| Author |
Thread: Archive through June 12, 2006 |
    
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 16
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:33 pm: |
|
Has anyone heard or read any reviews on the GoDVD stabilizer ($99.95)? http://www.studio1productions.com/copymaster.htm
Naturaly, their write up makes it the best thing since sliced bread, would like to know if anyone here has had any experience with it. |
|
Relevant Product Info
|
|
New member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 7
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:18 am: |
|
Hi David, I unhooked everything and took it to a room with a small 13 inch TV where I could get to it better. I double checked all connections again as I went, replaced the Emerson VCR i was playing the VHS tapes with and put a fresh battery in the Stablizer. ( First try) it recorded the VHS tape to the DVD. Beautiful picture no problems at all. It was a movie I had bought 2 years ago. Finished that up checked it and it all copied. Turned around and put another movie in and bam there is the famous message. I put fresh battery in, same thing. I went and bought a 9 volt adapter. still nothing. I have no idea what happened. I have tried several different movies and it won't do anymore. I am thinking a faulty Stablizer. What else could it be. Thanks. Linda |
New member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 8
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 09:40 am: |
|
David I emailed the guy I bought the stablizer from and he insists that it is the combo that I am using to record the DVD. Could that be it even though it recorded one of the movies already? |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2633
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 10:39 am: |
|
Did you buy the stabilizer from the ebay guy James bought it from? Maybe they just don't work. I've only used 1 stabilizer that I paid $15 for over 10 years ago, it's always worked no matter what the player or recorder were. In over 10 years, it's been used with a lot of VCRs and DVD recorders. |
New member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 9
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 11:08 am: |
|
David its a strong possibility because I ordered in on Ebay, and I think I read that James did to. that guy is trying to say its the combo unit but I do have a stand a lone unit not the Emerson anymore. I unhooked that one. I really think thats it got to be the stablizer. I will try to get him to send me another one. I am still trying it today but it just won't let me through. Its stange it did a perfect job the first time I tried after I moved it and reconnected everything very carefully. This is a challenge now. |
New member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 10
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
|
David I meant to mention to you , I called MCM last week and the lady told me they dont sell the stablizers anymore, I went to their website and couldnt pull it up either. |
New member Username: Lmw
MA
USA
Post Number: 3
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 11:57 am: |
|
I called MCM too and got the same message. They don't sell stabilizers any more. I asked if there was a replacement product and she said no and refused to say anything else when I questioned her.
By the way, after hearing so talk about combo units, I just wanted to say that I have a Panasonic ES30V which I'm really pleased with. For recording directly from the TV set I have Flexibile recording capabilities so I can fill a DVD if a movie is less than 2 hours, and if a movie goes to 2 hr 5 min I don't have to go to 3 or 4 hour record or use 2 DVDs without quality reduction. I use an external VHS player and hook it up to IN2 on the front of the combo unit for copies of Macrovision tapes. If I am copying a Macrovision movie that runs 2 hr plus, I set the Panasonic recorder to start recording at a specific time on Flexible Record and start the external player manually when the recording starts.
Not sure I explained it well but it works great. Thanks, David, for your help. |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2635
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 02:05 pm: |
|
Mine looks like this, not exactly the same, but it's probably the same inside.
http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-VIDEO-STABILIZER-RXII-100-AUTOMATIC_W0QQitemZ9732650 584QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 11
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 09:50 pm: |
|
That is exactly the same one that I just bought on ebay and got in the mail this week. I just got another email from the seller that says I cant use a combo to record the DVD even though I am using a Magnavox VCR to play the VHS tape and run it throught the stabilizer and into the Combo. |
|
|
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2636
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 10:15 pm: |
|
I don't use combos so I can't say for sure that it'll work or not. I don't see what difference it makes, but maybe it does. |
Bronze Member Username: Tmax59
Post Number: 30
Registered: Mar-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 11:21 am: |
|
I agree with David (I don't see what difference it makes, but maybe it does.) . See my post above (Monday, April 17, 2006 - 08:27 pm) where I describe how I did just what you're trying to do with a combo (Toshiba D-VR4X). I believe some of my other posts went into that process as well. If your seller is making a broadbrush statement about combos, saying you can't use any combo to do this, he's just plain wrong and probably just making excuses. If he's talking about your particular combo, maybe he knows something that's maybe true.
