I tried to dub a movie for a friend and it ended up coming out all scrambled. When I asked around about this someone mentioned it was due to something called Microvision. He also mentioned that the target VCR must be microvision capable for it to pick up the signal preventing success in dubbing. Therefore, older VCRs from before the days of Microvision CAN dub successfully.
I was curious how exactly this works. Any info?
Golly, Moe, I was gonna be helpful and find it for you on the Web, except that when I put “Microvision” into Search, it brought up at least 10 different companies with the same name, all of them electronics, Web, and/or software-oriented. I don’t know enough about what you’re talking about to know which company it would be. :: shrug ::
It was MSN Search, if it makes a difference.
Are you trying to make copies using RCA phono cables or are you using a coaxial cable? Macrovision uses a sort of “jamming” signal that confuses the copying vcr’s automatic gain control causing it to be unable to correctly lock into the incoming signal.
Many older vcr’s (10+ years) are less prone to freak out than newer ones.
The system is MACROvision, and it’s a pain in the ass. It screws up the sync signals in such a way that a television will not care, but a recording VCR will. If you have access to a local TV studio, steal their time-base corrector unit to filter out the crap and make your copy.
Yeah, search the net cause the board people don’t like us discussing illegal things like this. Although I saw an ad on tv yesterday for a Macrovison stipper for $28.00
Copying a tape for your own use, and even circumventing Macrovision, is not a crime. If you sell or give the tape to another person, that is a crime.
Handy, I wasn’t trying to talk about anything illegal. If you read my OP, you’ll see that my question was a how-does-it-work type question. It is purely an intellectual interest in a certain technology.
Everyone else, keep the good info coming. And I will also further research this on the net and post what I find for those interested.
Yes Moe, but you see, there was a time they sold them to make closed captions readable, so I have one, & it indeed has the closed captioned idea on the box. Also the Go Video machine, which as TWO vcrs on it can copy ANY video at all! 
‘Copying a tape for your own use, and even circumventing Macrovision, is not a crime.’
You should read that FBI notice on it then.
I have read the FBI notice on them. It refers to “unauthorized” copying and distributing/viewing. Copying a tape FOR YOUR OWN USE is protected as Fair Use and counts as “Authorized”. So if I buy a tape, and then make a copy, strictly for backup purposes, that’s fine. If I rent a tape from Blockbuster and make 1000 copies and sell them on the street, I’m a criminal.
Well, I don’t know who’s still interested, but since I said I would post more info here’s a URL:
http://www.hackerscatalog.com/macro.htm
It has a good short explanation of macrovision for the laymen before getting into very technical stuff which I didn’t even bother to read.
FWIW The Go-video brand dual deck VCRs will copy a macrovision protected tape and the copy will still have macrovision. You can get one with hi-fi sound for about $300-350 and it allegedly makes better dubs than you can with conventional VCRs even when using separate audio and video cables.
I hadn’t thought about the time base corrector though. My Hi8 camcorder has that. I may see if I can successfully copy something with that protection like a DVD.
’ hadn’t thought about the time base corrector though. My Hi8 camcorder has that. I may see if I can
successfully copy something with that protection like a DVD.’
You can copy a dvd to a vcr if you have the macrovision stripper box.
Or the Apex dvd player, which I think is immune to Macrovsion, thus not sold so much anymore.