Transfer from Mac to Tivo

[slefkoff]

I can't figure out how to do it - I've tried Tivo Transfer and Tivodecodemanager, but neither seem to have the ability to upload to the tivo from my computer (Mac os x)...any suggestions?

Thanks.
Steve

Edit: I dunno if I put this in the right forum - I just put it in here because I have a TivoHD.

[cwoody222]

You can upload files to your TiVo from your Mac using regular TiVo Desktop. When you open the TiVo Desktop from System Preferences, hold down the Apple key and a secret Video menu will be revealed. Just enable it and select the folder you want to use. Then put files (they must be encoded just right) in that folder and they'll appear on TiVo in a few minutes.

[minckster]

The video has to be an MPEG-2. The TiVo HD isn't nearly as particular as the Series2 about the specs of the MPEG-2, but here are the specs for a Series2 (scroll down):
http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/TiVoCollection/4012D160-79C3-4238-96C8-A27B323D1413/ins_Content.html

To test whether you've got everything working, you can download the following sample video clip and see if you can get it to transfer to your TiVo HD (d/l the "Sample Video Clip [MPEG2]"):
http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/dvrchive.cfm

To convert files to MPEG-2, I use VisualHub ($23.32) which has a TiVo preset so it's point and click easy to get the specs right. MPEG Streamclip is free as are some other choices. PyTivo and TiVo.net convert files to MPEG-2 on the fly as they're being transferred to the TiVo. Do some Googling for links and info. It's very easy once you get used to it.

Two hints:
1) You can give your video a custom title and a description, which will appear on your TiVo. Look for the .properties file, which will appear alongside your video file in Finder once the TiVo recognizes that the video's there.
2) Stop and restart TiVo Desktop, in System Preferences, to speed the TiVo's recognition of the video file and your edits to the .properties file; otherwise, you may have to wait up to fifteen minutes each time. (I.e., to avoid any waits: drop the video file into your TiVo Recordings folder, stop and start TiVo Desktop, edit the .properties file, stop and start TiVo Desktop.)

[fatespawn]

Instead of holding down the apple key each time you open the preference, you can install this little script by dennis wilkinson:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4000443

scroll down to his attachment titled "toggle tivo video sharing"

It permanently enables the video tab.

[fatespawn]

another application that converts most videos to mpeg-2 is ffmpegx.

http://homepage.mac.com/major4/

It's free, but a little less user friendly. I've been using the program for a few years to edit some of my home iMovies.

One nice feature with regard to Visual Hub is you can directly drop an iMovie file into the program and it will convert it. No exporting from iMovie required.

[mattack]

You can upload files to your TiVo from your Mac using regular TiVo Desktop.

So Tivo Desktop will *upload* files to the Tivo, but we need pay third party software (for the 'supported' configuration) to download shows?

[Chimpware]

So Tivo Desktop will *upload* files to the Tivo, but we need pay third party software (for the 'supported' configuration) to download shows?


Feature is actually designed to allow you to move shows or movies off your Tivo and onto a server for storage and then back to the Tivo at a later date. It has the additional functionality of serving up any video file you like as long as the Tivo can recognize the file, which means in many cases you will need to convert from one file format to another. This can be done with free software as someone has already mentioned earlier in this thread such as ffmpegX, or MPEG StreamClip. Other people prefer other solutions such as VisualHub (my preference as well), but it is not necessary to pay for software to do this, although MPEG StreamClip will require the MPEG-2 codec from Apple.

[fatespawn]

So Tivo Desktop will *upload* files to the Tivo, but we need pay third party software (for the 'supported' configuration) to download shows?

That's right.

Toast8/Popcorn3 is the "Tivo supported" method... unfortunately, that costs $$

TivoDecodeManager is a free method, but doesn't support "season pass/scheduled downloading"

[pkscout]

Here's a link to the fourm specifically for MRV and TiVoToGo. You might check there for some answers.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=35

[markwang]

Is there a way yet to move HD video from a HD iMovie to a TivoHD? I've got a HD camcorder and can create HD iMovies. What's the process for exporting the HD video and converting it so it's viewable on the TivoHD?

I've tried VisualHub and TiVoizer, but I've only been able to create and view standard def mpegs on my TivoHD? VisualHub has an export setting for 1080i/720p, but it can't be selected the same time as the "tivo" export profile?

[bkdtv]

I've tried VisualHub and TiVoizer, but I've only been able to create and view standard def mpegs on my TivoHD? VisualHub has an export setting for 1080i/720p, but it can't be selected the same time as the "tivo" export profile?VisualHub hasn't been updated with support for the TivoHD and Series3. Its "Tivo" setting is intended to create recordings to send to the non-HD Series2 TiVos.

Be sure to email the author and let him know that you want better support for the TivoHD and Series3.

[Chimpware]

Is there a way yet to move HD video from a HD iMovie to a TivoHD? I've got a HD camcorder and can create HD iMovies. What's the process for exporting the HD video and converting it so it's viewable on the TivoHD?

I've tried VisualHub and TiVoizer, but I've only been able to create and view standard def mpegs on my TivoHD? VisualHub has an export setting for 1080i/720p, but it can't be selected the same time as the "tivo" export profile?

I just use MPEG StreamClip to create a MPEG-2 file with HD resolution.

[fatespawn]

VisualHub has an export setting for 1080i/720p, but it can't be selected the same time as the "tivo" export profile?

I don't have an S2 but from what I've read the S3's are much less picky about the formatting of the mpeg's.

Just drop your iMovie HD project file into Visual hub and select your appropriate 720p/1080i setting. I exported a test file from an iMovie HD project and it worked perfectly.