Question:
I want to get a second DVD player to set up in the bedroom and hook up to the TV/VCR combo we already have there. Thinking of using a Toshiba SD330 with our Matsui something-or-other combo.
But I'm not sure about the copy protection system I have heard about but the name of which I can't remember! I remember reading somewhere that it could affect the picture if a dvd is played back through a vcr, so will it do the same with a TV/VCR combo? What is this system called and how can I find out if it will affect what I want to do? Are there any ways around it if it will have an affect?
Any ideas/help gratefully received! Ta. :)
Sounds like you mean Macrovision, which is the copy protect mechanism on the majority of DVDs. As to whether it would affect your TV/VCR combo, I think it would depend on whether the input signal goes through the VCR part for playback. I just tried this on a Bush TV/VCR and it doesn't and would assume the majority are designed in this way.
So I get the following;
DVD goes through its own SCART channel, separate from the channel the VCR is tuned to. So playback works fine. However, if you put the VCR input on the same channel as the DVD and try to record then macrovision kicks in.
You can use a special scart lead to disable Macrovision or a modified player - for DVD 'backup' purposes. See this page (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=HardwareReview&id=5&story=2473) for one idea. Ignore the link to 'Ringos' though. :rolleyes: You can find details on the Sonel (http://www.sonel.com/) site.
Also bear in mind, the Toshiba SD330 outputs pure NTSC for Region 1 DVDs. So you would have to make sure your TV/VCR combo supports it. Otherwise choose a DVD player that supports PAL60 (such as the Pioneer DV-360S).
Thanks for that rwniel, I'll move my current DVD player to the bedroom tonight just to try it out and see what happens to the picture. I'm not interested in taping from the DVD player, just being able to watch upstairs.
You raise a good point with R1 discs though, can't imagine my combo supports NTSC so I may have to rethink the player.
Cheers :thumbs:
But I'm not sure about the copy protection system I have heard about but the name of which I can't remember! I remember reading somewhere that it could affect the picture if a dvd is played back through a vcr, so will it do the same with a TV/VCR combo? What is this system called and how can I find out if it will affect what I want to do? Are there any ways around it if it will have an affect?
Any ideas/help gratefully received! Ta. :)
Answers:
Sounds like you mean Macrovision, which is the copy protect mechanism on the majority of DVDs. As to whether it would affect your TV/VCR combo, I think it would depend on whether the input signal goes through the VCR part for playback. I just tried this on a Bush TV/VCR and it doesn't and would assume the majority are designed in this way.
So I get the following;
DVD goes through its own SCART channel, separate from the channel the VCR is tuned to. So playback works fine. However, if you put the VCR input on the same channel as the DVD and try to record then macrovision kicks in.
You can use a special scart lead to disable Macrovision or a modified player - for DVD 'backup' purposes. See this page (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=HardwareReview&id=5&story=2473) for one idea. Ignore the link to 'Ringos' though. :rolleyes: You can find details on the Sonel (http://www.sonel.com/) site.
Also bear in mind, the Toshiba SD330 outputs pure NTSC for Region 1 DVDs. So you would have to make sure your TV/VCR combo supports it. Otherwise choose a DVD player that supports PAL60 (such as the Pioneer DV-360S).
Answers:
Thanks for that rwniel, I'll move my current DVD player to the bedroom tonight just to try it out and see what happens to the picture. I'm not interested in taping from the DVD player, just being able to watch upstairs.
You raise a good point with R1 discs though, can't imagine my combo supports NTSC so I may have to rethink the player.
Cheers :thumbs:
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