Actually I can live with one at a time at this point if it just works to give an mpg with captions that can also be uploaded. I've been running into new problems with VideoRedo, so I'll put that on hold and I'll check out DirectShow Dump.
Many thanks to you both. You are both super rock stars.
FYI, it looks like there is a command line version available in this zip file which could be used to batch a bunch of jobs. I guess I should think about adding that to kmttg as an option for Windows users.
FYI, it looks like there is a command line version available in this zip file which could be used to batch a bunch of jobs. I guess I should think about adding that to kmttg as an option for Windows users.
Thanks much for the link, I hadn't been able to find a download of DirectShow Dump. I did use your link to get DSDCmd.exe which I tried in my Windows 7 virtual machine.
The only documentation I could find was the /? switch which shows -s and -t. I used a kmttg TS .TIVO file for -s and gave a directory for -t (and then a filename I made up as MM.mpg). There was no output in either case. Possible a permissions issue though I opened up the destination disk with chmod 777 -R and then checked that it's all writeable.
I assume that it wants a .TIVO as input and produces a .mpg?
Does it need other installations, I see references to Tivo Desktop?
Yes, you need at least a partial install of TiVo Desktop with TiVoDirectShowFilter.dll installed and registered for DirectShow Dump or VideoRedo to work. A partial install is achieved by first installing TiVoDesktop and configuring it with MAK, etc. then uninstall and choose partial uninstall to keep the components needed to decrypt .TiVo files. TiVo is hiding TiVo Desktop these days, but the link is: http://assets.tivo.com/assets/exe/tivotogo/TiVoDesktop2.8.3.exe
Then if running kmttg on Windows run Help->Update tools to download updated tools package which contains DirectShow dump.
Then you can find an option to enable under config->Program Options: "Decrypt using DirectShow Dump instead of tivodecode"
The command line for DSDCmd.exe is quite simple:
"\path\to\DSDCmd.exe" "-s:\path\to\file.TiVo" "-t:\path\to\file.mpg"
(The quotes around everything is in case your paths and/or file names have spaces).
(Note that DSDCmd.exe is not setup to accept stdin instead of a file, so combined download/decrypt is not possible).
BTW, I use (and pyTivo uses) ".ts" for transport streams, and ".mpg" only for program streams. If you tell FFmpeg to make a new stream, and you don't specify the format, it will infer the same way, based on the filename.
BTW, I use (and pyTivo uses) ".ts" for transport streams, and ".mpg" only for program streams. If you tell FFmpeg to make a new stream, and you don't specify the format, it will infer the same way, based on the filename.
For kmttg encodes the format is always explicitly defined, so the file extension name doesn't really matter. Having said that, when using VideoRedo for decrypt I do actually use .ts extension for TS .TiVo decrypt/qsfix instead of .mpg. (Also use .ts for H264 .TiVo decrypt).
Yes, you need at least a partial install of TiVo Desktop with TiVoDirectShowFilter.dll installed and registered for DirectShow Dump or VideoRedo to work. A partial install is achieved by first installing TiVoDesktop and configuring it with MAK, etc. then uninstall and choose partial uninstall to keep the components needed to decrypt .TiVo files. TiVo is hiding TiVo Desktop these days, but the link is: http://assets.tivo.com/assets/exe/tivotogo/TiVoDesktop2.8.3.exe
Then if running kmttg on Windows run Help->Update tools to download updated tools package which contains DirectShow dump.
Then you can find an option to enable under config->Program Options: "Decrypt using DirectShow Dump instead of tivodecode"
The command line for DSDCmd.exe is quite simple:
"\path\to\DSDCmd.exe" "-s:\path\to\file.TiVo" "-t:\path\to\file.mpg"
(The quotes around everything is in case your paths and/or file names have spaces).
(Note that DSDCmd.exe is not setup to accept stdin instead of a file, so combined download/decrypt is not possible).
YES, IT WORKS!!!! End to end, I was able to download with TS to .TIVO and decrypt to .mpg which can be played in VLC with captions and the mpg uploaded back to the Tivo with the same beautiful captions as the original. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDING THIS AND FOR ALL OF THE ASSISTANCE!!!
