy protected.
Once again, your help would be greatly appreciated
Mark Zak

Macrovision protected I suspect.
You need to either
a) Find a hacked firmware or method to turn off Macrovision within your DVD
Recorder.
b) Obtain a macrovision defeating hardware that effectively connects between
your VCR and DVR units.
Technically it isn't illegal, as you own the original VHS tapes.

He can use one of those devices, he borrowed a combo unit from a friend and
there is no way to hook the box between the two. Use another vcr as the source
and run it thru the black box then to the DVDR

[GMAN]

Post by GMAN

Post by Atropos

Post by Mark Zak
Following on my earlier message, the tapes are old and I doubt they are
copy protected. When played from VCR direct to TV, the picture is perfect.
When recording to DVD Recorder, the recorded picture is distorted with a
black band at the botton. I have borrowed my friends Panasonic DMR-ES30V
DVD Recorder (Dual VHS and DVD) but it dispalyed a message to the effect
that the source is copy protected.
Once again, your help would be greatly appreciated
Mark Zak

Macrovision protected I suspect.
You need to either
a) Find a hacked firmware or method to turn off Macrovision within your DVD
Recorder.
b) Obtain a macrovision defeating hardware that effectively connects between
your VCR and DVR units.
Technically it isn't illegal, as you own the original VHS tapes.

He can use one of those devices, he borrowed a combo unit from a friend and
there is no way to hook the box between the two. Use another vcr as the source
and run it thru the black box then to the DVDR

OOps, I meant to say "Can't"

[Merlin]

You will need a TBC or a video capture device that ignores the copy
protection. I've used an ADSTech's DVDXpress unit to do this many times with
great results. It's an external unit that plugs into your USB port and
captures directly to MPEG via hardware encoder. You can pick one up at
Walmart for under $80, or at SamsClub for $60.

Post by Mark Zak
Following on my earlier message, the tapes are old and I doubt they are
copy protected. When played from VCR direct to TV, the picture is perfect.
When recording to DVD Recorder, the recorded picture is distorted with a
black band at the botton. I have borrowed my friends Panasonic DMR-ES30V
DVD Recorder (Dual VHS and DVD) but it dispalyed a message to the effect
that the source is copy protected.
Once again, your help would be greatly appreciated
Mark Zak

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before
damage. I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR
and Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

[Serial # 19781010]

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 13:03:09 GMT, "Mark Zak"

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

Get a so-called video stabilizer between the the VCR and DVR and be
done with it.

30 bucks on Ebay.

[Bob]

Post by Serial # 19781010
Get a so-called video stabilizer between the the VCR and DVR and be
done with it.
30 bucks on Ebay.

What model is that?

[Serial # 19781010]

Post by Bob

Post by Serial # 19781010
Get a so-called video stabilizer between the the VCR and DVR and be
done with it.
30 bucks on Ebay.

What model is that?

Try this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-NEW-IN-BOX-DVS-1_W0QQitemZ5828458990QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is the one I have and it works fine.

[Bob]

Post by Serial # 19781010

Post by Bob

Post by Serial # 19781010
Get a so-called video stabilizer between the the VCR and DVR and be
done with it.
30 bucks on Ebay.

What model is that?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-NEW-IN-BOX-DVS-1_W0QQitemZ5828458990QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is the one I have and it works fine.

Unfortunately it says it is not compatible with ILO units. I have the
DVDR05MU which is made by CyberHome.

However, earlier versions of ILO DVDR04 were not made by CyberHome -
they were made by LiteOn. The newer ILO DVDR05 just came out about 6
months ago, so it could be that the reference to ILO is misdirected
for the new units.

To complicate the matter, ILO markets two units, one designated the ZU
and one the MU. The ZU is made with an older chipset and is
disappearing off the shelves at WalMart. If you ever get an ILO DVDR05
be sure to get the MU unit (look for the serial number on the outside
of the box).

Because the hardware and the firmware of the DVDR05 is radically
different, this adds another indeterminant regarding the usability of
the "digital video stabilizer".

Also, the use of the term "digital video" seems to imply that it won't
work on analog composite video which makes no sense.

Thanks for the reference but this needs to be investigated more
thoroughly. It would help if we knew the manufacturer.

I found the same unit on another site:

http://www.bgsales.com/video-stabilizer/digital-video-stabilizer.html

"Will not work with level 2 color stripe copy protection
but the GO DVD or SCC-2 will. Will NOT work with Toshiba DVD Players!
Will NOT work when going to a Camcorder. Will not work with DVD
Recorders."