If you didn't tell him which combo you're using, then I wouldn't pay any attention to what he's saying. |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 17
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 11:25 am: |
|
Happy Memorial Day Weekend everybody,
The GoVideo Dual Deck VHS unit is the same one I have and is the one I am using to play VHS to copy to DVD. Works fine.
The ebay seller I bought my stabilizer from was Brickhouse or brick something. The stabilizer wouldn't work from either of two different VHS players to either of two different DVD recorders. But when I put the stabilizer between the dual deck and the stand-alone VHS players and then hooked the stand-alone to the DVD recorder. Working fine. Hope this info helps somebody.
Have a safe weekend. Jim |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2640
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 12:04 pm: |
|
If those new stabilizers are still like the one I use, there's an adjustment inside. I had to use it to get it to work with a Panasonic DVD recorder. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 12
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 12:50 pm: |
|
David I just found the screw I think might be the adjustment, I will try it again after my Chores. And David you were right about it being the same seller on Ebay. Bingo James you and I bought our stabilizer from the same person. He probably sent me the one you sent him back. 
TMAX I will go back and read your posting of April 17, I will try these different suggestions and report back. I am dtermined its not going to out do me. Linda |
Bronze Member Username: Tmax59
Post Number: 31
Registered: Mar-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
|
Hi James -
Glad to see you're still around. I thought I had posted to you a few days ago but I guess I forgot to post it after writing it because it's not there. Anyway, it was about how you had your stuff hooked up now that you've gotten it working with what sounds like an extra VCR in the video line. From what you've said here, I think I see how you've got things hooked up. So my remaining questions are:
1) Do you have that standalone VCR plugged in, turned on, and set to "record?"
2) Is there any chance that the standalone VCR is "ancient"? If so, try taking the stabilizer out of the lineup and see if you then get the copyright protection message.
3) Did you return the Generation 2 stabilizer you had gotten on ebay or is that what you're using now? I note that you said previously that you were using a no name stabilizer.
If I think of anything else I had asked in my lost post, I'll put it up.
Have a good one. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 13
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 07:49 pm: |
|
TMAX I havent told the seller of the stabilizer what kind of combo I have. Did tell him I was using an Emerson VCR, and he used that the first time. So i have an old Magnavox VCR hooked it up still nothing. David I adjusted very tiny turns at a time and still wouldnt let me. Changed batteries 4 times, hooked and unhooked the 9V adapter I bought yesterday, Nothing. I went back to the one movie that I did get to copy, and it copies on my combo without any hookups , so guess that means that one movie had no copy right on it. James did you return the first stabilizer to the Brick guy and did he replace it or is this the one you are still using now. If so did you get the black box type like David has? Which is what I have. I called around yesterday and there are several different electronic stores that say they have some type to do this, but compared to this stabilizer its around 79-99 dollars. Any advise, should i ask for another stabilizer or move on to some other gadget, if so anyone know a name.For sure I cant get anywhere with what I have. Linda |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2642
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 08:08 pm: |
|
What DVD recorder are you using? |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 18
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 09:38 pm: |
|
Linda, the stabilizer I bought (I didn't send it back, it is working now) has a brushed aluminum case with a "power" light on top. There is no brand name anywhere on the unit, but it does have two adjustment screws inside. It came with an A/C adapter. If you are going to get another stabilizer, look into the one I found online a few days ago. It is on the Studio1 web site. http://www.studio1productions.com/copymaster.htm
I haven't tried it and it is a bit expensive ($99.95 + shipping) but at least it is not from ebay. After reading the description and warranty, I would have bought it if I had not been able to get mine working.
Now, on to TMax. The stand-alone VCR is plugged in, turned on and no tape inserted (therefor, not in RECORD mode).
