Can Tivo Series 2 dvr's function as dummy vcr's without activation?

[yoda313]

thanks painkiller. I'll check it out.

[yoda313]

fyi I found "directshowdump" online and it strips out the tivo header and leaves you with a regular mpg file. Its freeware but requires the .net framework for instalation to proceed. Seemed to only take two or three minutes to convert to mpg. Now I have a fully useable mpg file and I stripped out the m2v and the audio file with tmpgenc. I am now converting the entire unedited 1 hour m2v file to the dvd template tmpgenc uses (cq 65 at 720x480).

What I plan on doing is taking the new converted m2v file and load it into tmpgenc dvd author and add the original audio file and author a new dvd from it.

This procedure is much more labor intensive than if I were to simply do a realtime dub to my settop dvd recorder and then rip that to my pc to edit out commercials. BUT I'm intriqued by the wireless approach. I could just set it to upload all the shows I want to keep and then wait for it to finish. Use directshowdump to convert to mpg. Then use tmpgenc plus to convert to dvd compliant video and author and burn.

I would imagine the pure digital route will produce the clearest results. As easy as a realtime dub would be I know it would involve some degree of quality loss. Hopefully this digital route will preserve the quality.

[painkiller]

That's the ticket.

Good luck with your new toy.

[yoda313]

Thanks painkiller. I did the conversion last night. All in all it looks very good. There is some artifacts in the video that I'm sure stem from the svcd-dvd resolution conversion. Its not as crisp as if I had recorded it directly in dvd resolution but the tivo doesn't have that option (since this unit i have doesn't have the dvd burner in it).

But it was fairly straight forward and I got good results. In the end if I have a lot to transfer I may simply use the dvd recorder for simplicity but for one show every now and then the wireless beam up and conversion works just fine if a little slow.

[vico1]

Yoda, you might want to try using DVDPatcher on your Mpegs.
I've used it on a lot of SVCDs and TDA takes them after the patch.

Works very quick, and can save a heck of a lot time in not having to re-encode...
got to look a lot better too, because of eliminating that step.

How I do it...Copy the mpegs to be patched to another folder
(in case of a slip-up...it happens)
I patch these to a DVD compliant rez, then put them in TDA.
(TDA may squawk a little, about Gop or something...ignore)

Then after I get it looking right...author.
After the author, just patch the VOBs back to original rez...again using DVDPatcher.

Of coarse...I'd try a few small test runs on DVDRW or whatever...just to see if it's
compatible with your stand-alone players...

[yoda313]

Thanks vico1 I'll give it a try sometime.


FYI I am now streaming video I recorded on my Fusion hdtv capture card (recorded in analog dvd mode 5mbps) to my TIVO! Its awesome! The quality is exactly the same as the recorded file. There is some delay when the stream isn't buffered completely but while watching it it is in perfect condition! I love it. I can now completely stream video, music, and pictures to my pc.

With this configuration I can only stream mp3 files, jpgs, and mpg files but those are the main standards anyway.

For those who don't know when you have the tivo desktop installed simply transfer a dvd compliant mpg file with mp2 audio into your my tivo recordings folder and you will see your computer listed in now playing. Simply select your computer name and open the file that was placed in the directory. you will automatically begin streaming the video to your tivo. I believe it does a direct file copy so you can watch while it streams and keep it on the tivo as long as you want as well.

THis is an amazing piece of equipment

[yoda313]

well one more first timer user review for tivo. You can PLAYBACK a show while RECORDING a new one! I love that. Now I can simply record any primtime show and watch something I recorded during the day or the night before.

Definitely a slick unit. I was thinking a tivo was nothing more than a capture card like the pc but its functionality and convenience next to the tv instead of on a computer is so slick I'm a believer! I have SEEN THE LIGHT!!!