Now I am confused.

[Bob]

Post by Serial # 19781010

Post by Bob

Post by Serial # 19781010
Get a so-called video stabilizer between the the VCR and DVR and be
done with it.
30 bucks on Ebay.

What model is that?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-NEW-IN-BOX-DVS-1_W0QQitemZ5828458990QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is the one I have and it works fine.

I did some more research and found a couple of sites worth
investigating if you are in the market for this unit:

http://www.qualitekindustries.com/noname.html

http://www.checkhere22.com/stabilizer.html

http://www.checkhere22.com/stabilizer_tech.html

It turns out I was right about my suspicions that the ILO unit
referenced is the old DVDR04, which is a Lite-On OEM unit.

I also discovered that contrary to my previous post, the unit will
work with most VCRs. It will even work with combos VCR-DVDs if there
are separate video output and input so you can place the unit in
between.

The details are in those websites referenced above. One vendor is
cheaper than Ebay and is willing to back his product, which is
something Ebay sellers are reluctant to do.

Be warned that it appears there are three models: VCR-VCR, VCR-DVD and
DVD-DVD.

[Alpha]

It is called a digital video stabalizer because the box converts the analog
signal to digital information, strips out the appropriate material, then
does a digital to analog and sends the analog out.

[Mike S.]

Post by Alpha
It is called a digital video stabalizer because the box converts the analog
signal to digital information, strips out the appropriate material, then
does a digital to analog and sends the analog out.

It is called a digital video stabilizer because it uses an array of
digital logic chips to locate the Macrovision pulses and clamp them to
zero level.

[Alpha]

Post by Mike S.

Post by Alpha
It is called a digital video stabalizer because the box converts the analog
signal to digital information, strips out the appropriate material, then
does a digital to analog and sends the analog out.

It is called a digital video stabilizer because it uses an array of
digital logic chips to locate the Macrovision pulses and clamp them to
zero level.

I suggest you read the tech information. It is an A/D, strip, D/A process.
This is why there are complaints, at times, that the device is changing the
video.

[Alpha]

Post by Mike S.

Post by Alpha
It is called a digital video stabalizer because the box converts the analog
signal to digital information, strips out the appropriate material, then
does a digital to analog and sends the analog out.

It is called a digital video stabilizer because it uses an array of
digital logic chips to locate the Macrovision pulses and clamp them to
zero level.

PS

I am talking about GoDVD type of device, not the other crap.

[GMAN]

Post by Serial # 19781010

Post by Bob

Post by Serial # 19781010
Get a so-called video stabilizer between the the VCR and DVR and be
done with it.
30 bucks on Ebay.

What model is that?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-NEW-IN-BOX-DVS-1_W0QQitemZ58284589
90QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is the one I have and it works fine.

That ancient peice of crap has been sold on the market for over 20 years! Plus
you never want one that runs off of 9v battery. It can only handle type 1
macrovision and very poorly at that.

Spend a few extra dollars and get a unit like the "Sima CT-2 GoDVD!"

http://www.videoguys.com/sima.htm#godvd

[Bob]

Post by GMAN
Spend a few extra dollars and get a unit like the "Sima CT-2 GoDVD!"

There is no justification for charging $80 for something that costs $5
to manufacture.

[Serial # 19781010]

Post by GMAN

Post by Serial # 19781010
http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-NEW-IN-BOX-DVS-1_W0QQitemZ58284589
90QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is the one I have and it works fine.

That ancient peice of crap has been sold on the market for over 20 years!

No it has not. Yes the same company has been making a similar model
for 20 years. In fact I still have one of those-the RXII. As a matter
of fact there has been at least 3 upgrades since the RXII. Do you
really think a company can't keep up with something as low tech
Macrovision and not upgrade such a simple device over time?

I have used the present model to convert over 80 of my tapes to DVD
and have had one tape I couldn't handle and to this day I'm sure if it
is a question of copy protection or not.

Post by GMAN
Plus
you never want one that runs off of 9v battery.

Perhaps you never want to use a battery but I have no problem with
that. The present battery I have in it is over 3 years old and is
doing fine plus I don't have the hassle of a power supply. If you do
want a wall wart it will accept one.

Post by GMAN
It can only handle type 1
macrovision and very poorly at that.

