Shawn Lin wrote:
This won't work with most VCR's due to Macrovision. This is analog copy
protection that hides in the blanking signal, most TV's are immune to
it. However, it causes a constant light/dark transition of the picture,
> geometry distortion, and color distortion through most VCR's.
> Basically, it makes the movie unwatchable. Macrovision was designed to
> prevent copying of commercial videos (VHS and DVD) to an analog VCR.
> Since Macrovision is generated by the Video DAC in the DVD player, there
> are hacks out there for many DVD players. In fact, that's why Apex DVD
> players are so popular... they're built around a computer DVD-ROM drive
> so they're relatively easy to hack.
>
Shawn,
That's what you would think and if you tried to copy the DVD to a VHS tape you
couldn't. But I had no problem doing this up to a few weeks ago when I purchased
a new Flat screen Toshiba TV/VCR combo with extra video inputs. I took the video
out of the DVD player and plugged it into the video in of the VCR. The I used the
RF out to the TV without any problems.
I think that all it is doing is converting the composite video to RF. I don't
think that the Macrovision kicks in unless you try to record. The VCR was a cheap
off brand made by Phillips that was only a few months old. It was a Hi Fi Stereo
but Wal Mart (I guess I'm spending way too much time in that place-in another few
years your going to see me like those senile people in their ads roaming aimlessly
around) was selling the ones they had left from Black Friday, for $59.
I didn't try recording, but I'm sure it would NOT work. But it was no problem
going through the RF out. I thought that Macrovision had something to do with
messing up the signal when you tried to record. As long as you don't involve the
recording section I don't think it affects it.
If what you mentioned were true and it didn't matter whether you were recording or
just playing it back, you would not be able to watch the DVD on anything using an
analog video input. So I don't think that is is the DAC that causes the problem.
This is what it says on the Macrovision web site:
"The DVD copy protection process is activated during DVD
authoring, and is transparent to the picture on original disc
playback. However, when individuals attempt to make a
copy on a VCR, the technology is designed to distort the
unauthorized copy to such an extent that the copy will
generally have no entertainment value."
I think the key phrase here is copy. The process does not affect the signal if it
is simply passed through.
It's interesting that they also claim on the website that if you copy an
unprotected DVD you can make a commercial grade VHS tape. Somehow I just feel
that unless you have a very high end VCR, the copy isn't going to be
"commercial-quality" as Macrovision claims.
I have an Apex DVD player. Unfortunately, it was made just after the so called
"loophole menu" was eliminated. There is a guy who will sell you the chip to
restore it. But the Apex is not that great a DVD player. I notice a lot of sync
problems with the audio, so I'm afraid that buying a chip that will restore it to
the "original" version might even make it worse.
Anyway, once you've watched DVDs, why would you want to make VHS copies? Unless
your nuts, your not going to sell them. What could you do, sell bootleg copies of
new releases for $4 each? So you made maybe $3 on a tape. Where are you going to
do this out of the back of a truck?
It would be like counterfeiting $1 bills. Really stupid.
The DVD drive in the Apex is actually a DVD ROM, that's how they are able to read
MP3 files. But without the rest of the computer, you still can't use it to play
DVD ROM games.
Larry
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