converting vhs to dvd

[memph]

I have been looking at buying a vhs to dvd converter but have been told that they will only convert home videos and not my collection of films on video due to copyright restrictions,is this true and if so is there any way around it?please help as i have a vast collection of videos which i need to convert before they become a thing of the past

[Ethel]

When I bought my dvd recorder a few years ago, I copied most of my commercially bought videos on to dvd.

I found it time consuming as they record in real time and of course the quality is only as good as the original video.

Some would not record because they were macro encrypted - copyright - but you can buy a gadget that goes between the dvd recorder and the scart. This will work with some copyright videos but not all - different companies use different macros and so on.

Quite frankly, if your videos are available to buy in dvd format cheaply, I would consider buying new instead of making copies. If the video content is shown on television, you could of course record it from that.

The law is quite complex regarding copyright but if you make one copy of your video, and either keep the new recording with the original video there will not be a problem.

You must not sell or give away the new recording unless you include the original; nor sell or give away the original and keep the new recording.

[Postdog]

I can't comment on Ethels answer, as I have never heard of videos being encryted in any way, but she knows a lot, and who am I to say otherwise.

However......

I used to have a tape/dvd writer combo and if I tried to copy a video, I got a message saying it was copyrighted. In truth tho this was nothing more than the overwrite tab on the video being missing - a bit of sticky tape over the hole and the problem was solved.

[Ethel]

Postdog - that may have worked for some, but with others you just record a black screen. I know, I tried.

[ChuckFickens]

They are not really encrypted as such. macrovision copyright protection on videos works by putting a very high level pulse in the recording, the pulse is inserted at a point that, due to the way TVs work, isn't shown on your screen when your watching it but when you try to copy it the pulse basically overloads the recorder input levels and renders the recording unwatchable.

[Andyban]

I have been told that you can use the device sold here http://www.sonel.com/macrovision.html to decode the macrovision. I would be most greatful if you could update this post and tell us if you bought this decoder and successfuly transfer vhs to dvd.

The alternative is to send them off. I have had this company do half my collection http://www.video-to-dvd.co.uk/transfer/vhs_to_ dvd_or_avi.html and they have done a good job at a tenner a tape. However, I am holding out as I'd rather do the rest myself to save money. I have the equipment but don't have the macrovsion decoder.

[Andyban]

Sorry these guys http://www.vt.tv also do macrovision vhs to dvd aswell.