OT:XM2 detects copy protection

mel58i wrote on 11/9/2004, 4:17 AM
Just in my down time - thought I would try to copy some of my VHS tapes to DVD (for my own use natually). Tried this hooking vcr via XM2 to firewire.
Found that if tape is copy protected XM2 puts up a message "copy protected" and does not allow transfer.
Are all modern camcorders built this way to detect macrovision etc?

Mel.

Comments

Grazie wrote on 11/9/2004, 4:28 AM
How does a VHS tape emit a Copy Protect signal? New one on me. I've got an XM2 and don't see how this is possible? Are you using the XM2 as a AV>DV pass thru' to get DV to a PC? Maybe you are coming up against another "feature" not related cop protected?

mm m m . . Bob . . what do you think?

Grazie
farss wrote on 11/9/2004, 4:47 AM
It'll detect the Macrovision on the sync.
To answer the rest of the question, no.
And before anyone else jumpson this, this is how silly this thing gets:
Ever wondered about those movies they play inflight? Well you see a lot of the inflight systems play them off Hi8 tape (although that's being phased out). Anyways the airlines buy the rights as they should but how do they get a copy, do the distributors give them a clean dub? Nah, they tell them go buy a copy in the shops.
But hang on, what about the copy protection? Well says the distributor, any proffessional will know how to get past that.
In fact I think the only time I've been asked seriously to circumvent any copy protection measure was by those who owned the rights.

Maybe it's just my wierd way of seeing the world but it all seems a bit ironic to me.

Bob.
Grazie wrote on 11/9/2004, 4:50 AM
Oh, just shows what I don't do . . . G
mel58i wrote on 11/9/2004, 5:26 AM
Yes folks, it is true - the XM2 does seem to block the copy. Set the AV-DV in on the cam, play the tape and after a couple of seconds of play on the XM2 screen - it goes blue and a red caption says "copy protected" and that's your lot!
The manual on the XM2 is a bit vague (all of it really - got to read between the lines) - seems to say (page 98 of english manual):-

"If you try to record from sofware that contains copyright control signals for the protection of software, "COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DUBBING RESTRICTED" appears in the display, you cannot record the contents of the software. You cannot record copyright protection signal to a tape using this camcorder."

Now whether this only applies to the english pal version I don't know.

Yes, I could use a A/D converter to re-generate the sync (that's where the protection is encoded) but I was just playing about with "let's try copying".

Any more input?

Mel.
rcrawfor42 wrote on 11/9/2004, 6:54 AM
My Canon ZR-65 does the same thing. It's probably a standard feature in the Canon firmware.
Chienworks wrote on 11/9/2004, 7:23 AM
The SONY DVMC-DA2 converter box i have lights up a red warning light on the box if copy protected material is going through it. However, it still passes the signal and even stabilizes it a bit.
pb wrote on 11/9/2004, 7:31 AM
My venerable Dazzle DVC II PCI version ignores copy protect from VHS or DVD. THis is how I was able to transfer all my son's Dr. Seuss & Disney VHS tapes to DVDs (Yes we DO own the originals). I think the AVC? 100 analog-> 1394 ignores it too.
farss wrote on 11/9/2004, 1:45 PM
With the ADVC-100 you need to know the 'trick' to get it to ignore Mvision. The original 300 firmware had no backdoor but Canopus have since updated the firmware to provide such a feature.
I'm not saying this to encourage piracy but I have had the 300 loose the plot thinking a very worn VHS tape was protected when it wasn't.
My Sony D8 however does ignore it completely.
Bob.
ken c wrote on 11/9/2004, 4:20 PM
Ah, is it ok to use products like these macrovision removers, on the video signal from the VHS before it gets to the camcorder input?

http://www.videoguys.com/sima.htm
http://www.facetvideo.com/xcart/customer/home.php
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/nvidia/


just curious (lol),

Ken
farss wrote on 11/9/2004, 5:31 PM
I think the fine print says it all!
Bob.
Steve Mann wrote on 11/10/2004, 11:35 PM
The software that detects Macrovision is really stupid. In it's simplicity, if your analog video signal is not good to perfect, it will assume Macrovision exists. (If your sync pulse doesn't go to 0 IRE, then it must be copy protected. Your TV doesn't care.)

If you can go through a TBC before getting to the camera for conversion you can fix the problem. Or you can get the Canopus ADVC-100 and find the trick to bypass the Macrovision detector. I would tell you but the knowledge is a federal crime.