This from the Macrovison website:

B) PRODUCT / TECHNICAL
B1. What forms of video copy protection does Macrovision provide?
Macrovision currently provides three video copy protection
technologies. Each of these has a separate purpose.

Type 1:
ACP (Analog Copy Protection) – ACP is intended to prevent unauthorized
copying of protected copyright content via an analog input (CVBS, Y/C,
Component) to a recording device such as a VCR, DVD Recorder, or Hard
Drive recorder.

Type 2:
RipGuard DVD™ – This is a digital anti-ripping encryption that
protects against software designed to decrypt and copy DVD’s on
computers.

Type 3:
Hawkeye™ Peer-to-Peer Anti-Piracy Service – Hawkeye inhibits file
sharing of copy protected content over certain computer networks.
^top^

OF COURSE IT ONLY HAS TYPE 1 because that is all you need for the
simple transfer from VHS to DVD. Why make his problem more complicated
than it really is?

Post by GMAN
Spend a few extra dollars and get a unit like the "Sima CT-2 GoDVD!"
http://www.videoguys.com/sima.htm#godvd

Go ahead and spend three time as much if that makes you feel better.

[GMAN]

Post by Serial # 19781010

Post by GMAN

Post by Serial # 19781010
http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-NEW-IN-BOX-DVS-1_W0QQitemZ582845

89

Post by GMAN

Post by Serial # 19781010
90QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is the one I have and it works fine.

That ancient peice of crap has been sold on the market for over 20 years!

No it has not. Yes the same company has been making a similar model
for 20 years. In fact I still have one of those-the RXII. As a matter
of fact there has been at least 3 upgrades since the RXII. Do you
really think a company can't keep up with something as low tech
Macrovision and not upgrade such a simple device over time?

What I am saying is that the little black box puictured on that ebay site is
the same 20 year old design. it cannot handle Macrovision type 2 colorstripe
that is prevailent with DVD's . Hell , the device doesn't even have Y/C
connecters.

So yes, it does a fine job of copying from a VHS tape that has type 1 encoded
macrovision to a dvd recorder, the crap quality you will be getting using
composite video is horrible.

Post by Serial # 19781010
I have used the present model to convert over 80 of my tapes to DVD
and have had one tape I couldn't handle and to this day I'm sure if it
is a question of copy protection or not.

Post by GMAN
Plus
you never want one that runs off of 9v battery.

Perhaps you never want to use a battery but I have no problem with
that. The present battery I have in it is over 3 years old and is
doing fine plus I don't have the hassle of a power supply. If you do
want a wall wart it will accept one.

thats a plus.

Post by Serial # 19781010

Post by GMAN
It can only handle type 1
macrovision and very poorly at that.

B) PRODUCT / TECHNICAL
B1. What forms of video copy protection does Macrovision provide?
Macrovision currently provides three video copy protection
technologies. Each of these has a separate purpose.
ACP (Analog Copy Protection) – ACP is intended to prevent unauthorized
copying of protected copyright content via an analog input (CVBS, Y/C,
Component) to a recording device such as a VCR, DVD Recorder, or Hard
Drive recorder.
RipGuard DVD™ – This is a digital anti-ripping encryption that
protects against software designed to decrypt and copy DVD’s on
computers.
Hawkeye™ Peer-to-Peer Anti-Piracy Service – Hawkeye inhibits file
sharing of copy protected content over certain computer networks.
^top^
OF COURSE IT ONLY HAS TYPE 1 because that is all you need for the
simple transfer from VHS to DVD. Why make his problem more complicated
than it really is?

That is incorrect, there is an analog type 2 that they dont list, its the
"colorstripe" type

Post by Serial # 19781010

Post by GMAN
Spend a few extra dollars and get a unit like the "Sima CT-2 GoDVD!"
http://www.videoguys.com/sima.htm#godvd

Go ahead and spend three time as much if that makes you feel better.

It makes the resultant copy much better quality. Do the job right the first
time, not half assed just to save $40.

[Bob]

Post by GMAN
What I am saying is that the little black box puictured on that ebay site is
the same 20 year old design.

You should know better than to rely on Ebay to decide the state of
technology for an item.

Take a look at these and let us know what you think.

http://www.qualitekindustries.com/noname.html

[GMAN]

Post by Bob

Post by GMAN
What I am saying is that the little black box puictured on that ebay site is
the same 20 year old design.

