Hi there,

This is my solution to converting the dvr-ms files to MPEG-2

I really don't have the time to thoroughly explain this, but I lnow some of
you may be desperate to try this. Please do not complain if this procedure
doesn't work, or if you don't understand how to do this. I'll try to answer
any question, but I'm not, in any way, a DirectShow expert. As a matter of
fact, this is my first time playing with DirectShow.

Disclaimer: The procedure describe below is for information purposes only.
TV Shows may be copyrighted or protected. Doing this may be a violation of
federal, and international laws. Please do not make illegal copies of
copyrighted materials.

The following proedure is intended as an intellectual exercise only for
advanced professionals.

Uff! ...Okay, I don't know if this was really necessary, but anyway....

Well, now to the technical stuff.

What I did was the following:

Note: When installing graphedit, either download the DirectX API from
microsoft, or dowload just the GraphEdit executable. I would suggest you
don't register any filter provided with the distribution of GraphEdir,
unless it is the latest version from Microsoft. graphEdit should run just
fine on your system without installing anything else.

1.- using Graphedit, I started by rendering the dvr-ms file.
2.- Deleted all the filters but the first one (the one that opens and read
the dvr-ms file)
3.- Connected the output marked "DVR Out - 1" (audio out) to an MPEG 2 Audio
decoder "Audio In" . I used the MainConcept MPEG Audio decoder. It was
probably installed by dazzle DVD Complete or any other third part Video
editor I installed.
Note that when you connect these two components, graphedit automatically
inserts a Decrypt/tag) filter in the middle. Do not remove it, as it is the
one that decrypts the file using the MS key, which is computer dependent
4.- Connect the output marked "DVR Out - 3" to the input of an MPEG video
decoder. Iagain used the "MainConcept MPEG Video Decoder" and again
graphedit inserted the "Decrypt/tag" filter. do not remove it.
5.- Insert an MPEG2 Video encoder. i inserted the MainConcept MPEGVideo
Encoder and connected the "Input Video" to the "Video Out" of the Decoder"
and the "Input Audio" to the "Audio Out" output of the MPEG Audio Decoder.
6.- Insert a File Writer filder (under Directshow filters) and set the
properties to the name and place of the file you want to create (yes, the
mpeg 2 file)
7.- Connect the output of the MPEg encoder of step 5 to the "in" input of
the "File Writer" filter.
8.- save the graph. If you screw up whiloe rendering the file, you'll have
to start all over agaian, so save it before you render it.
9.- render the file. Click on the "Play" button (a black triangle pointing
to the right) and wait. In my case it tooks from 20 to 30 min to create a 30
min file.

That's it.

I also experimented with the Ligos MPEG filters but I got the video and
audio out of sync.

I guess it should also work with the Elecard filters, although as far as i
remember, they had only MPEG decoders. If you have a video editting software
that creates MPEG 2, then you'll probably have an mpeg2 encoder filter.

Note: all the filters I used were found under the "Directshow filters"
section. To insert a filter, click on the meny "Graph", the on "Insert
filters"

Please, let me know your experiences.

I'll be creating a tools that will allow you to browse for a dvr-ms file and
will create an mpeg 2.

If somebody would like to undertake this task, please be my guest. I also
expect MS won't take long releasing their tool, as this is just nothing more
than an interim solution.

happy ripping!