FYI: 16:9 DVD from Comcast/Motorola PVR

[Frobozz]

I just finished making a 16:9 DVD with 5.1-channel audio from my Comcast/Motorola 6412 PVR and thought some folks might want to know about how to do this.

First, I downloaded the Apple Developer FirewireSDK20 kit. If you Google for it or for VirtualDVHS you'll find info on this and links.

Next I connected my iBook and the PVR via Firewire, launched AVC Browser and VirtualDVHS2 from the FirewireSDK20 kit. This let me record to my hard drive the HD program playing from the PVR in real time.

I opened the resulting .m2t file in MPEG Streamclip 1.3.1 and exported the file as MPEG. I dragged the MPEG file to Toast 6.1.1 and chose Save as Disc Image. Toast re-encoded the MPEG authored the DVD and saved the image file.

DVD Player played the mounted image file as a widescreen movie. The audio remains the 5.1-channel surround from the original source.

I also was able to do something similar with DV video. Instead of saving as an MPEG file from MPEG Streamclip I exported as Quicktime 16:9 using the Apple Intermediate Codec. I then was able to import this video into a widescreen iMovie HD project where it retained the proper aspect ratio. From there I could record it to anamorphic widescreen DVD via the Firewire connection on my Pioneer standalone DVD recorder, or send it to iDVD.

I thought I tried some of this with earlier versions of Toast, MPEG Streamclip, and OS 10.3.x (I'm now using 10.4.1) and it didn't work out. Maybe I was mistaken or maybe these applications are better suited for converting HD content to 16:9 SD DVD than they were awhile ago.

[DanSlagle]

Why do you need the SDK? Oh never mind....

The Official Announcement...

The FireWire SDK for Mac OS X provides
developers with useful tools, example
projects, documentation, and debug
components. It also contains source-code
for most of the FireWire stack from OS X
Tiger, version 10.4.0 and Panther
version 10.3.9. FireWire SDK 20 contains
a number of new and updated tools
including FireBug, FireCracker, PhyTool,
FWBusyBus, FWPlugOMatic, and AVCBrowser.
It also contains source for a new AV/C
DV & MPEG2 streaming framework called
AVCVideoServices, and example projects
which use this new framework, including
an updated version of VirtualDVHS. [June
6, 2005]

The new SDK can be found here
http://developer.apple.com/sdk/#FireWireX

[AntnyMD]

How long did the Toast conversion take, Frobozz?

I have a JVC HM-DH40000 HDTV VCR which I use to downconvert 1080i/720p recordings from my Comcast/Motorola PVR to a standalone DVD recorder. This recorder does not flag 16:9 content (so that it auto-widescreens in Apple DVD Player) but obviously I can simply have my TV stretch to widescreen. For DVDs I want properly authored as anamorphic, I reauthor those discs in DVD Studio Pro. This is the fastest way to make DVDs from HD content without going through too many changes.

Since I have the HD VCR, I also capture things direct to tape, which is pretty cool since its the only high definition consumer recorder device on the market in the United States. Also because of its age, it ignores flags for protected content.

My other outlet for capturing high definition television to save it on my computer. AVC Browser from Firewire SDK20 is a much improved application for snagging the video out of your Firewire enabled HD settop box. Playback of this content is also much improved in VirtualDVHS2. This program has a feature that creates a navigational file of your transport stream so your Mac becomes a super-fast HDTV VCR (for scanning back and forth, etc). I took (as an example) the season finale of Desperate Housewives, pulled the content in my laptop, edited out the commercials with MPEGStreamclip, removed all the null packets from the transport stream with NullPacketStripper java applet, and burned the final transport stream (and its navigation file created by VirtualDVHS2) to a data DVD. Playing that file back to my television via VirtualDVHS2 results in playable high def content from DVD without stutters, skips or dropped frames!