You should know better than to rely on Ebay to decide the state of
technology for an item.
Take a look at these and let us know what you think.
http://www.qualitekindustries.com/noname.html

Those 3 are all he same composite-only 1980's devices. they can only do Type 1
macrovision period.

Fine for someone with a standard composite only vhs vcr i suppose, but will
not strip the type 2 found on newer tapes and other devices let alone the CGMS
protections found nowadays. The Sima SCC Color Corrector 2 is the one to buy.

[MCheu]

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 13:03:09 GMT, "Mark Zak"

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

If they're not protected, you can simply run a patch cable from the
VCR to the recorder as you would for a VCR-to-VCR copy. There would
obviously be some degradation in the transfer, as it's basically a
digitized analog copy (yeah, sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not).

If they're commercially produced tapes though, they probably are
protected. Even tapes going back as far as the early 80s are
protected by Macrovision ACP (Analog Content Protection). You can
strip off most of the signal and boost the clarity using a "video
enhancer"/Macrovision remover device. However, that's where things
get hairy. Depending on the country you live in, using such a device
or even owning it can be illegal (you can thank the Americans for it
if your country adopted DMCA-like copyright amendments). It's kind of
a catch-22 situation. You can legally make the copy if you bought a
licensed copy. However, to make the copy you have to remove or defeat
the protection. Defeating or removing the protection is illegal. So
while it's legal to make the copy, you can't do it legally.

Further, such devices don't completely remove the signal. It just
tweaks the output enough that it doesn't screw up the picture. That's
fine for a totally analog copy like a VCR-to-VCR dub, but if you
digitize, some of the codecs used in computers and stand alone
recorders look for the non-visible signal cues, and will crap out if
it finds them. There are some capture cards that ignore the signal,
but I can't recommend one. I've no idea which of the current models
do or don't.
---------------------------------------------
Thanks.


MCheu

[howie feltersnatch]

in the uk you can get a scart lead for 15 pounds that disables the
protection.

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

[Mark Zak]

Dear All,

I thank you for your most helpfull and informative comments and inputs from
which I have learned a lot. It seems at this stage the Sima CT2-GoDVD should
resolve my backup issue which I have already purchased and which should be
arriving shortly.

Thank you all once again
Mark Zak

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

[GMAN]

Post by Mark Zak
Dear All,
I thank you for your most helpfull and informative comments and inputs from
which I have learned a lot. It seems at this stage the Sima CT2-GoDVD should
resolve my backup issue which I have already purchased and which should be
arriving shortly.
Thank you all once again
Mark Zak

Very smart decision.

Post by Mark Zak

Post by Mark Zak
I would like to backup two teaching copy protected NTSC VHS tapes to DVD.
The tapes are frequently used at various locations in class rooms often in
old equipment and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before damage.
I trust this is not illegal. I have Panasonic NV-FJ630 Series VCR and
Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD Recorder.
Your advise would be appreciated
Mark Zak

[Bob]

Post by GMAN

Post by Mark Zak
I thank you for your most helpfull and informative comments and inputs from
which I have learned a lot. It seems at this stage the Sima CT2-GoDVD should
resolve my backup issue which I have already purchased and which should be
arriving shortly.

Very smart decision.

And a very expensive one.

I think it would be worthwhile checking the marketplace for less
expensive devices. Sima wants way too much for what it costs to build
their units.

[GMAN]

Post by Bob

Post by GMAN

Post by Mark Zak
I thank you for your most helpfull and informative comments and inputs from
which I have learned a lot. It seems at this stage the Sima CT2-GoDVD should
resolve my backup issue which I have already purchased and which should be
arriving shortly.

Very smart decision.

And a very expensive one.
I think it would be worthwhile checking the marketplace for less
expensive devices. Sima wants way too much for what it costs to build
their units.

To many, buying a decent device and doing the job right the first time is more
important than buying a cheap unit and getting crappy results. The fact that
the GoDVD has Y/C connectors is a very good reason to buy that unit over the
elcheapo 1980's unit.

[Bob]

Post by GMAN
To many, buying a decent device and doing the job right the first time is more
important than buying a cheap unit and getting crappy results. The fact that
the GoDVD has Y/C connectors is a very good reason to buy that unit over the
elcheapo 1980's unit.

I have to agree with you. Buying crap is never a good deal.

Fortunately I do not have any VHS tapes to copy, so I will not be
investing in a Sima.