Help with .tivo to .mpg conversion

[CrystalDoll]

I usually record my tv shows using my all-in-wonder card, edit them with mpeg2vcr and then save them as raw mpeg1 files that I then burn to a DVD-R as data files and can play them on my particular DVD player.
However, I missed one show through the AIW card process but do have it transferred from my Tivo as a .tivo file.
I'd like to know the easiest way to convert this one file so that I can then edit it with mpeg2vcr and save it as a mpeg1 data file. All of the instructions to try to do this procedure that I have seen so far are way too complicated for the novice in me (graphedit, muxer, demuxer, etc). Or maybe someone can do it for me.... Any help would be appreciated!

[CrystalDoll]

Wow... 51 views and no reply.... Can't anyone help me? Must be a way to convert from .tivo to a mpeg1 or mpeg2 without jumping through 100 hoops...

[BobK]

I don't really know anything about tivo, but have you tried just renaming to .mpg and opening with mpeg2vcr or something else?

[Jrny2IL]

Try This >> http://andrewconnell.com/blog/archive/2005/01/22/868.aspx

I've used this method with much success, but you'll want to use something like VideoReDo to correct any audio sync issues you may have.

[CrystalDoll]

Try This >> http://andrewconnell.com/blog/archive/2005/01/22/868.aspx

I've used this method with much success, but you'll want to use something like VideoReDo to correct any audio sync issues you may have.

The problem I've have with this method is that the DirectShow Filters that I see listed in graphedit do not include the moonlight demultiplexer or mpeg2 multiplex....event though I have the moonlight xmuxer program installed on my computer... Only filters remotely resembling these that I can see are called: Elecard Audio Decoder, Elecard Video Decoder, and a generic MPEG-2 Demultiplexer.... and when i try to connect these to the .tivo file, they don't work.... How do I get the Moonlight filters to show up in graphedit.....as well as the Dump filter?

[Eyedoctor2]

Almost everything you need to know can be found at:

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/ttg.htm

Most important part of that is the following excerpt:

UPDATE, 6/14 The author of EtiVo has released DirectShow Dump, http://prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm , a free utility to extract the content of .tivo files as unprotected MPEGs. Depending on the recording quality (file size) and your computer specs, conversion only takes a few minutes.

Steps then are:

1) Put .tivo file in folder
2) Point DirectShow Dump to that folder.
3) DirectShow Dump will provide you with a .mpg file as output.
4) Use DVD Patcher, https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=DVDPatcher, to patch the First Header only, changing the horizontal resolution to 720.

This is necessary because many DVD Authoring programs (eg. TMPG DVD Author) won't accept the 480 x 480 format of the Tivo generated mpgs.

5) Author the resulting mpg with your DVD Authoring software of choice.
6) Repatch the first header of the first VOB back to horizontal resolution of 480 to eliminate playback problems.
7) Burn

Most important advantages of this approach is that no graphedit experience is necessary and no time intensive re-encoding is needed.

Entire process can be completed in much less than an hour for the typical 2 hour tivo show.

Hope this helps!!

[APGoldman]

I installed Directshow Dump last night... I tried to load a .tivo file, however that extension was not available....

What an I doing wrong???

[Eyedoctor2]

As you can see on http://prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm

You open the directshow dump program and you click on the Add Files icon and direct it to the folder that you have your .tivo file archived.

[Denvers Dawgs]

Almost everything you need to know can be found at:

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/ttg.htm

Most important part of that is the following excerpt:

UPDATE, 6/14 The author of EtiVo has released DirectShow Dump, http://prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm, a free utility to extract the content of .tivo files as unprotected MPEGs. Depending on the recording quality (file size) and your computer specs, conversion only takes a few minutes.

Steps then are:

1) Put .tivo file in folder
2) Point DirectShow Dump to that folder.
3) DirectShow Dump will provide you with a .mpg file as output.
4) Use DVD Patcher, https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=DVDPatcher, to patch the First Header only, changing the horizontal resolution to 720.

This is necessary because many DVD Authoring programs (eg. TMPG DVD Author) won't accept the 480 x 480 format of the Tivo generated mpgs.

5) Author the resulting mpg with your DVD Authoring software of choice.
6) Repatch the first header of the first VOB back to horizontal resolution of 480 to eliminate playback problems.
7) Burn

Most important advantages of this approach is that no graphedit experience is necessary and no time intensive re-encoding is needed.

Entire process can be completed in much less than an hour for the typical 2 hour tivo show.

Hope this helps!!

After repatching the first header in VOB 1 and then burning, My video isn't centered? There is a line going down the screen and the video is split? The show is 3/4 of the ways on my screen then the other quarter is the same image just cut off some? Anyone know why. I did exactly as the 7 steps say...

If my show is in wide screen do I need tochange the aspect ratio on dvdpatcher to 16:9

And finally my menu doesn't work. I used TMPG DVD Author. When the dvd starts the menu is all distorted and just lines. I can see the yellow play button that is also a blur. Dvd plays through, but like I said it isn't centered.

Problems to fix:
1 Uncentered video
2. menu problems.

[Eyedoctor2]

Denver,

Does it play on your computer okay?

I found that three of my dvd players play the video without any problem but a very old dvd player I have resulted in similar output that you describe.

[Denvers Dawgs]

No it had the same problem on the computer. I noticed it was that way when I was editing in TMPG DVD Author, but thought that it was supposed tp do that becasue of the change from 780 to 420. Any ideas why the video isn't centered?

Repatching the first VTs file or the first VOB (Vob 1_1). I chose VOB 1_1 is that correct?

[Eyedoctor2]

I just went through the whole operation myself and played the resultant DVD flawlessly.

I tried to attach a screenshot but couldn't get it to upload DVD Patcher screen . Only setting to change is the horizontal to 720 then click on Patch now!.

Afterwards author with TMPG DVD Author (same program I use) and then patch VOB 1_1 back to 480.

Hope that helps!

[Denvers Dawgs]

ok i'l try again later on another show, thanks

[Denvers Dawgs]

I have VOB 1_0 before VOB 1_1. Do I still patch the 1_1 VOB?

[Denvers Dawgs]

Ok I just tried again. the menu works fine now, but the video is still not right? It isn't centered. the left side is cut off and is playing on the right side? So the picture is starting 1/4 into the screen and the missing 1/4 being played after where the picture should actually end?

Also the show is in widescreen form. Is there some other setting I have to change to get the video correct?

[Denvers Dawgs]

I finally got some images so that I can show what I mean...


1. ^ Here you can see that there is a large green strip in the video on the right side in TMPG DVD Author. Now when played on a dvd player that green strip is where the actual left side of the show is viewed.


2 ^This is another example of the strip.


3. ^Here is what it looks like while editing. When I play it in the dvd player the left side of the screen would start at say the right frint tire, and then there is a line down the screen and following the line would be from the left rear tire to just before the right front tire. That is of course after I repatch with dvd patcher back to the horizontal 480.



This is all done directly after using Directshow, and patching the horizontal from 480 to 720 with dvdpatcher. I'm using dvd author 1.6 trail at the moment. Has this ever happened to anyone esle?

[Denvers Dawgs]

OK well I have now tried this disc on a Sony and my PS2 and the dvd works fine. What other dvd players have these disc worked on for others? Just trying to see what dvd player I should be now. (looking for a black dvd player to match other components.)