I have been copying video cassettes to DVDs but a portion of them have copy protection. I need a circuit that will remove the macrovision with a PIC16f628, is there anyone who know enough about NTSC signals to help build this?
For your own backup purposes this is legal but keep in mind this is still illegal for distribution. Information on how to bypass the protection on VCR tapes is easily searched using Google.
I have been hours on google and the only circuit I found used 9 outdated parts. I need it by tomorrow, and I want to use my pic that is ready for a code burn.
We are just copying because VHS tapes slowly degrade with time.
I have been hours on google and the only circuit I found used 9 outdated parts. I need it by tomorrow, and I want to use my pic that is ready for a code burn.
Last time I checked, under U.S. copyright law making a copy of a VHS or DVD for use as a backup to the original media on a legally purchased title is allowed, as what you technically purchase isn't the media but a license to view the content.
the sad part of this is that the stabilizer device is outlawed by the DMCA (US law). The act even outlaws describing how to make such a device. This is often called "Macrovision" after the company that patented the idea of removing sync. It's pretty laughable that in this digital era, it is still illegal to produce a device to record an inferior signal. sigh.
No, it's not. What is illegal is selling or describing such a device. It's called the anti-circumvention clause. What ever it is, it's pretty screwed up - there are many (including me) that think the DMCA was incredibly over reaching and should have enshrined fair-use in law. Unfortunately, fair-use is up to the courts to define.
Only other way unless you have a giant parts bin you can raid is possibly to download it via a .torrent file but by doing this you risk getting caught by the feds
It's like the CD market was a few years ago. Beatles fans would buy an album on cassette, then the same album on vinyl and then buy it again on CD and the Beatles remain the most ripped off band of all time. Ripped off by the very recording studios whining about piracy.
Copying from VHS to DvD is dubious at best when you think of the poor quality of VHS to begin with. Since it was released on VHS it must be pretty old so I'm sure you can find a cheap DvD copy in the discount bargain bin of your local WalMart, Zellers, etc
For our Canadian members, be sure to spam your MP about the coming of DRM legislation to this country: **broken link removed**