Motorola DVR Capture Handholding Help

[alaskajoe]

I'll preface this by saying that yes, I am sure there are the answers to my questions somewhere in these forums. The truth is, I'm more than a little overwhelmed, and am seeking a kind soul to step-by-step me through this. I'm not stupid (persay, though my wife might argue that), but I've never really explored video capture before and it's kinda daunting. Anyone want to write it out in crayon for me?

Here's what I am working with. I have a Motorola DVR unit that I get my cable TV through. It is a Motorola DCT3416 I model number. The computer I have is a Dell laptop XPS L502X running Windows 7 with an Intel Core i7 processor. I know I have USB 3.0 ports, eSATA port, spdif port, and display port.

I've got some things recorded on the DVR hard drive that I would like to get off of there and onto my computer in a watchable format. How, in the simplest language possible, do I accomplish this.

Thanks in advance for suffering a fool, and for any useful advice you can offer up. I am in your debt!

[redwudz]

I see these outputs: HDMI, IEEE 1394, component video (Y Pb Pr), S-video, composite
video, remodulated RF (optional), left/right baseband, optical SPDIF,
coaxial SPDIF

Not much help with a laptop, but I suspect IEEE 1394 (FireWire) would be one output option. The other outputs, Component, HDMI, are a bit limited for capture devices. S-video is lower resolution than HD, along with composite. The SATA connection just seems to be for a add on storage drive. Not sure a PC can read it, it depends on what formating it uses.

SPDIF is digital audio format, more suited for a TV or home theater audio.

Unless someone here is familiar with the unit, I would dig into the manual to see what it says about output to a computer.

A lot of DVR type units these days aren't really designed to transfer video directly to a computer. Likely avoiding copyright problems, but that's just a guess.

[Cornucopia]

I've done a little checking in the past, becaus I myself have a DCT6416.
And from what I've learned (unless things have changed in the last 9 months), the only HIGH QUALITY way to get most shows (not counting encrypted channels which NOTHING can touch) from that DVR to a PC is via Firewire (IEEE1394).

IIRC, you use CapDVHS. You have to have a firewire port. You need the correct drivers (firestb?).

You might have trouble with your setup, though, since you're using Win7 (I don't know if all the segments have been updated for it), particularly if it's 64bit.

Scott

[alaskajoe]

This is not sounding good.

[alaskajoe]

My wife has a Mac laptop I could likely use...it's a Macbook Pro. Would this be better to use? How would it work using that computer?

[hech54]

My wife has a Mac laptop I could likely use...it's a Macbook Pro. Would this be better to use? How would it work using that computer?

A lot of DVR type units these days aren't really designed to transfer video directly to a computer. Likely avoiding copyright problems, but that's just a guess.

I have loads of "connections" on my European DVR(including USB and Firewire)....none of them just simply connect to a computer to transfer recorded video. The only way out is ANALOG in REAL TIME to a computer capture card or stand-alone DVD Recorder. That's it. End of story.

[usually_quiet]

There are two ways to copy HD DVR recordings, firewire transfer and re-recording from the DVR's component connections using an analog capture device.

This page has information about firewire transfer. http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/stbfirewire/ However using firewire to transfer your recordings may not be an option you can use. Your laptop doesn't appear to have a firewire port, and there doesn't seem to be a a way to add one. Although some Macs have a firewire port, the drivers needed for the transfer are for Windows only. In any case, firewire transfer is usually restricted to recordings from your local stations. The recordings from cable-only stations are unlikely to be transferrable due to copy protection. Also, although the firewire ports on DVRs and STBs are supposed to be enabled by law, many cable providers neglect to do it.

Your other option is re-recording using an analog capture device. Since you have an HD DVR, you will probably want to re-record in HD using your DVR's component connections. The Hauppage HD PVR 1212 is the best USB device for HD recording using a laptop that I know of, and records up to 1080i, but it isn't cheap. http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-1212-Definition-Personal-Recorder/dp/B0018LX0DY

[Brad]

Although some Macs have a firewire port, the drivers needed for the transfer are for Windows only.

There are some guides for Mac OS X, ex: http://back2mac.blogspot.com/2007/02/video-from-dvr-to-dvd-with-macos-x.html