This is a complete win for my goals. I am going to test comskip which is still running but I'll be quite content even if that doesn't work out. I'm about 4 days into the 15 day VideoRedo trial so it's available if needed.
Quicktime player does not show the captions, but that's okay. I have your "captions" task queued and will put the .srt file in the same folder as the .mpg just to test, but VLC is probably a better player anyway.
Testing so far has been successful on two recordings which failed every other approach, and their upload succeeded to two different Tivos.
After my other tests I'll copy my Parallels virtual machine and put it on a second Mac to go into production mode with the 2 Macs to download all of my recordings to date. Hopefully never again will I have to be concerned about filling the Tivo hard disk. And I can take the mpg's with me to play on the road.
It's so nice to have everything working in a single mpg so I don't have to save every .TIVO (though I probably will as a form of backup. )
As always, your instructions were perfectly clear and complete. You have a great talent for not only imagining what needs to be done and writing the code but also for explaining it clearly. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
I'll use this for a few days and clean up my notes and come back with any new results.
BUT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED for what I really wanted to do. Anything else is gravy.
BTW, I use (and pyTivo uses) ".ts" for transport streams, and ".mpg" only for program streams. If you tell FFmpeg to make a new stream, and you don't specify the format, it will infer the same way, based on the filename.
YES, IT WORKS!!!! End to end, I was able to download with TS to .TIVO and decrypt to .mpg which can be played in VLC with captions and the mpg uploaded back to the Tivo with the same beautiful captions as the original. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDING THIS AND FOR ALL OF THE ASSISTANCE!!!
Regards,
-deac
First failure - a little more testing shows that the mpg's often only have about 70% of the captions of the original recording. The .TIVO files when uploaded so far do have perfect video, audio, and captions, so I will be keeping both .TIVO & mpg.
I suspect that the DirectShow Dump may have some. I understand that it's no longer being supported, that would be a shame because it seems powerful.
I just started a new test using VideoRedo to decrypt. I'll see how that comes out.
After a tiny sample it appears that VideoRedo only misses a few sentences in the captions and then picks up again. And the captions are much less noisy than with DirectShow Dump. Unless you can think of a way to get DirectShow Dump cleaned up, buying VideoRedo may be the best system.
deac33, it doesn't really make much sense. Both VideoRedo and DSD are using the EXACT same TiVoDirectShowFilter.dll from TiVo Desktop to decrypt the .TiVo file, so decrypting with either one should give same result. The difference if there is indeed one is that if you are using kmttg set to VideoRedo for decrypt, it runs decrypt + qsfix in one shot, in which case it's cleaning up glitches in timestamps compared to the .mpg produced by DSD. But if in kmttg flow you use DSD to decrypt and then run qsfix using VideoRedo you should get the same .mpg file as a result.
Good point. Yes, I have one video that fails (or not) in a given place making comparisons easy; overall I'm trying to keep my testing as consistent as possible, changing only one parameter at a time.
deac33, it doesn't really make much sense. Both VideoRedo and DSD are using the EXACT same TiVoDirectShowFilter.dll from TiVo Desktop to decrypt the .TiVo file, so decrypting with either one should give same result. The difference if there is indeed one is that if you are using kmttg set to VideoRedo for decrypt, it runs decrypt + qsfix in one shot, in which case it's cleaning up glitches in timestamps compared to the .mpg produced by DSD. But if in kmttg flow you use DSD to decrypt and then run qsfix using VideoRedo you should get the same .mpg file as a result.
My plan is to just test just the decrypt step starting with a known good .TIVO file using FILES tab with settings 1. and 2. here:
BOTH: .... Windows 7, kmttg v1.1a_beta, Front Panel: only decrypt checked
1. DSD Test -- with Configure... settings as:
Program Options tab: Decrypt using DirectShow Dump - CHECKED
VideorRedo tab: Decrypt using VideoRedo ... - - NOT CHECKED
2. VRD Test -- with Configure... settings as:
Program Options tab: Decrypt using DirectShow Dump - NOT CHECKED
VideorRedo tab: Decrypt using VideoRedo ... - - CHECKED
--------
However, I'm now unable to get a new .TIVO file, I've tried 5 times to do just the download which has succeeded before but now I only get the first 3 minutes of the video. The original on the Tivo box still shows good all the way through. I have no clue why this new glitch came up.