I don't know how old the Emerson stand-alone VCR is, but I think it is about 10 years or so. In my post earlier today @ 11:25am, I stated (in so many words) that the stabilizer wouldn't work with any hook-up configuration other than the current one, and that is the dual-deck (source) connected to the Emerson stand-alone through the stabilizer, with the video cable connected from the video OUT of the dual deck to the video IN of the stabilizer and then the video OUT from the stabilizer is connected to the video IN of the Emerson stand-alone VCR. The audio OUT of the dual deck is connected directly to the stand-alone VCR audio IN. Then the video and audio are both connected from the stand-alone VCR to the Emerson DVD-R recorder. I didn't explain it with this much detail earlier, but this is what I meant. I'm assuming the stand-alone is acting as a booster to the stabilizer. Perhaps, if I play around with the adjustment screws in the stabilizer, it may work without the second VCR, but it is working now, so I'm not going to fix something that is working.
The answere to question 3 is answered in the first part of this post to Linda.
Didn't mean to write a book, but if you need more info, I'll be here for awhile yet. |
Bronze Member Username: Tmax59
Post Number: 32
Registered: Mar-06
|
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 11:07 pm: |
|
Hi James. Thanks for all that. I shouldn't have said "record" because that's not what I meant. My bad. I meant to ask what setting you have your Emerson VCR set to -- meaning do you have it set to something like "ext", which stands for "external" which is what I have to set my Akai to in order for it to work as a stabilizer (or RF modulater).
Actually, now that I think of it, that's probably not relevant to your setup. Just forget about it.
But it's interesting that you have it plugged in and turned on. I presume that you MUST have it plugged in and turned on? That nothing happens if you don't? Or didn't you try it turned off / not plugged in?
If the Emerson is only 10 years old, it can't be "ancient." If you look at the back of it you might find a date on it. Maybe. Some have a date and some don't. My Akai is circa 1984 (I think -- I haven't found a date on it yet) and that's probably getting toward the end of the "ancient" VCR's.
So I don't know why it's making things work for you if it's not ancient.
I wouldn't mess with the adjustment screw either if I were you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
|
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 19
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 12:24 am: |
|
No, I never tried it without it on, T. I just decided to do something crazy to see what would happen and it worked. I ain't touching nothin'(<<< hey, pretty good for a technical writer, huh?).
At least not until I get my 800 plus VHS tapes onto DVD. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 14
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 09:35 am: |
|
James, I took at look at that link and I might check into that. I still havent given up on this stabilizer i have yet. No answer from the guy as to him taking it back so guess I have time to still try different things. I said I was going to let it rest and go back to it but I keep going back to try something else. On the RCA wires that connect the player to the recorder do you split the yellow wires off and run those through the stabilizer or are you using altogether seperate yellow cables. I am beginning to think maybe thats what I am doing wrong. |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2647
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 09:38 am: |
|
You can pick up a GoDVD on ebay for about half that $100. |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 20
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
|
It doesn't matter if you use a seperate yellow wire or use the one that is combined with the audio wires (red & white) as long as you use the yellow ends. Actually you can use any color you want as long as the same color end is used in the output and input. I'm not aware that the quality is any better with the yellow. I'm sure David could answere that one better than I can.
As for the GoDVD on ebay, yes it is cheaper, but probebly no warrenty. I'm done with ebay. I like warrenties. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 15
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 02:54 pm: |
|
I have an old Emerson VCR that I unhooked and hooked up an old Magnavox VCR for the player, i might try the Emerson between the 2 with the stabilizer running in and out of the Emerson. I am wondering about something else too. On the back of these old VCRs they only have the In and Out for Audio and In and Out for the Video. Which ones would it truly be suppose to plug in, using the RCA cords with the yellow going to the stabiliaer. VCR being the player. I have plugged and replugged nothing works. Either way it will play the VHS tape to the picture on TV. And actually starts to copy then hits the famous last words and stops. |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2649
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 02:58 pm: |
|
The out of the VCR should go to the in on the stabilizer, out of the stabilizer to the in on the recorder. What DVD recorder are you using? |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 16
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 03:17 pm: |
|
David it is an RCA DVD Recorder/ VCR combo. #DRC8295N |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2650
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 03:24 pm: |
|
I don't use combos, but with a seperate VCR a stabilizer should work. I wonder about that guy's stabilizers. I've recommended the MCM one to lots of people here, I only remember 1 person saying it wouldn't work. He called and told them he thought it was defective and they sent him another one that worked. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 17
