Pretty much any copy protection system for video can be
defeated by putting
a
time base corrector in the analogue signal path between the source and
whatever you are recording it on.
Yup, that is why I currently dub macrovised VHS by passing them thru my
computer. My PowerMac has a NTSC/PAL input, and will output NTSC or PAL.
I feed the video into the mac, then run the video player software in full
screen, and record the video output. It actually makes VERY nice
duplicates, and defeats macrovision in the process (since I'm not really
recording the original video, but rather a screen image of my computer,
that just happens to have the video playing in full screen mode).
But I think Apple got wise to that, because reports are you can't do the
same thing with the DVD player and video mirroring (although with an
external scan converter I would think you can, but not with the built in
S-Video output on their newer Powerbooks).
Of course, now that I just discussed this, I am in violation of the DMCA,
so the Thought Police should be knocking on my door any moment now. Lucky
for you, you live in a country that seems to be a bit more rational and
citizen friendly (didn't Australia just pass a law that pretty much says
Macrovision is illegal or something to that effect?)
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>