# Recording DVD to Video Tape. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2002, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491 "2002-12-29T09:18:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/1 "2002-12-29T09:18:35Z")
I got a DVD player for Christmas. First, I tried hooking it up to the VCR and watching it that way. But the video signal gets weakened and the picture gets dark. So I had to then hook it up directly to my TV (Well, actually, I had to go to Radio Shack and buy an RF Modulator). Anyway, other than buying a combination DVD/VCR player made for such a thing, is there any way to hook up a DVD player to a VCR? I asked one of the guys at Radio Shack about a video stabilizer, but he said that he tried it and it didn’t work for him. So, do any of you know of anything that works? ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/2 "2002-12-29T13:20:49Z")
The only thing I know is that this thread might quickly get locked, especially with the thread title. critter42 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/3 "2002-12-29T14:15:42Z")
You are allowed to make backup copies and it doesn’t seem like anyone is going after analog recordings so I would hope this thread is safe. Also Is there some sort of fee on VCR tapes just like audio tapes that pay for royalities for recording programs? As for the OP - I would search the net, try google with record dvd vcr and go from there, ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/4 "2002-12-29T15:15:05Z")
Making back-up copies for one’s own use may be OK. But, in order to do so, one must circumvent Macrovision copy-protection which is a violation of the ill-conceived Digital Millenium Copyright Act. That said, Sima makes a video stabilizer that can be found on the net which will defeat both AGC and Colour-Stripe macrovision. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/5 "2002-12-29T16:21:03Z")
You could get a video game switch box about $20, so you can put about 4 machines on it & connect it to your tv & choose between them by pushing a button. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/6 "2002-12-29T16:35:59Z")
As **Hodge** said, you will need a Macrovision decoder for any DVD made with Macrovision. You can make a backup copy of anything not Macrovision-encoded by just running the inputs directly into the VCR. I don’t know why studios insist on putting Macrovision on; it isn’t effective and degrades quality. As for the DMCA, you’re only in violation if you live in the US and if I were to count the amount of times I’ve violated the DMCA to assert fair-use rights we’d be here for quite a while. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/7 "2002-12-29T21:04:42Z")
Oops, I thought that since they made combo DVD/VCR players/recorders that allowed you to copy a DVD to a VHS video tape, then it would be ok to run a DVD player through a VCR. :smack: Guess I’ll have to be more careful in the future when asking questions like this. Thanks for help. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/8 "2002-12-29T22:18:44Z")
Pro-grade VHS “duplicators” can over-ride macrovision - these are the machines that create the tapes you buy at your favorite media store. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/9 "2002-12-29T23:48:27Z")
You can run your dvd player through your vcr, I do. When I make my own dvd on the computer I can transfer it to VHS with this setup. As a matter of fact, there were people on the forum who do this & when they play a commercial dvd the picture is just fine as macrovision kicks in when they try to copy. This is also called ‘vcr friendly’ by some. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/10 "2002-12-29T23:58:11Z")
A DVD you make at home probably won’t have Macrovision protection enabled, just like it won’t be CSS encrypted. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/11 "2002-12-30T04:09:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*Oops, I thought that since they made combo DVD/VCR players/recorders that allowed you to copy a DVD to a VHS video tape… \*\* Do they really? I mean it makes sense, but I would’ve expected to hear more of a fuss if it was so. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/12 "2002-12-30T04:24:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KKBattousai \* > **Do they really?** [Yes.](http://www.primefocus.com/DVD-V2000.html) ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/13 "2002-12-30T05:22:40Z")
Uhhh… from **Desmosthlus’** site: > [@](#): > > \*Note: If the DVD you are attempting to copy is copy protected, you will not be able to copy the disc. It is not permitted to copy Macrovision™ encoded DVDs. You _knew_ it wasn’t going to be _that_ easy. didn’t you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/14 "2002-12-30T05:26:34Z")
Damn Macrovision!!! 🙂 J/K ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/15 "2002-12-30T05:28:19Z")
p.s. - Macrovision is a circuit which buggers the video gain signal. The Macrovision company copyrighted not only the circuit, but every circuit they could think of which could defeat the circuit. This is why you can’t walk into your local chain store and buy a Macrovision-defeating black box - any such device is (almost always) in violation of some copyright Macrovision holds, and they are quite nasty about enforcing their copyrights ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/16 "2002-12-30T16:43:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by happyheathen \* > p.s. - Macrovision is a circuit which buggers the video gain signal. The Macrovision company copyrighted not only the circuit, but every circuit they could think of which could defeat the circuit. > This is why you can’t walk into your local chain store and buy a Macrovision-defeating black box - any such device is (almost always) in violation of some copyright Macrovision holds, and they are quite nasty about enforcing their copyrights A lot of this is not true. E.g., I have Beta vcrs and they are _naturally_ immune to Macrovision. Macrovision has agreements with VHS vcr makers that forbid override circuits. And as pointed out many times at the SDMB, many DVD players have “secret” menu settings to turn off Macrovision output. And I know of a really major electronics chain that sells “video stabilizers”. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/17 "2002-12-30T19:29:15Z")
Actually, the deal is that the VCR makers put _in_ the MV circuit - the override switch merely bypasses the MV circuit (so I was told by the fellow who’s been rebuilding duplication decks for many years). The test would be: Find 2 circa-1981 VCR’s and try to copy a MV-encrypted tape. If it woks, then the MV is a circuit in the newer machines. If it doesn’t, the signal is on the tape and will screw up a copy, even absent the MV circuit. I was going to link to some of the equipment I use, but decided not to push the envelope. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/18 "2003-01-04T16:22:26Z")
I’ve never understood the problem with VHS macrovision preventing copying, since for many years I would rent a stack of VHS tapes on the “cheap rental” day at my local video store, copy them to 8mm video in my camcorder(s), then view them at my leisure over the next week. I usually erased or recorded over them later, so Mods, please don’t lock this thread on account of me; time shifting was been ruled legal in the famous _Sony_ case. ALL of the original, commercial VHS tapes claimed to be Macrovision-encoded. NONE of them ever caused any problems when playing the 8mm copy. I can only conclude that the 8mm media and/or hardware is/was immune to the Macrovision signal-weakening. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/19 "2003-01-04T18:19:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Musicat \* > \*\*I’ve never understood the problem with VHS macrovision preventing copying, since for many years I would rent a stack of VHS tapes on the “cheap rental” day at my local video store, copy them to 8mm video in my camcorder(s), then view them at my leisure over the next week. > > I usually erased or recorded over them later, so Mods, please don’t lock this thread on account of me; time shifting was been ruled legal in the famous _Sony_ case. > > ALL of the original, commercial VHS tapes claimed to be Macrovision-encoded. NONE of them ever caused any problems when playing the 8mm copy. I can only conclude that the 8mm media and/or hardware is/was immune to the Macrovision signal-weakening. \*\* Yes, 8mm and Beta are both immune to Macrovision for the same reason televisions are. They don’t have the circuitry that tries to adjust the picture based on the blanking interval signal. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491/20 "2003-01-04T19:57:12Z")
Interesting, **flex727.** Then if I copied an 8mm tape from whatever (original) source to DVD, any Macrovision on the original would be effectively lost, right? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-dvd-to-video-tape/145491.md?page=2)