I am in the middle of transferring my English VHS tapes to DVD. I'm using a VCR which converts the tape's PAL format to NTSC and then running the NTSC output through my Canon camcorder (to convert analogue to digital) and into my PC and then burning a DVD. This has worked well for the majority of the tapes but now I've come to tapes where this does not work. When I set the VCR to Play, the cature application works for 10 seconds or so and then the camcorder screen shows the following message - "COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. DUBBING RESTRICTED" and the video capture stops. Will a video stabilizer between the VCR and the camcorder eliminate this problem or is there anything else I can do? Also any recommendations for which stabilizer (cheap if possible as I only have 6 or 7 tapes left to do)?
Yes a Video Stabilizer should Fix this Problem...If you Look on E-Bay you should Be able to Find one in the $20-$30 Range.....
The Ones I used to use For Copying Vhs Tapes years ago were made by "Electrohome" and I have seen them on E-bay, They are Probably sold in other Countries under a Different Brand Name as I believe Electrohome is a Canadian Brand Name...I have seen the Same Type I used to use On E-bay that looked exactly the same as The one I used to have but with a Different Brand Name...... Just Make sure that they say it is For Makeing Copies of Protected Video Tapes.....
The best but most expensive choice is to get a full frame TBC. The recommended ones are the Datavideo TBC-1000 or the AV Tool AVT-8710. TBCs not only remove macrovision completely but also stabilize the video input making the result better then the original. One upside to these TBCs is that if you decide not to keep the TBC when you are done you can sell it on eBay for the same and sometimes more then what you paid. The best prices can usually be found at B&H Photo Video (sometimes lower then eBay especially after most sellers’ exorbitant shipping fees).
Thanks to you all for the advice. I ordered a Video Stabilizer on Ebay at the weekend. I'll try it out when it arrives and post the results. If this doesn't work, I'll try the TBC route. Thanks again.
I recently bought an Electrohome stabilizer on Ebay and I want to hook it up to my ATI All in Wonder video card so I can copy my VHS tapes onto my hard drives. I tried hooking it up but the picture is very blurry. If I go right from the vcr to the card, I get the normal distortion but when the stabilizer is hooked up, the picture is black and white. What am I missing or is this a sign of a bad stabilizer?
A Black and white Image is Indicitive of a few things..... If you are useing a S-Video adapter of Some Sort it could cause the Video to go Black and White...This is because Most S-Video to RCA/Composite adapters to Not properly convert S-Video to RCA and in effect loose the Chroma chanell in the S-Video Port..... Also if you Try to play back Pal Video on a NTSC Video system you will get a black and white Image....
I am using an RCA to S-Video adapter since my VCR doesn't have S-Video on it. I will try and find the right adapter. Guess I should have gotten an S-VHS when I had the chance.
I had a Hard Time Finding a S-Video to RCA/Composite adapter that properly Converted the S-Video signal to RCA/Composite without looseing the Chroma(Color) Chanell..... I had to try a few before I found one that worked....The one I ended up finding that worked was actually a Little Box that had a bunch of Inputs and outputs on it, It was sort of like a Universal adapter that had S-Video, Composite,RGB,Coaxial Inputs and the same outputs.... Some S-Video adapters only convert the 4 Pin S-Video connectors to RCA but you probably need a 7 Pin S-Video to RCA Adapter so when you go looking for a Adapter make sure you Get a 7 Pin S-Video adapter... Cheers
Well after reading your Responce to my Post I went on the Net and did a Little research for you on this Subject and from what I gather is that Some S-Video Adapters will Loose a Lot of the Chroma signal through Interferance and general Signal Loss and when the Signal isn"t strong enough the Luminance Chanell shows throu more than the Chromanance and you get a Black and white Picture.... I read a lot of Posts in various Forums from poeple haveing Problems with getting a Black and White Picture when useing one of those small S-Video to RCA Adapters and most were able to solve the Problem by spending a few bucks and getting a expensive Double Shielded S-Video to RCA Cable adapter ,Not one of the little small ones that are 1 inch long adapters but a Cable S-Video to RVA Adapter....... The Electrohome Video Stabilizer I used to have had one RCA Input and One RCA Output was Black and took a 9v Battery and didn"t have a S-video Output but then again that might have been before S-Video.... Well anyways Good Luck
sweet. I will give that a shot and let you know how I make out. I have just recently discovered digital video stabilizers so I am new to just about everything. Thanks for your help.
Ok, I bought a mutli shielded RCA - S-Video adapter and now, for some reason, the stabilizer doesn't seem to be picking up the signal and turn on. The old adapter works fine, the light comes on and I get the black and white picture but the new adapter gives me nothing. Any help as to why this is happening?
I hooked the adapter up from the RCa on the VCR to the S-Video on the computer and the picture shows up fine. I am wondering if it's a problem with the stabilizer. I will take the adapter back and see if a different one will work better. If not I will take the stabilizer back for a different one.
Ok...I got it figured out. It turns out the adapter was simply too big on the S-Video end. I took the cover off the stabilizer and got the S-Video in as far as it could go and low and behold, the stabilizer works perfectly. Thanks so much for all your help.
Ok, I spoke too soon. I am now getting a very fuzzy picture on my monitor. I can see the video but it's pretty choppy, barely viewable. I tried changing the battery but nothing changed. Thanks for any help.
