Conversion from DVR to mac?

[Dunnyman]

A friend of mine has one of the DVR's provided by Comcast, and the files have this for titles:
DVD_VIDEO_RECORDER.B00
Supposedly they can be converted and burned on a PC, but is there an equivalent for Mac? What would I use?
They're making a good offer on these DVR's, and I wouldn't mind getting one, but only if I can burn the stuff for more storage.

[tgpo]

What do you mean provided by Comcast? Are there shows on these or data files?

[Dunnyman]

No, our local Comcast is providing the DVR's to their customers, and these are the files they produce when you record a show. I can access the unit's HD to get the files, but if I can't convert and eventually burn them, it's not going to be of much use for me as I'm trying to build DVD's of my favorite shows as I go. My buddy can do it on the PC with a prog called Blindwrite, but I don't have the PC, nor will I waste my money on one...hehehehe...MACS all the way!

[pixeljammedia]

Have you tried dropping the files onto VLC? It sounds strange I know, but if it is just a plain mpeg, then VLC may be able to decode itt. Blindwrite looks like it just does bit-for-bit copies and doesn't alter files. This would suggest that the file just has a strange extension.

[ThisistheEdge]

It's not fast, but I run stuff off my tivo into a dv bridge into iMovie, then drop it into toast to make VCDs or DVDs.

E

[sjk]

The files may be MPEG transport streams that MPEG Streamclip can process in addition to being viewable with VLC.

[Frobozz]

I have the Comcast dual-tuner DVR that records high definition, digital and analog cable. I know it has Firewire and other ports but nothing gives me the ability to get to the hard drive's files.

I can capture video from the unit the same as if I was capturing from an analog source: through the S-video and line-out jacks. In fact, I have it connected that way to a Pioneer DVD recorder.

I'm actually uncertain how the device writes its files. It does have a MPEG 2 encoder but that may only be used for the analog channels. It likely records the digital and Hi-Def streams as data with no processing going on until you play the recorded video. Comcast says there is no difference between the source and the recording. I don't know what format the digital cable and Hi-Def streams are entering the box.

So how is your friend accessing the data on the hard drive?

[AntnyMD]

I have the Comcast dual-tuner DVR that records high definition, digital and analog cable. I know it has Firewire and other ports but nothing gives me the ability to get to the hard drive's files.

I can capture video from the unit the same as if I was capturing from an analog source: through the S-video and line-out jacks. In fact, I have it connected that way to a Pioneer DVD recorder.

I, too, have the dual tuner HD DVR from Comcast (and previously the single tuner 80gb version). To pull bit-for-bit content off this DVR and into your Mac, just link the Mac to the DVR via Firewire. Fire up the program AVC Browser. It will automatically show every connected DVR (in this case, only the Comcast Motorla box will show). Select it, then start up VirtualDVHS. There are several other clicks that must be performed in an exact order and I dont have the steps memorized, but I'll paste them in later.

Once everything is clicked in order, play a program on the DVR, or tune to any channel. Hit Record in VirtualDVHS and the data is transferred in real time. High definition content takes up 9gb an hour .. standard defintion content requires less space.

After you get a thrill from mastering this, you'll find simply doing a dub via your ADS box or your settop DVD recorder to be ultimately the fastest solution (albeit not the high def solution)!

[Frobozz]

Thanks for the tip, AntnyMD. It helped me find this very useful article: http://macteens.com/print.php?id=410_0_1_0

[MerlinMacuser]

What is the maximum length of FW cable? My Mac is 35 feet away from where I would locate the cable box (if I upgrade to the new Moto-dual tuner).

Where do I get the FW Developer package mentioned in the article above?

[AntnyMD]

The longest I've been able to buy is 14.7 feet. The software developers kit is on the Panther OS X discs.

[Frobozz]

I found Developer Tools on my Software Restore CDs bundled with my G4 iBook.

The longest Firewire cable Belkin sells is 18'. I have a 14' one that works well.

[Case]

14.7 feet seems to be the adviced max. Cover more distance with Firewire Repeaters (pricy stuff) upto 236 feet.

[Frobozz]

The files may be MPEG transport streams that MPEG Streamclip can process in addition to being viewable with VLC.

You are correct.

[Dunnyman]

I have the Comcast dual-tuner DVR that records high definition, digital and analog cable. I know it has Firewire and other ports but nothing gives me the ability to get to the hard drive's files.
So how is your friend accessing the data on the hard drive?

Violation of the service and subscription agreement, how else?
The hard drive can be removed by cracking open the case, and voila, you're in business! However, the solution further down sounds much easier.
Thanks all!

[Frobozz]

So here is what I've learned about what the Comcast/Motorola DVR records to the hard drive.

The analog channels are encoded by the DVR as 720X480 MPEG 2 transport streams with a bit rate around 7 mbps. The audio for these is 320 kbps 2-channel AC-3

The digital channels are 528X480 transport streams with a bit rate of about 2 or 2.5 mbps depending on the channel and program. The audio is 128 kbps 2-channel AC-3.

The HD channels are 1920X1080 16:9 at 80 mbps. The audio is 384 kbps 3/2 AC-3. My 933 mhz G4 iBook isn't powerful enough to play these without much stuttering.

Anything copied while playing an On Demand program cannot be opened on the Mac. It appears from the file size that the resolution of those is about half that of the analog-recorded MPEGs.

The Music Choice channels have 192 kbps 2-channel AC-3 audio with a 704X480 progressive video track.