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 04:20 pm: |
|
David I wonder about his stabilizers too. I emailed him 2 days ago about me sending it back and him giving my paypal account credit and he hasn't answered me on that yet. Before that he was anwsering me with suggestions. I just now bought a GoDVD on ebay. Sorry James I had to. So I guess I will wait impatiently until it comes. No doubt I will be switching hookups until then. Thanks David, James and Tmax for all the help. I will check back when the GoDVD comes and let you know . Linda |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2651
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 04:59 pm: |
|
I've heard pretty good things about the GoDVD, it should be a good choice. Too bad MCM quit selling the one they had. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 18
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 07:13 pm: |
|
I know i was really disappointed when she told me that they didnt have them anymore and she act like she really didnt want to say anything other than they didnt list it to sale anymore and everything they had was on their website. Thanks again for the suggestion about the GoDVD. well back to work tomorrow after 5 days off and most of it working on this DVD/VCR challenge. |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 21
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 07:46 pm: |
|
No problem, Linda. That's why they make Ford's & Chevy's. I'm just a little bitter still over the Toshiba deal, I'll get over it. Have a good week. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 19
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 08:10 pm: |
|
You too James , I may regret it but couldnt resist now I have to work on the refund for the Stabilizer, thanks for all your help. 800 VHS tapes. thats a pretty large collection. I just have about 20 that I want to copy to DVD where I can watch them on my little portable DVD player on my lunch hour during the day. I love my favorite movies and will watch them over and over again. Have a good week. Linda |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2652
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 09:57 pm: |
|
James, the Toshiba is supposed to have the best TBC of any DVD recorder on the market. That should make it the best choice for VHS to DVD. Have you tried it the way you have everything connected now? |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 22
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:11 am: |
|
Dave, I don't have any problem with the Toshiba itself, it is a great machine. My issue is with the seller and the way it was described in his listing. Without going into too much detail, it simply wasn't what I was expecting according to the description given. I had asked him the same question I asked you about the RAM disk. He had no idea what was meant by RAM or Multi-Drive. He obviously didn't know what he was selling. If he had given me the same answere you gave me, I could have made a much better informed decision about buying it. In fact, I most likely wouldn't have bought it. But all the blame is not his. I should have researched it better before placing a bid on it. I just assumed it had a hard disk (RAM) and then a DVD drive (therefor, multi-drive). You cleared that up for me, but I had already purchased it. I will keep it. The Toshiba is a great machine. I just didn't like his attitude in our communication when I asked for a refund based upon a misleading description. |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 23
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:18 am: |
|
P.S. Dave, No, I haven't hooked it up yet. It is still in the box. After reading your praise of the machine, I read a great deal of the manual I downloaded and found it to be a great machine. I'll hook it up after I get the majority of my VHS (favorites) backed up. I'm afraid to unhook anything now for fear it will stop working. I think Linda can relate to that. |
Bronze Member Username: Lthompson
Alabama
Post Number: 20
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:36 pm: |
|
James I am still laughing about that last comment. Dont touch anything, I hope you have it sitting someplace where it can be undisturbed for a while, 800?
I had an email from the guy offering to upgrade the stabilizer for $20.00 more. I explained that I have given up on a stabilizer. Hopefully he will take this one back, if not guess I have one. He still hasnt given me an answer on it yet. I have it all boxed up and here at work to send right out if he agrees. Linda |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 24
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
|
Linda, I have a feeling the "upgrade" offer is your answere, if you know what I mean. Actually, 800 isn't really all that much for someone who has been collecting movies since the VHS machines first came out (I told you I am old) |
New member Username: Peecee
Post Number: 1
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 07:21 am: |
|
Hello David. I'm also new to this vhs copy protection issue. I bought a dvr that won't allow me to record my protected vhs tapes, much like the Disney protection scenario. I'm not a real fan of buying a new sima-ct2 for the purpose of backing up 3 short vhs tapes I've legally purchased. I have the older sima-scc that only allows to go from vhs->vhs(i.e. my dvr rejects the vhs feed through the sima). My question is, is it possible for me to just go the long route with what I have? That is, copy from vhs->vhs via the old sima, then spit the copy back to dvd(vhs->dvd)? Would this work, or would it fail because the copy protection signal would exist in the vhs copy?