Another neat feature of this JVC VCR is that when you play analog VHS and SHVS tapes, it outputs an MPEG stream via Firewire which can be captured into your Mac. The downside is I've found the bitrate output is 12Mbps muxed (too high for DVD). I'm trying to find a way to make it spit out a DVD spec bitrate on these tapes.

[Frobozz]

AntnyMD, with my 933mhz G4 iBook Toast needed about 5 and a half minutes to encode each minute of the MPEG. This is at Toast's standard quality. That represents about twice as long as Toast takes to encode a SD DV video.

The original .mt2 is 1280 X 720, 59.94 fps and 14.5 mbps progressive.

The MPEG exported from Streamclip is 1280 X 720, 59.94 fps and 8.2 mbps progressive.

The VOB encoded by Toast is 720 X 480, 29.97 fps, 8.0 mbps interlaced. The Toast VOB is nearly half the size of the MPEG exported from StreamClip.

[Spoffo]

If the recordings from your standalone DVD recorder are OK other than the lack of a widescreen flag, there's a much quicker way to fix them than re-authoring. Just copy the VIDEO_TS folder to your hard disk, open it up with myDVDEdit and use that to re-set the flag from 4:3 to 16:9 on any title sets that should have it. This literally takes about 30 seconds and then you re-burn that altered original VIDEO_TS using Toast.

I do this all the time with HD down converts from HBO that I capture on a Panasonic stand-alone.

Actually, there is one other step: after you've copied the folder to your hard disk, you need to re-set the permissions on all the files in it from read-only to read and write so that myDVDEdit can save the changes.

[AntnyMD]

You're absolutely correct, Spoffo. I do that as well. However, I noticed that myDVDEdit will only add the 16:9 flag to the .ifo for the video title set; it does NOT add the 16:9 flag to the actual MPEG program stream (which I find disappointing). I know this because you can open an edited VIDEO_TS in Apple DVD Player and it will widescreen, but open up the actual .VOB(s) in MPEG Streamclip and they're still scrunched. Thats why I sometimes do a full reauthoring in DVD Studio Pro.

[Frobozz]

If the recordings from your standalone DVD recorder are OK other than the lack of a widescreen flag, there's a much quicker way to fix them than re-authoring. Just copy the VIDEO_TS folder to your hard disk, open it up with myDVDEdit and use that to re-set the flag from 4:3 to 16:9 on any title sets that should have it.

Your qualifier at the beginning eliminates this option in my case. I can only record letterbox 4:3 from the Motorola 6412 with my Pioneer DVR-510H standalone recorder. So the only way to retain a 16:9 image for me is to export the .m2t stream via Firewire from the Motorola to my hard drive.

[AntnyMD]

Frobozz, I think if you tell the 6412 your monitor is a 16:9 it wont letterbox widescreen content anymore. Play with the settings. Turn the box off but leave your television on .. then press the up/down keys on the box itself to adjust settings. This box allows for 480i 16:9 output from the composite and s-video outputs.

[Frobozz]

I've tried all that, but I'll try again. It only has affected the composite outputs from what I can tell. I have no trouble getting 16:9 on the TV via composite, but haven't found a way to get it to the recorder via S-video.


Checked again:
Nope, nothing changes the letterbox 4:3 via the Motorola's S-video output.

[AntnyMD]

ok .. I'm home now and I pressed the OFF button to turn the box off, then pressed MENU then the right cursor to select 16:9, then down cursor to switch between 1080i, 480i and 480p. 480i outputs widescreen (scrunched) on the television, and I use my television's settings to strech high def channels to widescreen. If that doesnt happen for you, I must have a magic box

[cnelson87]

does this work with encrypted content? (please please please...)