BUT, as soon as some other jobs finish I'll reboot the virtual machine, reboot the Mac and try again.
Note on your test #2: Even with just "decrypt" checked when you configure kmttg to do decrypt with VRD, it will always run qsfix regardless if you check "qsfix" or not. That's why I suggested if you want to compare both, then for DSD test #1 you should check both "decrypt" and "qsfix".
BTW, there is no question that VRD is a superior solution to just having DSD, because qsfix fixes a lot of issues that just DSD alone won't. So you should at least spend the money for the $50 version if not the $100 version.
Note on your test #2: Even with just "decrypt" checked when you configure kmttg to do decrypt with VRD, it will always run qsfix regardless if you check "qsfix" or not. That's why I suggested if you want to compare both, then for DSD test #1 you should check both "decrypt" and "qsfix".
BTW, there is no question that VRD is a superior solution to just having DSD, because qsfix fixes a lot of issues that just DSD alone won't. So you should at least spend the money for the $50 version if not the $100 version.
qsfix without VRD uses ProjectX which is free but nowhere as good as VRD and totally useless to you as it throws out captions completely.
I don't use commercial detection but Comskip is much more advanced than VRD AdScan and can be customized for different shows.
DSD + VRD qsfix is not identical to just VRD qsfix for decrypt but should yield same results, but if you have VRD anyway then it's pointless to use DSD and make a 2 step process instead of 1 step.
Right, I had in the back of my head something I had read about qsfix not working for what I want. But the VRD version of their qsfix does what I want. Good, another reason to buy it.
I don't use commercial detection but Comskip is much more advanced than VRD AdScan and can be customized for different shows.
DSD + VRD qsfix is not identical to just VRD qsfix for decrypt but should yield same results, but if you have VRD anyway then it's pointless to use DSD and make a 2 step process instead of 1 step.
So I'll settle in on using VRD decrypt. Didn't you say that with VRD chosen for decrypt that automatically uses its qsfix also, so would it be true that it doesn't matter whether the QS Fix box is checked?
So I'll settle in on using VRD decrypt. Didn't you say that with VRD chosen for decrypt that automatically uses its qsfix also, so would it be true that it doesn't matter whether the QS Fix box is checked?
Yes, with VRD configured for decrypt, if you check "decrypt" and "qsfix" only a "qsfix" job will be run (since qsfix will decrypt anyway). Similarly if you check "qsfix" and not "decrypt" it will also just run "qsfix".
With VRD configured, the "AdCut" task also uses VRD, else projectX would be used for that thereby throwing away your captions again. VRD is just a great tool to have period.
Kevin,
Thanks again for holding my hand through all of this. I'm in production mode for downloading and fitting in some testing. Results are totally good enough to accomplish my mission, thank you so much!!!!!
Captions are holding up extremely well, mucho thanks for that. My hearing is just bad enough that it really helps me to fill in dialog and that would otherwise be missed. Yayyy for you and captions!!!!
I have a couple of sporadic problems that I'm still testing, but if you have any insights I'd love to hear them.
1. Some mpgs upload with "Description not available" when I press the Info button on the Tivo remote. It appears that the .TIVO upload does still have the info however. Not a big deal since IMDB has all of the info.
At times the Program Details says "... container mpegts not compatible...", not sure what that means and if it's related to "Description not available". The video does upload and play fine, just no description.
2. Still sometimes get "Transferring prohibited by the copyright holder". I seem to recall that was usually a problem with old ffmpeg, but I have 2.2.1 which is the latest on ffmpeg.org and works with most recordings.
I just downloaded 2 new videos and in trying to upload them back both of them failed when attempting to upload .TIVO but the .mpg does upload (without Description, but it plays, and with captions). Strange, no?
All is well here thanks to you. I am very indebted for all of the time and expertise you put into helping me get what I was looking for, thank you very much.
I'd love to invite you and a guest to a fine dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Or send you a gift card for same, any way we could arrange that. Please drop me a message at deac333@gmail.com so I can arrange it.
You are an excellent and patient instructor. Thank you for all of your help.
You are the best. We can close this thread from my viewpoint.
THANK YOU!!!! :up:
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