p.s. I am aware that the video quality would be compromised by the spit-back recording process, but that is the least of my concern. What's more important to me is to simply burn all my VHS tapes and send them to hell for all the painful years of special storage and care. ;-)
|
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2654
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
|
I would think if the DVD recorder won't work VHS to DVD, it wouldn't work VHS to VHS to DVD. I've never tried that, so I don't really know, that's just a guess. |
Bronze Member Username: Tmax59
Post Number: 33
Registered: Mar-06
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 12:23 pm: |
|
PC -
My advice (aka "2 cents"):
Don't do it. Why suffer the loss of video quality for a few bucks? Either buy a stabilizer that works (and it looks like that ain't as simple as it sounds, huh?) or use an ancient VCR.
You don't even have to use that ancient VCR as the playe; you just have to hook it up "in line" with your video feed to the DVR. I'm guessing that's maybe why James' hookup is now working for him. Doing it this way, you end up using the ancient VCR as a stabilizer. You only need to hook the video thru the extra VCR -- the audio can go directly into the DVR.
Heck, maybe this even works with a non-ancient VCR. That seems to be the case with James, although that's just based on what he thinks to be the age of his extra VCR.
In fact, you might try it exactly as James has his setup: use your stabilizer between the player VCR and the extra VCR, and then the video feed from the extra VCR goes to the DVR.
Get an extra (and older?) VCR on loan and give it a go.
Or else get a stabilizer that works. My few DVD copies of VHS tapes came out great and although it seems like it can't be true, the video quality of the DVD copy looks to be even better than the original VHS tape.
David - What's TBC? |
Bronze Member Username: Jchurch43
Denver,
Colorado
USA
Post Number: 25
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 05:59 pm: |
|
It is also possible that certain upgrades of the same model VCR (later manufacturing dates) will work differently with different stabilizers. Just a guess. |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2658
Registered: Jul-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 06:28 pm: |
|
TBC=Time Base Corrector. The better the TBC, the less problems there will be with VHS to DVD, jitter, etc. |
New member Username: Peecee
Post Number: 2
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 08:09 pm: |
|
David -
Your guess is correct. My vhs->vhs->dvd procedure failed, though the vhs->vhs(vcr->stabilizer->vcr) capability worked as advertised. Side note: I attempted the raw vhs->vhs copy(no stabilizer) anyway to make sure that the vhs->vhs stabilizer was actually doing some work.
TMax -
Thanks for your advice. Again, the loss of video quality isn't a concern, since this is a copy process that involves analog conversion. Even if you go from dvd/player->dvr, you have digital<->analog conversion --in which case I would rather do a digital rip+burn.
I, however, tried what you had recommended, which is to use the stabilizer(gen. 1 --which is most likely the culprit) in the vcr(play)->stabilizer->vcr(i.e.dummy bypass)->dvr(record), but alas it failed. It may be the case that a legacy vcr is needed as you have pointed out. IMHO, getting a gen. 2 stabilizer allowing the vcr->dvr setup seems to be more relevant. I got my eyes on the ct-2 model but thinking again, I might go for a pc-related solution.
Thanks again guys. I'll keep everyone informed if I get something working. |
Bronze Member Username: Tmax59
Post Number: 34
Registered: Mar-06
|
| Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 10:55 pm: |
|
Thanks for the info on TBC, David.
I gotta say that in the time I've been on this board, which hasn't been very long, I'm somewhat shocked by all the problems folks have had with their stabilizers. Before I came on this board I was thinking that pretty much any stabilizer would do the trick with very few problems. In fact, I almost went that way before I figured out that my ancient VCR did the job for me.
So it seems that my prior recommendation to use an ancient VCR instead of a stabilizer was perhaps a better idea than I realized at the time.
On the other hand, I haven't made but a couple of DVD copies of VHS tapes, so I don't exactly have a large database to go by. Still, I think I can safely say that my ancient VCR works to filter out Macrovision for sure, and that's apparently the major (only?) copyright protection used with VHS tapes.