[Frobozz]

ok .. I'm home now and I pressed the OFF button to turn the box off, then pressed MENU then the right cursor to select 16:9, then down cursor to switch between 1080i, 480i and 480p. 480i outputs widescreen (scrunched) on the television, and I use my television's settings to strech high def channels to widescreen. If that doesnt happen for you, I must have a magic box

Thanks for trying to make it work for me, AntnyMD. We have some differences. For me the scrunched picture is with the 480p setting while 480i is letterboxed. Also, these settings only apply to the component video and not the S-Video. I need a DVHS deck like yours to serve as a go-between. And the process I described at the top of this thread works very well because it retains the multi-channel audio.

[Frobozz]

does this work with encrypted content? (please please please...)

I'm not sure what you mean by encrypted content. You can't capture the In Demand channels or the Music Choice channels. Naturally you can't capture a channel that you're not subscribing to. The Motorola manual says that if the source is copy protected it can't be exported this way and that if it is copy-once protected you can make the copy but not another from that copy. I have not encountered copy protection. My sense is if you can record it to the PVR you can export it.

[cnelson87]

Actually, I'm not sure what I mean by encrypted content either. I currently don't have cable as it seems like a real rip off (IMHO) to pay $40 - $60 per month just to watch a few select shows. They put everything on DVD eventually.

Anyway, as far as what I've read, aren't certain channels like HBO and Showtime encrypted? Even if you have a subscription, I've read that you can't record the original Hi-Def signal because it uses something called 5C encryption.

I don't know if I have my info right, I'm still in the research phase. But if I can record HD streams directly to my Mac without re-encoding, then it might be time to get cable again.

thanks for any info you can offer.

[Frobozz]

I guess the best answer to your questions is to try it and find out. I believe Comcast is offering a deal where you get all the premium channels for about the regular price of the standard digital package for a couple months. The Hi-Def channels are included when you rent the 6412 which costs an additional $10 per month.

I've read posts where people report that HBO is using the copy once protection. I don't have HBO so I don't know.

[AntnyMD]

I havent encountered any copy protection on any channels except:

(1) On Demand. Everything is protected, with Macrovision. My ADS box ignores Macrovision from On Demand content so it can be copied this way.

(2) HBO analog standard definition sometimes uses Macrovision on concert specials. ADS to the rescue.

Broadcast networks (PBS, UPN, Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Pax, the WB, Telemundo, Univision) are currently not allowed to copy-protect programs on their high definition channels. The U S Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled the FCC exceeded its authority in this area (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_flag).

Non-broadcast flag-compliant settop boxes and recorders have been manufactured for years, so any hardware you currently own will more than likely ignore the broadcast flag should it ever be implemented. Any equipment purchased after today (July 1) may or may not be broadcast flag-enabled, as the flag was supposed to be implemented starting today.

Although I've only made direct stream copies of HD content from premium channels to either my hard drive or to my high def VCR, I havent tried making a copy of any copy. I guess I have a little project to do tonight after work! I'll report back.

[cnelson87]

another Q:
It's been my understanding (perhaps mistakenly) that SD digital cable (not analog) is basically just streaming an mpeg2 signal, and the firewire trick works for that too. Meaning, no need to capture with the ADS or any other hardware-based mpeg2 capture box, just plug in the firewire cable and capture the broadcast mpeg2 stream directly.
ya think one of youz guys can try that out, too? maybe try it on SciFi channel.....
much appreciated!

[AntnyMD]

I've done that cnelson87, and its true, its just an MPEG2 transport stream, at a ridiculously low bitrate on some channels (like, the N sometimes streams at just over the old VCD bitrate). The gross part of this fact is the resolution they use (for Comcast, anyway): 528x480 NTSC, a resolution thats not a part of any disc standard!

[cnelson87]

how bizarre, thanks for the info.

[AntnyMD]

A program designed to accept non-standard SVCD resolutions should be able to work with these crap Comcast digital cable resolutions after transcoding the audio to MPEG1 Layer 2. Otherwise you'll have to downconvert the transport streams to 480x480/576 or 352x480/576 or 352x240/288, or upconvert to DVD specifications.