lionel@eiffel.DEC (Steve Lionel) (03/18/85)
> Now, if you have a Beta machine, that is another story. Sony likes to build > sync separator circuits that like only good sync. Some of their machines will > not record unless the sync is perfect. Copyguard works very good on those > units. A anti-copyguard box is needed. But, since I do not have a beta unit, > I can only go by what I find out from users of Beta machines. Another good > point for VHS. I'm sorry, I'll have to disagree. I have never seen a problem with copyguard on my Sony SL-2700 nor any other Beta VCR. This is not to say that there is not a problem, but I've never heard it characterized as being more serious with Sony/Beta VCRs. Actually, most of the problems people have with PLAYING copyguarded tapes are related to the TV you're using rather than the VCR. Most recent TVs have very good synch circuits that let you play copyguarded tapes with ease; note the lack of a front-panel vertical hold control on modern TVs. Older sets have more problems. Few tapes today are copyguarded, and if you have a good enough VCR, like the SL-2700, you can copy even those. Of course, it is illegal to do so, but that's your problem. Steve
brown@nic_vax.UUCP (03/20/85)
> > Now, if you have a Beta machine, that is another story. Sony likes to build > > sync separator circuits that like only good sync. Some of their machines will > > not record unless the sync is perfect. Copyguard works very good on those > > units. A anti-copyguard box is needed. But, since I do not have a beta unit, > > I can only go by what I find out from users of Beta machines. Another good > > point for VHS. > > I'm sorry, I'll have to disagree. I have never seen a problem with copyguard > on my Sony SL-2700 nor any other Beta VCR. This is not to say that there > is not a problem, but I've never heard it characterized as being more serious > with Sony/Beta VCRs. Actually, most of the problems people have with > PLAYING copyguarded tapes are related to the TV you're using rather than > the VCR. Most recent TVs have very good synch circuits that let you play > copyguarded tapes with ease; note the lack of a front-panel vertical hold > control on modern TVs. Older sets have more problems. I have a Sony SL-340 portable unit here at work and if it doesn't get perfect vertical sync, it is all over but the shouting. Unfortunately that is the same story for the older 3/4" U-matic recorders made by Sony. I'll record a program on it and for no apparent reason (network generated sync), the tape will have head sync loss. I've seen some noise go thru the signal that would cause the 3/4" U-matic to loose sync. The same program recorded at the same time on my VHS JVC HR-725D unit lock perfectly. A fellow worker purchased a cheapy Sanyo unit that he tried to copy a Beta tape from one machine to another, the tape was copy guarded, and the copy had no recording. That is the information that leads me to the copyguard problem on Beta machines. True the 3/4" U-matic isn't Beta, but it is made by Sony. The new Beta Hi-Fi units by Sony may have newer, relaxed, sync seperator circuits. Like I said, I personally have not seen the latest tapes released by the movie houses, on Beta, so I don't know if they stopped the copy guarded stuff. Why should they keep using it anyway? It can be defeated by buying one of the copy stabilizers. That may have been a reason that they stopped using copy guard anyway. Maybe just the cheapy Beta units have cheap sync seperator circuits. Anyone else had problems with Beta or VHS copyguard? Mr. Video
hsu@cvl.UUCP (Dave Hsu) (03/22/85)
> ... Actually, most of the problems people have with > PLAYING copyguarded tapes are related to the TV you're using rather than > the VCR. Most recent TVs have very good synch circuits that let you play > copyguarded tapes with ease; note the lack of a front-panel vertical hold > control on modern TVs. Older sets have more problems. > Actually, I have a hard time accepting this as a feature. When the hold chip blows on a Trinitron, you're looking at an $90+ dollar fix from Sony service just to replace one lousy chip. And for the most part, it behaves no better than a Panasonic or an RCA XL-100. -dave