What kind of file does Tivo upload to the P.C.?

[zdamons]

I have a Tivo series 2 and I am considering hooking it up to my networked P.C. I specifically want to copy files from Tivo with thier software and then burn them to DVD to watch in any DVD player. What kind of file or codec is used on these files? Do I need special software to read it or will Nero 6X beable to do it? If this is not possible, I do not want to spend the time or money fro the usb/ethernet adaptor.

Has anyone else done this? Any advice?

[GilbyGood]

I belive that the file is a SVCD format.

After copying the program to my HD with the TIVO desktop program I use Videoredo Plus to take the unwanted material out of the video. This also writes a file that can be read by video programs.

Then I use TMPGEnc DVD Source Creator to convert the file to MEPEG2 file and then use DVD LAB PRO to create the DVD files that can be burned to a disk.

Please note that the use of the TiVO 2 go is a fair use item and the disks must be destroyed or overwritten after you have watched them. Be aware that the copywrite must be observed.

[dlflannery]

I have a Tivo series 2 and I am considering hooking it up to my networked P.C. I specifically want to copy files from Tivo with thier software and then burn them to DVD to watch in any DVD player. What kind of file or codec is used on these files? Do I need special software to read it or will Nero 6X beable to do it? If this is not possible, I do not want to spend the time or money fro the usb/ethernet adaptor.

Has anyone else done this? Any advice?

Many people are doing this. Try the tivocommunity.com forum, in particular this thread and this thread.

TiVo files are mpeg2 files with a TiVo wrapper which must be removed.

VideoReDo is recommended for topping, tailing and editing out commercials, for cleaning up the file, and for saving in VOB format.

You can create DVD's without paying for any other software:

1. Edit TiVo in VideoReDo, save as VOB (.vob), which is a special kind of mpeg2 (.mpg).
2. Input the VOB file(s) into DVDStyler and author the DVD to ISO image (.iso).
3. Burn the .iso file to DVD using imgburn or dvddecrypter.

TiVo formats for S2 are:
Best and High quality: 480x480
Medium Quality: 352x480
Basic quality: 352x240
If you have video filtering turned on, Best and High are 352x480.

DVDStyler absolutely does not re-encode so these are the formats you will have on the DVD, along with the mp2 (mpeg1-layer2) audio from the TiVo file. If your DVD player is very fussy it may require 720x480 format and AC3 audio. You can get that by re-encoding the .vob or .mpg file output by VideoReDo using gui4ffmpeg. Details are in the threads linked above.