What I should probably do is get a fairly new Disney video, perhaps one of the ones that folks have mentioned here, and try making a copy of it with my ancient VCR and fairly new Toshiba DVR to see if I have any problem. |
New member Username: Peecee
Post Number: 3
Registered: May-06
|
| Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 12:35 am: |
|
>I, however, tried what you had recommended,
>which is to use the stabilizer(gen. 1 --which is
>most likely the culprit) in the
>vcr(play)->stabilizer->vcr(i.e.dummy bypass)->dvr(record),
>but alas it failed.
I substituted the dummy bypass with a legacy '82 GE vcr(i.e., 24-years-old) and it still fails. I'm led to believe that it's both/either the dvr's oversensitivity to the macrovision signal and/or the need to substitute a gen. 2 stabilizer with the gen. 1. I already ditched the pc-related solution because there was some article stating that the macrovision problem still exists. My dvr is a standalone set-top Magnavox. The ct-2 would be my last hope.
|
Bronze Member Username: Tmax59
Post Number: 35
Registered: Mar-06
|
| Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
|
PC - If I understand your posts correctly, it seems that you have confirmed that your current stabilizer is indeed filtering out Macrovision ("the vhs->vhs(vcr->stabilizer->vcr) capability worked as advertised").
I think I've confirmed that an ancient VCR does not filter out any other sort of copyright protection signal contained in the source tape or DVD. Thus your DVR will receive that signal which then triggers the "no can do" message.
I think David has said that most VHS tapes use only Macrovision and thus shouldn't contain the other kinds of protection signals. Maybe he didn't say that, but I think I got that from something somebody said somewhere. If that's true, then using an ancient VCR should always work for making DVD copies of protected VHS tapes.
Now having said that, I'd be willing to accept the fact that SOME tapes might have other protection signals. I'm thinking Disney tapes here. But I'm also thinking that even if that's true, MOST tapes (by far?) would only have Macrovision.
You haven't said what tape you are trying to copy. Unless it's fairly new (maybe 4 years old or less, but that's just a guess) I doubt it would have anything more than Macrovision. David, feel free to jump in here.
If it only has Macrovision, then I think I'm safe in saying it would surely be filtered out by your ancient VCR. Thus your DVR very simply would not reject copying.
One simple way to test your VCR for "ancient" status is to use it as the recorder deck to make a VHS copy of a protected tape (called "dubbing"). This is the very process that Macrovision was intended to prevent. Obviously, you only need to copy a few minutes of the tape. The copy will either contain Macrovision or not. If it contains Macrovision, you'll see it when you play that copy (picture alternates between bright and dark). And you'll know that the signal survived the process and thus your recorder VCR isn't "ancient." It's able to process the Macrovision signal.
If the copy doesn't contain Macrovision, then you know that the recording VCR filtered it out and thus is "ancient."
As I said, what you're doing here is very simply called "dubbing." It's covered in every owners manual I've ever seen. You're NOT using any stabilizer in this process.
You also need to be sure that your souce deck is NOT ancient. Because if it is, then IT would filter out Macrovision (can't process it) and thus the signal it puts out to the recorder deck just simply wouldn't contain Macrovision.
Once you confirm that your VCR is ancient, then I say you should be able to use it to make a DVD copy of your tape unless there's some other protection signal in the tape (other than Macrovision) and I think I'm correct in saying that that's probably not true unless it's a newer tape and heavily protected, like some Disney tapes may be.
So, you might want to fiddle around and confirm that your other VCR is or isn't ancient.
As kind of an aside, if you are able to dub a VHS copy of a protected tape (without using a stabilizer) and that copy doesn't contain Macrovison, then certainly at least one of your VCRs is ancient. All you have to do then is figure out which one it is (or if it's both).
Now, having said all that, what I see here is that you've already confirmed that your stabilizer is working to filter out Macrovision. Yet you still get a "copy protected" message from your DVR. My guess is that either the tape you're trying to copy has some other copy protection signal in it or you're doing something wrong. Perhaps the "other copy protection signal" it has is very simply some super Macrovision signal they came up with and your stabilizer can't filter that out. But, it seems that even if that were true, your VHS copy would still have it, and thus you'd see it when you played that copy. And apparently you don't (you did play the VHS copy, right?).
So something's not right here. I'd hate to see you spend your money for something that you don't need.
On the other hand, perhaps |
