Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 483

All-in-One CP-Filters/Widescreen Preservers and the "Analog Sunset"

The "Analog Sunset" (aka "Analog Hole")

Here's a good explanation of the "analog sunset" as mentioned in this help file.

It's a licensing agreement between content owners and CE mfgrs that applies to a narrow equipment category (BD) and NOT other equipment. As stated on pg 2 of the pdf doc:

"... analog sunset is also a narrowly defined, regulatory term whereby the performance and behavior of specific types of A/V equipment, namely Bluray Disc (BD) players and recorders, are restricted in a legally binding manner, and this term is not applicable to other equipment."

The Sunset regulation DOES NOT APPLY TO CABLE/SAT STBs (receivers and DVRs), per specific PROHIBITION in the reg, with one exception as noted below:

CP-Filtering Converters & WS Preservers (Click item name for more detailed info.)

1. $50-55 HDMI>Composite/S-Video Converter.
For defeating copy protection (CP) from DVD players, DVDRs and STB/DVRs and concurrently preserving widescreen aspect from Motorola STB/DVRs and others. Source must have HDMI output. Should also future-proof you for the "analog sunset" on BD players/recorders (explained in the section above). Unfortunately, lots of counterfeiters out there, so picking a reasonably priced good one can be problematic.

2. $43 Component>Composite/S-Video Converter.
For defeating CP from DVD players, DVDRs and STB/DVRs, and concurrently preserving widescreen aspect from Motorola STB/DVRs and others. Source must have Component RGB output. Should also future-proof you for the "analog sunset" on BD players/recorders (explained in the section above). Unfortunately, lots of counterfeiters out there, so picking a reasonably priced good one can be problematic.
 

3. $26 MCM Video Stabilizer for VHS/DVD Players and Other Sources.
For defeating CP from all VHS tapes, most DVDs, and other sources delivered over composite Yellow RCA or S-Video... or *all* DVDs (?) with internal pot adjustment, based on Tomwil's experience described below. Source must have Composite Yellow or S-Video output. Can't preserve WS aspect from STB/DVR cuz it only has composite and S-Video input, and it needs Component or HDMI input which are the only STB/DVR outputs that preserve WS aspect.

4. DON'T GIVE UP ON 1ST TRY!

5. Can the Mag's 6-hour buffer strip CP? NO.

8. Another list just for STB/DVR users is here (repeats first two above, adds others).
 

FINE PRINT: Be aware that the design of these tested devices can change at any time and that, in the future, they may or may not work as described below. The MCM video stabilizer has been around for years, and mine operated better than some people said it would, but you still never know what the future holds.

1. HDMI>Composite/S-Video Converter ... Beware of counterfeits.
 

Available from Amazon for $50 and Tiger Direct for $54.

Here's another HDMi converter tested by dfw515 with same quality as original Lenkeng.

See this page for more (make sure unit(s) of interest say "HDMI to Composite" not vice versa). 

Go back to List. ...... Go to main list of help files.

2. COMPONENT>Composite/S-Video Converter ... Beware of counterfeits.
 

Available from Monprice.com.

See this page for more (make sure unit(s) of interest say "Component to Composite" not vice versa). 

Component RGB Setup

I tested this Component converter on some comm. DVDs with CP that previously prevented me from copying them for home-library backups.

Setup: Philips 3575 Component Out>Converter>Composite Out to a Mag 2160. Playing 3575's Progressive Scan OFF. NTSC/PAL switch on converter set to NTSC and CVBS/S-Video switch set to CVBS (composite yellow RCA).

Viewed results on a 47" Vizio LCD. Didn't try S-Video out from converter, which could well have produced even better results.
 

Component RGB Results

Worked well with just a skosh more PQ degradation on the edges of opening credits than the HDMI converter described above.

It preserved 16:9 Wide Aspect from Component thru the Composite Yellow connection to the recorder and, in a separate test, to my 16:9 HDTV JFTHOI.

It stripped ANALOG closed captions (CC). It couldn't strip DIGITAL CC recorded with our DVDRs cuz those are burned into the video.

Some people don't think the PQ from this converter is as good as I saw. One reason could be the NTSC/PAL switch on one end... you can actually get a "decently poor" pic on PAL!

Another reason could be the known COUNTERFEITING of the original Lenkeng product. Here's a news release by Lenkeng discussing this.

Since there are SO MANY sellers of these converters, I linked only to Monoprice, which is one of AVS's most respected sponsors of our AV cables and accessories and sells their branded version. Here's hoping they only stock the original!

Best I can do for ident. purposes is pics: click here for a pic of Lenkeng's original and see pic above of the Monoprice-branded version.

Go back to List. ...... Go to main list of help files.

