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Info Wanted: for my first steps on restorations?

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 (Edited)

Okay, i’ve always wanted to do what you guys are doing on restorations. But I have several problems for my first steps, one is I have the vhs ‘matted’ widescreen versions (Special letterbox collectors edition, the one with the hologram sticker on the front), which means the resolution even for vhs is exceptionally low. The nice thing is I can still watch these babies, but still can tell the degradation of the tapes which are almost/around 10 years old. Secondly, is copy protection. In fact on ANH it has the old style copy protection (where the brightness goes up and down, and generally makes the picture look messed up), and then ESB and ROTJ have the newer protection. Really i’m only just guessing, my capture card would record video from ANH but the picture is all messed up and ESB and ROTJ just won’t allow being recorded. Anyhoo, I can even think of restoring them, if I can’t even back them up. I’m a little uneasy about asking about how to get around the copy protection on these tapes, given the fact that it’s a legal gray area (or maybe it’s not and i just don’t know the laws), but suffice it to say, I have purchased these, and they’re getting old. Can anyone give me any advice or help?

Thanks,
Keith W. II
uhfgood -AT- verizon -DOT- net

Keith Weatherby II
Uhfgood -AT- verizon -DOT- net
Uhfgood's Blog:
http://uhfgood.artoo.net
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"Secondly, is copy protection. In fact on ANH it has the old style copy protection (where the brightness goes up and down, and generally makes the picture look messed up), and then ESB and ROTJ have the newer protection.....I'm a little uneasy about asking about how to get around the copy protection on these tapes, given the fact that it's a legal gray area"

They both use macrovision. You can buy a defeater at BestBuy

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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What's it called? And could I get it at somethng like Fry's electronics?
Keith Weatherby II
Uhfgood -AT- verizon -DOT- net
Uhfgood's Blog:
http://uhfgood.artoo.net
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Fry's should have it as well. I'm not sure what it would be called, as I've seen more than one. Something along the lines of copying. BestBuy has them by the cable/converter stands. I would imagine Frys would definitely have some as well. Just ask one of the salespeople.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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You want a Time Base Corrector or TBC. This will also help stabilise the picture if the tapes are old. The best one to get is the Datavideo TBC 1000 which sells for around $290 online. You can get cheaper things but they won't give as good results.
I would suggest starting at www.digitalFAQ.com. Then go to www.videohelp.com/www.doom9.org forums for more specific answers.
Other than that, you could always wait for MeBeJedi's and Zion's LD transfers which will be better quality anyway.
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Quick question though, like I said in the first message, ANH features that old way where the picture gets brighter/darker (having to do with the AGC), but empire and jedi both employ the method where, it just stops anything from recording it. That is, it seems to play fine, but I can't record it still, where as, the first one, I can record it, but the picture is all messed up. So question is, do I need to get two seperate things for that?

Keith
Keith Weatherby II
Uhfgood -AT- verizon -DOT- net
Uhfgood's Blog:
http://uhfgood.artoo.net
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No.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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"Uhfgood" its called the Sima box I saw one at CompUSA also www.facetvideo.com sells the one they make works great if I was you go buy a used laser Disc from Ebay and buy the THX face set on LaserDisc.