From: whs70@dancer.uucp (22501-sohl)
Subject: Re: Defeating SCMS
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 15:31:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.060752.697@metrosoft.com> gvh@metrosoft.com (Gordon Van Huizen) writes:
>In article <1dkkpiINNgua@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> jwk3@po.CWRU.Edu (John W.  
>Kale) writes:
>> 	Do DAT decks place SCMS codes on recordings made from the
>> analog inputs?
>
>Nope.

I believe they do.  At least those that are "consumer DAT" units as
opposed to a PRO-DAT deck.  The resulting DAT tape is then a "first
generation" DAT from which you CAN make another DAT copy.  The other
DAT copy is then marked with the SCMS as a second generation DAT
tape which prohibits a consumer DAT deck from making a copy of
that DAT tape.

>Well at least on my DAT deck (a Panasonic 3700 - a "pro" deck) you can set  
>whether you want SCMS added to recordings or not. You can also set whether  
>that subcode is set to allow one digital copy or no digital copies via  
>SCMS.

That's what I find so amusing.  Anyone intent on making $$$$ b y producing
pirate DAT tapes need only use a PRO-deck to eliminate/alter the SCMS
functioning. 

>In the case of the AES/EBU inputs, you can also affect whether the SCMS  
>comes through from the original digital recording.
>Given all this and the fact that the A/D conevrtors are fairly highly  
>regarded (even Stereophile considers it a class-B recorder) AND that it  
>can be had for $1200 I don't understand why anyone would buy a "consumer"  
>DAT deck. Well I guess it isn't a very "pretty" piece of gear...

Frankly, I'm at the point where I really think the "big win" for the
recording industry has been the "royalty tax" on DAT decks and tape.
Having the SCMS is probably now (IMHO) viewed by the industry as just
a convenient way of putting a roadblock up for the "common non-technical"
individual.  My quess is the industry will move for similar royalties
from other recording media such as VCR tapes, DCC tape, cassette, etc.
Their argument will be:  It's only a few cents per tape, and look, it
is working in the DAT format, so why not all other recording mediums.

By the way, anyone know of a design for an SCMS defeating interface
box?  I'd have thought we'd see one by now, but maybe the low
quantity of DATs in homes hasn't lead to enough demand yet.

On a slightly different vain, I saw a brief commercial on TV last
night which was hailing the DCC availability from Phillips.  It was
a Phillips commercial.  What, if anything, is there similar to
SCMS in the DCC format?

Actually, maybe someone could provide an overview of DCC for those
of us that aren't familiar with it.  What is the actual recording
type (analog/digital?),  physical size, length, recording time
of the tapes, etc.

Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's.
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Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.)
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Newsgroups: rec.audio