Anyone using TIVO/Replay to hradrive for editing??

[jaw2957]

I am planning on getting a tivo or replay tv, or even ultimate tv for video capturing. Then I want to transfer the captures to the pc for editing, etc. Do I have to use my capture card, and do it this slow way(not to mention losing quality), or an I crack the Tivo system open and hook it up to the pc with ide cables. Someone let me know if you are doing this, and how its working out. I asked a guy at circuit city, and all I got was a blank stare and a comment about voiding the warranty(no shit)! Thanks for the help.

[Feslmogh]

I have to agree with him. Plus you would have to put the unit in high capture for good quality capture (about the same for a 6 hour tape). The Tivo is a Linux box and I don't know about the replay even though we have one (LOVE IT). Off topic you can build one but I have to finf the site. Any others wnat to give thier two dollars?

[VidGuy]

Supposedly there is a thing called ExtractStream for the Tivo, and there's a way to put an Ethernet card in, but you also have to add Samba and NFS - basically you'd better know Unix well...

Also, Tivo doesn't smile on this hack (they don't mind adding drives) - they may introduce encryption shortly to keep this from happening:

http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/06/20/tivo_hack/index.html

[vanillabox]

As VidGuy said ExtractStream will do the job on a linux/Unix system, or if you do the network hookup with nfs you can import the files into a windows computer to work re-encode it with TMPGEnc. You can also pull the harddrive out of the Tivo box, put it into a linux/windows dual boot box, copy the file to a fat32 partition. and work with it in windows.

Check out this post, it has the links to ExtractStream and the TMPGEnc mcf file.
http://www.vcdhelp.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=51648&forum=2

Also if Tivo does decide to put in encryption, which I doubt they will do, they are running ext2 file system. That means it will just be a matter of time before somebody hacks that. The worst that they would do (IMHO) is to void the warranty of any opened units

[JJamez]

Unlike Tivo, with Replay you can indeed pull the hard drive, hook it up to a Windows PC and pull the MPG's off. The files are already compliant so there is no necessity to reencode, saving considerable quality. Check out:

http://replayfaq.reidpix.com/faq.asp

That said, I just ordered my first Replay and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I've had a TiVo for about a year, which I love, but I want to be able to transfer the MPGs to my PC for archival. As the previous post mentioned, you can do it with Tivo, but its a much more complicated, not to mention expensive, proposition.

The last Replay 'plus' is the prices. You can get a 30hr. Replay (which can be upgraded with any PC hard drive(s) just like the Tivo), for $249 after $100 rebate (www.goodguys.com). Unlike Tivo, that includes lifetime service to the program guide. Tivo lifetime service is an extra $250 on top of the price of the Tivo itself.

I'm not putting Tivo down though, as I said I love mine, but I'm excited to get the Replay hooked up and compare the two.

[jaw2957]

With that said, I am going to get a replay. This made my day. Thanks to everyone.

[SilentRAGE]

so if I get a replay tv, pull the hd and plug in a pc I can simply dump the mpgs off...really...has anyone tried this yet, it would be amazing to capture at dvd quality and not lose any resolution when going to pc.

[RFontenot]

Seems like a lot of work, especially when you consider that you can already record DVD quality MPEG on a computer with either an WinTV PVR or ATI AIW Radeon card. The PVR has a hardware MPEG encoder and a VCR-style scheduler. The AIW has a hardware MPEG decoder and a 7-day Replay-like guide for programmed recording.

These existing products make this whole issue of "copyright violation" on a Tivo just so much nonsense.

RF

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RFontenot on 2001-08-13 00:03:55 ]</font>

[VidGuy]

My understanding of the Tivo issue is not the unit itself, but the DirecTV/Tivo units, where you end up getting a digital copy of the original picture. In standard Tivo units it's "just" an encode of the picture. For some reason the media people seem to get all bent out of shape about direct digital copies, when a first generation copy is just about as good, and can still be transferred digitally so that generational errors don't occur.... Go figure

[JJamez]

I think the extra work involved using a Replay to record, moving the drive to your PC and pulling off the MPEG(s) is worth the peace of mind I have knowing the recording will get done without a hitch.

Maybe other people have very stable setups, but I know on my PC doing video capture is VERY sketchy. Lock ups, program crashes, etc are not uncommon, which obviously isn't acceptable recording from a live source.

With the Replay, its kinda the best of both worlds - I KNOW my programs are getting recorded, and I can use the first encode on my PC so quality remains high.

[Greg12]

why not just buy an all in wonder radien like i'm doing this fall.


btw, my caps lock key does not work.

[RFontenot]

JJamez,

So what do you think will happen the first time Replay or Tivo sends an upgrade down the wire that disables your hacks and/or crashes your unit? You can't call support, so you're on your own.

I'll be the first to admit that the ATI AIW was a PITA to get working right. Can't speak for the PVR. However, at least I don't have to worry about ATI disabling my system in the middle of the night.

RF

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RFontenot on 2001-08-13 15:39:47 ]</font>

[jaw2957]

Doing the capturing with replay, I will know that its getting done right. I have an ati all in wonder radeon, and most of the time the audio is out of sync, or is going fine, then the frames go in slow mo and then speeds back up. If I'm recording from satelite with the pc and that happens, I can't just try it again, unless I want to wait until the tv series gets syndicated and then capture the reruns(a few years down the road). With replay I know its getting it done right. Why the hell would they disable it anyway. It is not a hack on replay that allows you to take it out and hook it up with ide cables. Its the os they use. The system is like any other, except you have the added feature of pulling the files off, the easy way. It just seems alot easier, and it has better quality. Tell me if I'm missing something here?

[JJamez]

RF,

Simple answer - I don't think that will ever happen with the Replay, although rumor has it version 3 of the Tivo software may contain something to that effect.

What's your point anyway?? You sound bitter about the whole subject... If that day comes, I go back to capturing through my AIW - big deal. 'Til then I'll just be making my archiving a little easier and a LOT more reliable.

[SilentRAGE]

the reason i am asking is because I have a radeon AIW and the capturing sucks, mainly because I only have a 450mhz pc, i originally wanted to update to a faster pc, but a replay tv is a MUCH cheaper investment, it's done quick and easy the first time...PLUS if your capturing a live show and the pc crashes or I do stuff I drop frames and it looks like crap and u lose out. Anyone who thinks vid capturing is easy is wrong (at least at dvd quality) besides the way to go is a digital video camera and firewire, more stuff I cannot afford, I mean I capture vcd quality perfect but it isn't the same, if I had nice perfect dvd quality mpegs, I could burn straight to dvd-r and bingo you got yourself a flawless video. I doubt updates will stop anything, (does this thing have to be plugged in a phone line to function??) besides look at directv there updates haven't done shit to stop hacking and neither will tivo. I'm just wondering if anyone has tried this, it's a cheap way to get a good quality capture.