Video Stabilizer/MacroVision Removal

Have you ever attempted to copy a commercially produced video only to end up with a distorted and jumpy image? If so, then you have run afoul of MacroVision. MacroVision is the most popular copy protection scheme used on the majority of content distributed on VHS cassettes. Like all copy protection, it does nothing to discourage the real pirates and only annoys the user who may wish to create a legal copy for backup and archival purposes. This circuit can eliminate MacroVision encoding in both NTSC and PAL recordings.



Parts

• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7 -------- 6 68K 1/4W Resistor
• R6 ---------------------------- 2 75 Ohm 1/4W Resistor
• R8, R9 ------------------------ 2 100 Ohm 1/4W Resistor
• R10 --------------------------- 1 2.2K 1/4W Resistor
• R11 ---------------------------- 1 1.5K 1/4W Resistor
• R12, R17 ---------------------- 2 470K 1/4W Resistor
• R13, R16 ---------------------- 2 33K 1/4W Resistor
• R14 --------------------------- 1 6.8K 1/4W Resistor
• R15 --------------------------- 1 22K 1/4W Resistor
• R18 --------------------------- 1 47K 1/4W Resistor
• C1 --------------------------- 1 15uF Electrolytic Capacitor
• C2 --------------------------- 1 220uF Electrolytic Capacitor
• C3 --------------------------- 1 220pF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
• C4 --------------------------- 1 0.0022uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
• C5, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13 7 0.1uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
• C6 -------------------------- 1 0.47uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
• D1-D9, D10-D18, D19-D27, D28, D29, D30, D31, D32, D33, D34, D35 35 1N4148 Diode
• Q1 --------------------------- 1 BC548 NPN Transistor
• Q2 --------------------------- 1 BC558 PNP Transistor
• U1 --------------------------- 1 4040 12-Bit Ripple Counter
• U2, U3 ------------------------ 2 4027 Dual J-K Flip Flop
• U4 ---------------------------- 1 4011 Quad Two Input NAND Gate
• U5 --------------------------- 1 TL802 Dual Op Amp
• U6 --------------------------- 1 4053 Triple Two Channel Multiplexer
• U7 --------------------------- 1 4069 Hex Inverter
• J1-J9, J10-J18, J19-J27 ------- 27 Jumper
• J28, J29 --------------------- 2 RCA Jack
• MISC ---------------------- 1 PC Board, Wire, Sockes For ICs

Notes

• The circuit was submitted via email by Jari Ekstrom. Jari noted that the author is Antti Paarlahti and that the circuit originally came from the author's website. This website is no longer accessible. However, some searching revealed that the author of the circuit also wrote The MacroVision FAQ. The email address listed for the author in the FAQ is invalid and the FAQ was last updated in late 1996. This circuit reproduced here without permission.
• Before use, the circuits's jumper need to be set. Take a look at the table below:

MacroVision Type
Upper Start Line
Upper End Line

Lower Start Line
PAL 0x05 0x0F 0x126
NTSC 0x06 0x0E 0xFB

• To set the jumpers, first convert the line numbers to binary. You will end up with three binary digits, one for each set of line numbers. Bit 0 is least significant, bit 8 is most significant. Now simply open the jumpers at the 0 bits and close the jumpers at the 1 bits.
• Connect your video source to "Composite Video In". As the label suggests, this circuit accempts composite video signals only. The corrected video signal is sent to the "Composite Video Out" jack.
• With the two "Video" terminals disconnected the circuit passes video through without modifying it. Jumping the "Video" terminals enables the MacroVision removal.
• As with all circuits involving CMOS (4000 series) ICs, you must tie the unused inputs of those ICs to ground. This is not shown on the schematic for clarity.
• Supply voltage is 12V.

Digital Keypad Combination Lock

This simple circuit is the electronic version of the combination lock. Using the special purpose LS7220 digital lock IC, the circuit allows a 4 digit combination of your choice to activate a relay for a set period of time. This relay can then be used to trigger a lock solenoid, enable a starter button, open a motorized door, or many other tasks that require a momentary signal.



Parts

• C1 ------- 1 1uF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
• C2 ------- 1 220uF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
• R1 ------- 1 2.2K 1/4W Resistor
• Q1 ------- 1 2N3904 NPN Transistor 2N2222 (Substitute)
• D1 ------- 1 1N4148 Rectifier Diode 1N4001-1N4007 (Substitute)
• K1 ------- 1 12V SPDT Relay Any appropriate relay with 12V coil
• U1 ------- 1 LS7220 Digital Lock IC
• S1-S12 ---- 12 SPST Momentary Pushbutton Keypad (see notes)
• HD1 ----- 1 12 Position Header

Notes

• To set the combination, wire the appropriate switches to U1 pins 3, 4, 5 and 6 using the header. For example if S1 was connected to pin 3, S2 to pin 4, S3 to pin 5 and S4 to pin 6, the combination would be 1,2,3,4. Now wire all other unused switches across the header to pin 2 of U1. In this way you can create any 4 digit combination you want. Pin 2 is the reset pin, so connecting all unused keys to it assures that the entire combination must be reentered if an incorrect key is pressed.
• When the appropriate combination is entered, the relay is activated for a period of time determined by C1. The 1uF capacitor specified in the parts list will result in an on-time of roughly 5 seconds. Increase the value of C1 to increase this time.
• An easy way to make a keypad is to buy 12 PC board mount pushbuttons and then etch a PC board so that the buttons are in 4 rows of 3, similar to a telephone keypad. Place this in a case and then use a label maker or transfer letters to add your numbers to the tops of the pushbuttons. You can also use a pre made keypad but keep in mind that you need a pad which provides an output for each key. Most pads available have the keys connected to provide a row and column signal when they are pressed.