I need to copy a few scenes from an old VHS for use in a class (which is not available on DVD). Playing into a DVCamcorder displays the message "Copy Inhibit" and after a few seconds it stops recording. This happen with the S-video connector, the RCA video connector, when dubbed through another recorder and even, surprizingly, when passed through a RF converter. Any ideas on how to get around this?
Beg/Borrow/Buy something like the Sima SCC Color Corrector. You can connect RCA and S-Video in and out. Besides color correcting, it also removes the Macrovision protection that is causing the "Copy Inhibit" message you are seeing. The only downside is that this item is too expensive for a "one-time" use. If you have a substantial amount of home video that you'd like to convert to digital, it may be worth getting to help clean up the video before importing. (I believe the Sima SCC is less than $100).