Hi,
does anybody know if there are VCR`s existing which can record the Dolby AC3 signal you get out of the SPDIP connector of the DVD player? This VCR`s should have a SPDIP I guess. So, in other wourds that it would be possible to make a copy of a DVD on VCR Tape, including the Dolby AC3 (5.1) soundtrack?
Thanx for an replies

VHS tapes can come with Dolby Prologic on them, And copies of those I've made retain the surround sound effect. I have yet to see a VCR movie with 5.1 on it, so I'm guessing it's a limitation of the tape's audio format. I've copied DVD to SVHS using not the audio from the DVD player, but the audio output (RCA stereo) from the amplifier after it has decoded the sound. The receiver thinks the tape is Prologic when it is played back thru it. Obviously, since the SVHS VCR doesn't have digital outputs.

VHS is analog; Dolby Digital is digital... the two shall not meet. However, DVHS will record AC3 (5.1) off of a digital source (satellite) if it's there. However, I believe most of those are integrated with the actual DSS receiver.

If you browse to "www.dolby.com", you will find a lot of useful information on Dolby Digital, and you will be surprised to know that when the theaters received a Dolby Digital 5.1 movies, the sound is stored on the film sprockets, simply because there is no location for them. And that's 35MM!!!

Image the 0.5 inch wide VHS tape. There would be no room for them either, in analog or digital...

I didn't think you could copy a DVD movie to VCR. I have heard talks about accomplishing this using something called a SIMA Copymaster, which I haven't heard of and don't even know what it is. So how do you copy DVD's to VCR?

I occasionally record DVD movies onto video tape. I have a Sima SYS-4 A/V switch that my four sources (DVD, DSS, (S)VHS, and 8mm) video signal go into. There are two outputs on it. One goes straight to the S-video input on my TV. The other goes THRU a SIMA video COPYMASTER (gotten at a Best Buy several years back) and back to the S-video input on my JVC SVHS deck. Any copy protection gets taken care of by the copymaster. All audio is passed in and out of my Sony A/V amp. I of course don't get 5.1 audio on the tape, but my receiver thinks it is PROLOGIC audio when I play the tapes back.

WHY do I copy DVDs? I can rent any DVD for 49 cents on tuesdays but usually have to take them back by thursday. My wife is a doctor, very busy, and only has time to watch movies on weekends. If I've rented a DVD I think she'd like to see, I copy it and we watch it off of SVHS tape on the weekend. If she REALLY LIKES the movie I'll look for it on the WWW and buy it for our collection. I use the recording tape over and over. SVHS tapes are expensive and hard to find.

Dave

Here's a link to information about Sima's CopyMaster.

[Link: simacorp.com]

Dave