.TIVO to MPEG2 conversion??

[peggypwr1]

Hello, I have a TV Roamio and have manged with the TIVO software to bring my recordings to the PC. They are of course in .tivo format and TIVO has no copy protected mark on them. I would like to convert the HD file to mpeg 2 so I can edit out the commercials. Any free software that can do this? Thank you.

[netmask56]

Post a MediaInfo report on one of the TIVO files. Probably a stock standard TS format but it might have a custom header. You could try ProjectX but you would have to change the suffix to .ts for it to find it in it's menu. ProjectX is free. VideoRedo would work as TSDoctor but they are both payware altho they do have a free trial.

[peggypwr1]

Hi, there is no free software that can do this?



General
ID : 1 (0x1)
Complete name : C:\Users\gmukh\Favorites\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento (Recorded Nov 22, 2016, KTNCDTHD).TiVo
Format : MPEG-TS
File size : 16.2 GiB
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 12.9 Mb/s

Video
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@High
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Format settings, GOP : Variable
Codec ID : 2
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Maximum bit rate : 25.0 Mb/s
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 59.940 (60000/1001) FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy

Audio
ID : 4287 (0x10BF)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : 129
Compression mode : Lossy
Encryption : Encrypted

Text #1
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-CC1
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-608
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #2
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-CC3
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-608
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #3
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-1
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-708
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #4
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-2
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-708
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #5
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-3
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-708
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #6
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-4
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-708
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #7
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-5
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-708
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

Text #8
ID : 4286 (0x10BE)-6
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : EIA-708
Muxing mode : A/53 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info : Muxed in Video #1
Duration : 2 h 59 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Stream size : 0.00 Byte (0%)

[usually_quiet]

Maybe Archivo. Unfortunately, I don't have a TiVo so there is no way for me to test it and find out if it can do what you want. According to the description, this free program has the ability to download recordings from a TiVo, convert them to H.264 or H.265 with Handbrake and remove commercials with Comskip, but I don't know if it will allow simply converting TIVO files to MPEG-2 without removing commercials.

[netmask56]

Looking at the MediaInfo report ProjectX should be able to demux this BUT it says the audio is encrypted as well as the text file, so it might well be able to give to a video file but an unplayable audio.
Anyway it is free so give it a go. TSDoctor trial would handle it as well but for the encrypted streams.

Audio
ID : 4287 (0x10BF)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : 129
Compression mode : Lossy
Encryption : Encrypted

[peggypwr1]

Anyone know how to use projextX. I downloaded and unzipped, but how do I launch the program? ANy other easier free programs? I just need to convert the file to mpeg2.

[usually_quiet]

Anyone know how to use projextX. I downloaded and unzipped, but how do I launch the program? ANy other easier free programs? I just need to convert the file to mpeg2.

It is doubtful that projectx could work for you. As I understand it, all TIVO files are encrypted. Unless a program "knows" how to decrypt them, they cannot be converted. kmttg and Archivo can use the TiVo MAK to transfer, decrypt, and convert recordings. I think even VideoReDo needs a component installed with TiVo Desktop to work with TIVO files.

[Edit]Note that the programs above only work with TIVO files recorded from channels marked "copy freely". I don't believe there is any software available which can decrypt TIVO files marked with flags which restrict copying.

[peggypwr1]

Well the tivo desktop prgram said the video file is not copy protected. The audio is, pointed out from an earlier post.

[usually_quiet]

Well the tivo desktop prgram said the video file is not copy protected. The audio is, pointed out from an earlier post.

All the research I've done on this subject indicates TIVO files themselves are encrypted, whether the programming in the recording was flagged as copy protected or not. Apparently kmttg can be configured to use ProjectX for fixing the stream as an alternative to VideoReDo's Quick Stream Fix, but that step is performed after the TIVO file is decrypted and converted to a MPEG-2 TS.

If someone has TiVo Desktop installed, supposedly Windows 7's version of Windows Media Player can play them, but as far as I have been able to find out, no other media player software for Windows can. The only reason Windows Media Player works is because it was designed to use a DirectShow decryption filter that is installed along with TiVo Desktop.

VideoReDo TV Suite uses that same DirectShow decryption filter to convert TIVO files to MPEG-2. kmttg and Archivo (based on kmttg) may or may not use a different method.

Both kmttg and Archivo require entering the MAK (media access key) from the TiVo to do their work. I installed Archivo yesterday (and Java as directed by its instructions), but seeing as how I have no TiVo and no MAK, I could not open the program to see what conversion options it allows.

[Edit]If you don't like the programs that I have suggested and think that there must be better/simpler options available, then ask for help from some bona fide TiVo users at http://www.tivocommunity.com/community/index.php

[84lion]

There is a program called Tivo Decoder GUI which I believe does what you want:

http://gmon.me/wordpress/?page_id=7

It's been a long time since I've used it. If memory serves, you input a .Tivo file and an MPEG file is output. I think I quit using it because of the file transfer system incompatibility noted in the linked webpage.

