In article <[log in to unmask]>, Richard C Cante <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> Recently, I've been watching lots of New Yorker Films videotapes to prepare >> for a course I'm teaching in the fall. I've noticed that many, if not >> most, of such tapes available at my local video store wear a label claiming >> they've been copy protected with the "Macrovision process." I've been wondering about this for a while. I've asked a lot of people, and no one really knows too much about it (but then again, I'm sure I'm asking the wrong people). As far as I can tell, general copyprotection involves recording a very weak sync pulse in the video signal: strong enough that if your VCR is connected to your television it won't be a problem; but weak enough that if you put any kind of device between the two (like another VCR), the signal becomes garbled. This is relatively easy to beat: just boost the gain of the video signal between the two VCR's and you're okay. The secret to the Macrovision process, I believe (but I could be totally off base), is that they vary the signal strength throughout the tape. That way, a simple "gain up" will work when the signal is weak, but when the signal is strong the highlights get blown out, contrast increases, it looks really bad. In order to copy a tape then, you need something that will both boost the video signal and stablize it. Like a good Time-Base Corrector. I've also heard that not every tape that has the label is actually protected. Just a small percentage of them actually go through the process. Of course, this all rumor. Anyone have any real info on this? --john -- for beautiful human life http://www.city-net.com/~fodder/index.html small movies ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]