How can I transfer DVR recordings to MacBook Pro?

[Doomferret]

Hello,

I am trying to find some way to transfer recordings from a DVR (Motorola HD Dual Tuner DVR DCH6416) to the hard disk of my MacBook Pro (OS X 10.4.11, 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo with 2 GB Ram) so as to then burn them to DVDR.

I have searched forums and read a variety of related threads but not yet found an answer.

I am seeking to transfer the data in the highest possible quality (if you're going to do something, might as well do it right).

The DVR is one issued by the local cable monopoly (Comcast) and has the following out/in jacks: HDMI (preferred if possible), 2 USB (allegedly disabled or not enabled either by Comcast or on the manufacturing end), IEEE 1394 (I haven't the foggiest), eSATA (again, no clue), s-video (not HD), component, and composite (WAY not HD). It doesn't have a firewire connection.

I would really appreciate any advice on what the highest quality connections I can hope for are.

Do I need particular cables or adapters? Is there a special converting device?

My hope was for some way to run a pure HD signal (i.e. HDMI) in, but the closest I've found were some HDMI to DVI cables. I thought if I used one to run the DVR through HDMI into the DVI port on the Mac there would then be some way to record or straight transfer the information from the DVR's drive to the computer. My suspicion is that the DVI jack on the Mac is an out only, not an input. If that that's not the case, I suppose I would then need to know how to record the signal once it arrived. If this connection is viable at least I could get that far...

I got my hopes up when I saw the firewire option touted, but alas, this DVR (though allegedly super new) has no firewire.

I don't know if there would be a way to enable the USB ports or if it's a hardware thing. And I am of course loathe to try any software hacks on a piece of equipment that I am essentially renting.

Am I out of luck with this corporately crippled DVR?

We're running out of room on this puppy!

[Frobozz]

There is a long thread on this topic in the HTPC -Mac Chat forum at avsforum.com. I've transferred videos directly from my Comcast/Motorola DVR to my MacBook Pro using the AVCVideoCap application that is part of Apple's Firewire SDK25 available at developer.apple.com.

One frustration is this only works with copy freely channels. Many of the Comcast channels have 5c copy protection that prevents Firewire copying.

[adcvideo]

IEEE 1394 is another name for Firewire, and this will work well with the AVCVideoCap application. However most cable companies disable the Firewire port.

USB Video capture cards capable of grabbing HD video may be the way to go, maybe via the component-out of the DVR. At the moment these items are relatively rare. But, if you are burning to a DVD-R anyway (which will be much lower resolution than HD video) then send video out from your DVR via the SVHS output. USB Video capture cards that can grab video via SVHS are common and inexpensive.

Another option may be to add an external hard drive to your DVR.

Cheers
adcvideo

[Frobozz]

IEEE 1394 is another name for Firewire, and this will work well with the AVCVideoCap application. However most cable companies disable the Firewire port.

USB Video capture cards capable of grabbing HD video may be the way to go, maybe via the component-out of the DVR. At the moment these items are relatively rare. But, if you are burning to a DVD-R anyway (which will be much lower resolution than HD video) then send video out from your DVR via the SVHS output. USB Video capture cards that can grab video via SVHS are common and inexpensive.

Another option may be to add an external hard drive to your DVR.

Cheers
adcvideo

Those are good suggestions. Some caveats: 1) The Firewire output is not disabled on my Comcast/Motorola DVR but many channels are 5c blocked from recording. AVCvideocap displays when a channel is "Copy freely." 2) The problem with recording using S-video from the Motorola boxes is it is impossible to retain 16:9 video from the HD channels. The Motorola DVR's only letterbox widescreen sources via 480i connections. Capturing via Firewire is the only way to get 16:9. It also retains the source Dolby audio track which in some cases is 5.1. 3) Comcast does not support external hard drives connected to its DVRs.

A suggestion I'd like to add is getting an EyeTV Hybrid and recording over-the-air digital TV directly to the Mac.