Copy Protection in VHS Signal - possible to bypass with software?

[osullic]

I want to backup a VHS tape to AVI format on my computer. The tape includes Macrovision copy protection.

I have an Adaptec VideOh! external capture device, which came with Sonic MyDVD software for controlling the video capture process. When I try to capture this VHS tape, I get a warning that Macrovision has been detected and capture will not proceed.

I'm aware that digital video stabilisers exist for bypassing the copy protection at an intermediate stage, but I'm wondering if it's possible to do this using an alternative to the MyDVD software - one that would recognise the input from the Adaptec capture device and just ignore the copy protection element of the signal?

Or maybe it has nothing to do with the software and it's the external capture device that is "honouring" the copy protection signal. I guess in this case the only solution is to buy an intermediate digital signal stabiliser?

Thanks in advance

[setarip_old]

Hi!

If you can track down an OLDER version (version 4.0.0.1 or earlier) of "ASUS Live" and your O/S will support its use, it happily ignores/bypasses the Macrovision...

[Spc01]

If you have a DV camcorder that can use video line-in or DV Video Recorder it bypasses macrovision completly.
:)

[FlimsyFeet]

I have a capture card that uses the BT878 chipset, use the btwincap drivers and VirtualDub, and have never had an issue with macrovision protected tapes.

I've heard different stories of what can happen with macrovision, so it seems to me that every device acts differently.

Some devices detect the macrovision in hardware, but only pass on the information and it's the capture software that prevents recording. If this is the case, trying different softwere might help.

Other devices will record, but there will be a big white bar over the recorded picture (I assume that gets overlayed in the capture device driver). You could see if there aree any 3rd party or genereic drivers available for your device.

edit- also, sometimes these anti-copy mechansims kick in when there is no macorvision present, such as old or poor quality tapes.