slighty technical but off topic nontheless (dvds)

[stryder2929]

i have two dvds which i want to make into tapes because my family is traveling by car to florida and we are bringing a small tv with only a tape player to watch movies in the car.

my question is, is there a way for me to record a dvd movie onto a tape with a seperate dvd and seperate tape player?

 

[SoylentGreen]

Forget about that and keep your eyes on the road. Cute pyr8 story nonetheless.

 

[Viper GTS]

Yes and no.

In theory, you should be able to connect the video out from the DVD player to the video in on the VCR & record directly to VHS.

However, thanks to macrovision you can't do that.

You will need either an old VCR (ie doesn't have macrovision) or some intermediate step to remove macrovision. A DVD player that has had macrovision disabled would also work, but they are expensive (hacked products usually).

Viper GTS

 

[Thegonagle]

You hook the A/V outs on the DVD player to the A/V inputs on the VCR. Select video-in on the VCR. Press record on the VCR and press play on the DVD player.

BUT, with most movie-DVDs, a copy-protection scheme called Macrovision will kick in, and make the picture on the tape fluctuate slowly between dark-unwatchable and light several times per minute.

There are ways to disable Macrovision on some DVD players, particularly, several Apex models. Info is available at <I should say, "if you search the net." I don't want Mods mad at me.>

If all that sounds like a bother, you can probably just buy a DC-AC inverter and bring the DVD player with to hook up in the car.

 

[stryder2929]

seriously, if u are going to accuse me of pirating save your time, i dont want u to waste it..

viper thank you for giving me an honest answer, i guess i'll just bring my dads notebook and watch the dvds on that cause im not goign to be able to make tapes...

since my sister and i would be sitting in the back while my parents drive we bring movies to watch every year...

 

[stryder2929]

thanks garfang, but if this is an illegal procedure than im not going to do it

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: stryder2929
thanks garfang, but if this is an illegal procedure than im not going to do it

Copying for your own personal use is not illegal, but since the info necessary to defeat macrovision COULD be used for pirating movies it's best we not post links here. They are easy to find though, use your favorite search engine.



Viper GTS

 

[manly]

Actually, hackable APEX DVD players are amongst the most affordable units in the market. Long's Drugs (of all places) was selling the AD-1500 for $60 + tax - $20 MIR for Black Friday/Saturday. There was a Hot Deals thread on that sale.

So if you consider standard capabilities + hacked feature-set, APEX players are amongst the best values around. Now if you need progressive scan, fancy optical outputs or whatever other high-end features to go with your HDTV, then obviously you're going to look for a better DVD player.