need help xfr home movies onto Tivo Series2DT

[atomarchio]

Have a Series2 DT and Tivotoo 2.3. Have been toying with the idea capturing home video's in MPEG (was using Windows Movie Maker and capturing in WMV) so I can then transfer the video onto my Tivo.

This seems to be easier than buring DVD's all of the time and less steps. However, I am noticing that recently captured 7 minutes of MPEG2 video with Ulead Movie Factory 4.0 and it was 350MB, ouch!

That seems to be a huge file for only 7 minutes of video. Can anyone give me any suggestions on how to capture video that will transfer to Tivo but in a smaller size? I don't think wmv is a supported Tivo format.

Please let me know. Thanks.

[dlfl]

That file size for 7 min calculates to about 6.7 Mbps, which would not be unusual for a mpeg2 capture (maximum for DVD is about 9 Mbps -- good quality needs 4 to 6 Mbps). First look for a setting for bitrate in your capture software. You could try something like 4 Mbps (or 4,000 kbps). Then 7 min would be about 210 MB.

If you want to compress already captured mpeg2's you could use gui4ffmpeg (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=gui4ffmpeg) to re-encode either to a lower bitrate mpeg2 or to an AVI (Xvid) file. Many other programs will do the re-encoding to AVI, e.g., AutoMKV (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=AutoMKV). (All are free.).

Have you noticed the huge exciting thread on Tivo.Net (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=337822) ? This program will transfer AVI and many other formats back to the TiVo in mpeg2 form that it needs (BTW mpeg2 or TiVo are the only formats TiVo will play, and TiVo is really just mpeg2 with extra header info.)
Tivo.Net should also transfer the huge mpeg2's to TiVo re-encoded to a smaller size although I haven't tried mpeg2 sourced transfers. TiVo.Net has variable bitrate settings that you set for it to use when it transfers (actually re-encoding as it goes). It also is configurable to transfer the audio as Dolby AC3 (for DVD-recorder TiVos) or mpeg (normal TiVos).

Tivo.Net will transfer .wmv files but there may be some question depending on what WMV codec was used to encode the file. I can verify it works fine on the oldest WMV codec (WMV7) but I'm not sure about the newer ones (WMV8, WMV9, WVC-1). Note you have to manually add the .wmv extension to the list of file types that Tivo.Net will look for in its transfer directory -- you do this in the main page of the program interface.

[atomarchio]

You're probably talking a little over my head but I will give this a shot. Would prefer to keep the files in wmv format because they are smaller in size. I used Windows Movie Maker to capture into wmv. Not sure if that matters or not.

Where is the main page of the program interface? Is that when I log onto Tivo.com or is this actually via the remote with my Tivo/Tv on?

Please clarify. Thank you.

[dlfl]

You're probably talking a little over my head but I will give this a shot. Would prefer to keep the files in wmv format because they are smaller in size. I used Windows Movie Maker to capture into wmv. Not sure if that matters or not.

Where is the main page of the program interface? Is that when I log onto Tivo.com or is this actually via the remote with my Tivo/Tv on?

Please clarify. Thank you.
Frequently I talk over my head! :D

You may or may not be able to use Tivo.Net to transfer your WMV files to your Tivo for viewing there. There are four different WMV codecs used for encoding and decoding WMV videos (WMV7, WMV8, WMV9 and WVC-1). Tivo.Net uses ffmpeg as its decoding/encoding engine and the available documentation on ffmpeg is unclear about what support it gives to each codec. It appears to claim full support for only WMV7 and "incomplete" support for the other three. I have successfully transfered small WMV7-encoded files with Tivo.Net. I have a question posted on the Tivo.Net thread right now trying to clarify this.

Suggestion: play one of your WMV videos in WMP and look at properties. See which WMV codec is being used to play the video. If it's WMV7, Tivo.Net should work. It its one of the others, it's probably still worth a try, since Tivo.Net is free and easy to install and use.

Tivo.Net is a program not affiliated with TiVo company at all. You download the Microsoft Installer (.msi) version of it (http://downloads.sourceforge.net/tivodotnet/TiVoDotNetSetup-0.8.0a-fix.msi?use_mirror=osdn) and run the installer. Tivo.Net will then appear on your Programs menu. When you start it you find you are actually using an HTML interface via your browser (e.g. Internet Explorer). The "main page" is the first one that comes up.

If decide to try it, get it downloaded and running then post back here (or in the Tivo.Net thread) and I or someone will give you whatever tips you need to get it configured right (basically simple but not worth explaining unless necessary).

I think Tivo.Net is one of the most exciting things to happen in Tivo land for quite a while. If it doesn't end up supporting WMV well enough, you should consider encoding to xvid AVI files (similar small file size as wmv).

[atomarchio]

When I attempt to install Tivo.net, there is something about .net framework required then a redirect to another URL which takes me to thiis page. Apparently, I need to install something here but I don't what I need.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa731542.aspx

What do I need to install here? Please help.

Thanks.

[greg_burns]

When I attempt to install Tivo.net, there is something about .net framework required then a redirect to another URL which takes me to thiis page. Apparently, I need to install something here but I don't what I need.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa731542.aspx

What do I need to install here? Please help.

Thanks.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en

BTW, XBOX360 can stream WMVs very nicely. ;)

[dlfl]

I just verified that a WMV9-encoded .wmv will transfer via Tivo.Net -- not that that proves all of them would. It was 320x240, 500 kbps and didn't look that bad on my TV.

[atomarchio]

I am on the main page of Tivo.net. However, I am getting a blue row across the top of the page with an "!". It says intranet settings are turned off by default. Am I supposed to enable intranet settings?

Normally, I would just click this but I don't want to screw up my internet connection.

Please let me know. Thanks.

[dlfl]

I am on the main page of Tivo.net. However, I am getting a blue row across the top of the page with an "!". It says intranet settings are turned off by default. Am I supposed to enable intranet settings?
.........
Please let me know. Thanks.
I wouldn't .... and didn't. I think you decrease your security on the Internet if you do. And it doesn't seem to interfere with Tivo.Net if you just ignore it.

[atomarchio]

I can see the directory when using my tivo remote. I select transfer of the file. however, something must not be working. it says transfer complete on my tivo.net. but I am unable to play the file with the remote. and the video is not in the "now playing" list.

Please help. thanks.

[atomarchio]

I keep getting a "tivo.net" encountered a problem and needs to close. My tivo history says the file is not there but I can see it in my tivo.net directory.

for some reason this error keeps popping up. please help. thanks.

[atomarchio]

in the error log, it says "specified network name no longer available". perhaps that explains something but I am not sure.

[dlfl]

I haven't had these problems and wouldn't have a clue how to fix them. Recommend you post these type problems on the Tivo.Net thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=337822) so you get the author's attention. I see some OP have had similar problems. Try turning off anti-virus and Windows firewall. If the problem vanishes you have a big clue.

Or maybe the "intranet security" business does affect Tivo.Net on your particular setup. Read up on it in Windows help and on the Microsoft Support site. If you do change it just be sure you recover adequate security in your browser when you go outside the intranet (i..e., for normal browsing on the Internet).

Don't give up -- Tivo.Net is just getting started and the author is very responsive to problems and feature requests. The end result is really nice.

[greg_burns]

I would be testing with one of the known "good" test videos. Make sure you can get it working before trying the .wmv files.

The 8MB quicktime one here works fine for me...
http://revision3.com/diggnation/2006-11-23