3. MCM Video Stabilizer for VHS/DVD Players and Other Sources

Available from MCM.

For copying via composite Yellow or S-Video output from players/recorders and other sources. Strips CP. Does NOT strip analog or digital CC. Preserves 16:9 WS aspect from DVDs (virtually all VHS tapes are 4:3). Does NOT have NTSC/PAL switch... for NTSC only. Has 9V Chinese battery you might want to replace ASAP? Has plug for 9V power adapter. My PQ in 2-hr-SP rec mode better than original comm. VHS tapes and excellent from comm. pressed DVDs. Others disagree so YMMV. (I lead a charmed life. ) Has internal adjustable pot for pic/CP tweaking that allowed Tomwil to copy all his comm/ DVDs. On-screen indicators/menus activated in source/player MAY get recorded with video (check yours). You would be wise to avoid pressing any buttons while recording!

This MCM Video Stabilizer was originally designed just for VHS tapes, but should work for *most* commercial DVDs, or *all* DVDs after an internal pot adjustment, plus other sources with Yellow RCA or S-Video output.

Does NOT have NTSC/PAL switch... apparently for NTSC only. MCM website doesn't even have the word PAL anywhere.

Nice metal box. Operates on a replaceable 9V battery with 2000-hr life claimed. Turns "on" only when it senses a video signal, turns off at end of video signal. Has yellow RCA composite and S-Video inputs and outputs. Mine came with 9V Chinese battery, which you might want to replace ASAP? It has plug for 9V power adapter.

MCM Results on Commercial VHS Tapes

I used my Philips 3575 that had previously copied 9 of 14 of my VHS commercial movies directly to HDD, followed by HSD to DVD, all without a stabilizer. For this test, I started with one of my most-impossible tapes to copy. I connected the stabilizer thru its single in/out RCA connector between the VCR and the 3575, and this prev. "impossible" tape copied successfully to HDD.

I also tested it direct-to-DVD and it, too, copied successfully. I then copied the rest of my VHS movies with stabilizer and direct-to-DVD (DTD), letting the DVD run to end, which turned out to be a real joy, as described here.

Virtually all VHS is 4:3 aspect, but I copied them to my Philips DVDR in my permanent TV Aspect setting of "16:9 Wide" (i.e., I didn't change it to 4:3 Letter Box for these tapes). VHS tapes and other standard 4:3 material CAN'T be reshaped/mis-shaped by the Philips' or Mag's 16:9 Wide aspect setting.

I viewed the copies in "Normal" (4:3) aspect on a 32" Vizio 720p LCD and they looked really good and in their normal 4:3 aspect. I also viewed in "Wide" aspect just to see the effect of stretching... not bad at all, just slightly softer, as expected, but very watchable. No bars on anything.

I copied the first tape in 3-hr-LP rec mode by mistake. The LP copy was about as good as the VHS source, as confirmed by my very fussy wife/CFO. After I repeated the test in 2-hr-SP rec mode, she confirmed that the 2-hr-SP copy was slightly better than the VHS original, esp. in the black screens or black objects. As I found with all my tape copying, the stabilizer didn't affect my 3575's ability to make solid, full-screen blacks more uniform but still preserve the details in black objects like hair or clothing.

Closed captions (CC) were preserved.

My VHS copies were so good with the video stabilizer that I just left it in line even for copying my final batch of home movies to DVD.

Again, as with the HDMI and Component converters above, some people don't think the PQ from this converter is as good as I saw. Could be many reasons, including counterfeiting as mentioned above. Buying only from MCM should prevent that?

MCM Results on Commercial DVDs

I tested this stabilizer between a Philips 3575 and Mag 2160 and it allowed me to copy 6 of 10 randomly selected commercial DVD movies. On all 10, I confirmed that they would not copy w/o the stabilizer. The 6 that copied were released between 2000 and 2009.

It also worked on ALL of Tomwil's comm. DVDs after he adjusted an internal potentiometer (RW1), as described and shown in Posts #15 and #20 here.

Copy quality is excellent thru the stabilizer when viewed on 32" and 47" LCDs... surprisingly good, but then the DVD source is also excellent compared to a VHS source!

Closed captions (CC) were preserved.

Go back to List. ...... Go to main list of help files.

4. DON'T GIVE UP ON 1ST TRY!

Update on MCM Converter, 10/31/12... applies to all!

Go back to List. ...... Go to main list of help files.

5. Buffer Can't Save CP'd Stuff to HDD without Stabilizer

While you can view buffered CP'd stuff from an external source, you can't Save it to HDD w/o a filter/stabilizer in between. I tested this on a CP'd DVD from a player to a Mag 2160.

Go back to List. ...... Go to main list of help files.