Capturing "protected" video, advice please

[BOB]

Here's the deal, a customer made some incredibly stupid self help type video years ago. They used some kind of protection on the tape so using a normal vhs to dvd recorder doesn't work. Evidently they don't have the original any more.

I'm looking for advice on how to capture this, i've been googling and perhaps using a time base corrector in conjunction with a capture card is possibly my best option?

From what i've been told from somebody who watched it, it's just 3 minutes long and goes on about geese. (i've no idea why)

But because this is for one of our larger customers (we're a printers by trade) an account handler who I now hate wants this done.

Also, can anyone recommend a particular capture card? I'm using Vista x64 so i'm guessing that will limit my options in regards to working drivers. (using Vista x64 because my work machine has 4GB of RAM for VMWare Workstation)

[yup]

BOB!
Try TBC (Time Base Corrector)
http://www.cypress.com.tw/product.php?PId=63335&CId=004&CName=Digital%20Mixers/Time%20Base%20Correctors&SR=0
side effect remove protection (Macrovision for example).
yup.

[Blue_MiSfit]

Yup!

If you use a TBC / "video stabilizer" you can just go straight to a DVD recorder if you like :)

~MiSfit

[Jaxel]

Find any VHS player before 1992 and it should work.

[BOB]

I haven't yet purchased anything, but what kind of resolution should I capture the video at?

I'm currently looking at getting this TBC (http://www.keene.co.uk/electronics/multi.php?mycode=AVT8710) and a cheap capture card that has s-video in.

[yup]

BOB!
This same like TBC 100. This could work.
yup.

[FlimsyFeet]

You don't need to use a TBC if using a capture card with drivers that ignore macrovision, for example any cheap BT878-based card with the btwincap drivers.

[BOB]

Can anyone recommend a capture card that has drivers for Vista x64?

When I check the manufacturers site it's often at best it's up to 32bit Vista.

[FlimsyFeet]

I use Xp 32-bit, but I did see this http://www.planetamd64.com/index.php?showtopic=13012 that the btwincap drivers have been ported to x64, but you need to apply some trick to get get Vista to install unsigned drivers.
These drivers should work with any PCI analogue TV/capture card based on the Conexant BT878 chipset, for example Hauppauge WinTV Express, but I couldn't recommend any particular model over another.

[setarip_old]

@BOB

(Since a moderator has not intervened in a couple of weeks, I'll post here)

Hi!

If it's VHS, just find an old GOVideo dual-deck to make an unprotected version of the tape...