I know VideoReDo TV Suite V5 (which handles H264 files) isn't cheap, but it's an excellent one-stop shop for video editing. Not only does it decode the Tivo files and convert them into just about any format you could want, it'll make DVDs, and editing is frame-accurate. IMO it's worth it.

[usually_quiet]

There is a program called Tivo Decoder GUI which I believe does what you want:

http://gmon.me/wordpress/?page_id=7

It's been a long time since I've used it. If memory serves, you input a .Tivo file and an MPEG file is output. I think I quit using it because of the file transfer system incompatibility noted in the linked webpage.

Yes, I saw references to TiVo Decoder GUI, but also saw it had problems with downloads from newer TiVos.

I also found some recommendations for DirectShow Dump (DSD.exe), but all the download links to that program were dead. Basically, the only way to obtain it is to get it from an individual user who has it.

[jagabo]

I also found some recommendations for DirectShow Dump (DSD.exe), but all the download links to that program were dead. Basically, the only way to obtain it is to get it from an individual user who has it.

I don't have a Tivo but I'm curious...

The Sourceforge page for kmttg:

https://sourceforge.net/p/kmttg/wiki/Decrypting_TS_TiVo_files/

Appears to have all the tools in the files/tools folder:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/kmttg/files/tools/

I downloaded the first file, kmttg_win32_tools_v2.1n.zip, and saw DSD.exe in the archive.

Also, post #3 shows the .tivo file is really an MPEG Transport Stream file. If the video isn't encrypted renaming the file .ts should make the video playable in VLC, MPCHC, etc.

[usually_quiet]

I also found some recommendations for DirectShow Dump (DSD.exe), but all the download links to that program were dead. Basically, the only way to obtain it is to get it from an individual user who has it.

I don't have a Tivo but I'm curious...

The Sourceforge page for kmttg:

https://sourceforge.net/p/kmttg/wiki/Decrypting_TS_TiVo_files/

Appears to have all the tools in the files/tools folder:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/kmttg/files/tools/

I downloaded the first file, kmttg_win32_tools_v2.1n.zip, and saw DSD.exe in the archive.

Thanks

I didn't know about the kmttg tools download. I had downloaded the archive for kmttg itself and looked in there for DSD.exe without finding it. I just opened DSD.exe, and it looks like the screenshot I saw.

So, peggypwr1 can try DSD.exe if she wishes. All she needs to do to get it is download the kmttg tools archive. She has TiVo Desktop installed, so the dll for the DirectShow filter DSD.exe needs should be available.

She will also need to run ProjectX to fix the stream in the TS file produced by DSD.exe. It won't correct all the problems that VideoReDo can address, but for some recordings it may be enough.

[paulw]

My TiVo when I download files from it to my PC are encrypted. Once they're decrypted I believe you can just change the file extension to .mpg

[usually_quiet]

My TiVo when I download files from it to my PC are encrypted. Once they're decrypted I believe you can just change the file extension to .mpg

peggypwr1 has a TIVO file downloaded in transport stream format. The .mpg container is for program streams. If the decrypted file is a transport stream too, simply changing the file extension to .mpg is a not a good idea. The internal structures of program streams and transport streams are different enough that transport streams should be re-multiplexed to produce a program stream, not simply renamed.

[Krispy Kritter]

There is a program called Tivo Decoder GUI which I believe does what you want:

http://gmon.me/wordpress/?page_id=7

It's been a long time since I've used it. If memory serves, you input a .Tivo file and an MPEG file is output. I think I quit using it because of the file transfer system incompatibility noted in the linked webpage.

Yes, I saw references to TiVo Decoder GUI, but also saw it had problems with downloads from newer TiVos.

I also found some recommendations for DirectShow Dump (DSD.exe), but all the download links to that program were dead. Basically, the only way to obtain it is to get it from an individual user who has it.

File transfer shouldn't be an issue as the files are already on your computer. I believe this issue only applies when using the app to pull the files from the Tivo.

[usually_quiet]

There is a program called Tivo Decoder GUI which I believe does what you want:

http://gmon.me/wordpress/?page_id=7

It's been a long time since I've used it. If memory serves, you input a .Tivo file and an MPEG file is output. I think I quit using it because of the file transfer system incompatibility noted in the linked webpage.

Yes, I saw references to TiVo Decoder GUI, but also saw it had problems with downloads from newer TiVos.

I also found some recommendations for DirectShow Dump (DSD.exe), but all the download links to that program were dead. Basically, the only way to obtain it is to get it from an individual user who has it.

File transfer shouldn't be an issue as the files are already on your computer. I believe this issue only applies when using the app to pull the files from the Tivo.

What 84lion and I meant is that TiVo Decoder GUI has a problem processing the transport stream format downloads from newer TIVos, and peggypwr1 definitely downloaded TIVO files containing transport streams.

[Edit] TiVo Decoder GUI is a front end for tivodecode. From https://sourceforge.net/p/kmttg/wiki/Decrypting_TS_TiVo_files/ "The tivodecode program normally used for decrypting .TiVo files does not work properly for TS .TiVo files."