[AntnyMD]

Yes that all sounds right, except isnt HD limited to 20Mbps?

The only way to copy On Demand programming is to circumvent the Macrovision copy protection. The ADS box will do it.

[Dunnyman]

Weird, while just playing around with the files, I dragged them to see if Toast could handle them, and the third file, which has a .b5t extension, mounts and burns directly? Apparently each episode recorded has a .b00 and a .b01 file, and the .b5t is like the .cue file?
If the burned copy comes out clean, I'm a happy mo-fo!

[Frobozz]

Yes that all sounds right, except isnt HD limited to 20Mbps?

The only way to copy On Demand programming is to circumvent the Macrovision copy protection. The ADS box will do it.

Silly me. The HDTV MPEGs were less than 20Mbps. Incidentally, I don't have any Macrovision difficulty recording the free On Demand programs from the analog outputs. I haven't tried with the pay programs.

One more note: If you want to free up hard drive space on the DVR, delete the analog channel recordings. They take up about two-to-four times the space of the digital channel recordings of the same length. Of course that's still only a third of the space required for HDTV recordings.

[AntnyMD]

Incidentally, I don't have any Macrovision difficulty recording the free On Demand programs from the analog outputs. I haven't tried with the pay programs.

Interesting. Outside of the ADS box, my one attempt to copy On Demand was by passing the digital signal to the HDTV VCR in order to (down-)convert the signal to 480i. Are you connecting a recorder to the analog outputs on the Comcast Motorola box directly?

[Manny C]

I have no idea if it's true, but I heard that macrovision can be bypassed by going through an RF modulator (the type of device you would use to hook up a dvd player to an old tv that has no line inputs)

[Frobozz]

Interesting. Outside of the ADS box, my one attempt to copy On Demand was by passing the digital signal to the HDTV VCR in order to (down-)convert the signal to 480i. Are you connecting a recorder to the analog outputs on the Comcast Motorola box directly?

I haven't attempted to record any HDTV On Demand programs with the Pioneer recorder; just the free content (other than Sex & The City when HBO was free for a short time). I'll give it a try some time and let you know what happens. I have the DVD recorder connected via S-Video to the Comcast DVR so I'm letting the Comcast DVR down-convert the signal to 480i when I record from a HDTV channel.

[AntnyMD]

I tried once again to record some free On Demand content, specifically the Real World Philly from MTV On Demand. Blocked. I tried one of the music videos from Music Choice On Demand, also blocked. I havent tried directly from the DVR, only via the HDTV VCR. I'm assuming direct from DVR would also be blocked. I've never tried any of the content from the premium On Demand sections ...

[Frobozz]

I just recorded both of those programs with my Pioneer. No problem using the S-video connection.

[Cruiserdude]

A friend of mine has one of the DVR's provided by Comcast, and the files have this for titles:
DVD_VIDEO_RECORDER.B00
Supposedly they can be converted and burned on a PC, but is there an equivalent for Mac? What would I use?
They're making a good offer on these DVR's, and I wouldn't mind getting one, but only if I can burn the stuff for more storage.

I think I know your problem/solution.
PVRs record in a different format than "std" Video recorders. They use VR (video recorder) format. The "only" Mac solution I know of is "Software Architects" GreatVideo! it can be found here: http://www.softarch.com/
here's the feature list:

Version 1.2 converts VR files to usable video and audio files on your Mac fast and easy:


1. GreatVideo!'s UDF file system driver component("ReadDVD!™) automatically mounts VR format discs on the Apple desktop" for standard point-and-click file access using Finder.


2. Open the .VRO file in GreatVideo!, Select the specific video format desired.


3. Select the destination disk drive, and start the conversion. GreatVideo! automatically de-multiplexes the video and udio tracks, converts the video file to the desired format and writes the files to the selected target disk drive.


The video is displayed as it is converted, and a progress bar indicates time to completion.


When converted, the movie file can be used by any Apple or third party software that supports QuickTime™.

About the VR Format
Unlike standard movie DVD discs that use the DVD Video file format, DVD video recorders and DVD camcorders record live video to the DVD “VR”(video recording) file format, a different format specified by the DVD Forum for recorded video applications. Native Apple File system readers do not recognize VR format discs. GreatVideo! includes ReadDVD! SAI’s OSTA Compliant UDF file system reader that supports DVD VR and DVD Vidoe format discs, plus all versions of UDF.


Support for Third Party File Applications, Formats and Disk Drives
Great Video! supports all classes of third party DVD drives, including DVD-ROM, DVD Multi, DVD-RAM/R, DVD-R/W, DVD+R/W and dual mode DVD-R/W+R/W drives.
Great Video! uses QuickTime™ as a conversion platform to convert files to traditional video formats readable by most popular video editing, authoring and playing software, including Apple Final Cut Pro™ and Adobe Premier™.

Advanced Features
Advanced features include selecting the compression rate, number of key frames per second, bit rate, and color as allowed by specific video formats. Version 1.2 includes support for Apple’s “Altivec” technology for enhanced computational performance on G4 processor based systems. This saves time when converting large video files.


Compliant with Industry Standards
GreatVideo! is compliant with DVD Forum specifications for Real Time Recording DVD Video Files (VRO video files), and the OSTA (Optical Storage Technology Association) specifications for UDF formats. Version 1.2 supports all DVD Forum specification drives, media and formats.

It seems this would be your fix
hope it helps
Cd

Ps: 1st post! I've been coming by getting hints from you all for the longest time... thought it was time to join in. Thanks!