Shows transferred (back) to TiVoHD double in size...

[Haxx]

I have a TiVoHD and a Series 2 (Toshiba SD-H400). I had recorded the same show on both and had TTG them both. I saw that the HD one was a little smaller in size., which got me wondering if there would be differences in size when going from one to the other in addition to bringing them back from TTG.

I was a little shocked to see that basic quality shows when transfered from S2 to HD or from TiVo Desktop (TTG) to HD resulted in it taking up twice as much room. I am using both the info page for size and also what Desktop says, both being about the same in their size results.

I then tried something very simple. I copied a show from HD to Desktop, then back again. The file on HD: 720MB, after TTG Desktop shows it is 647MB. I then copied it back to the HD and Desktop shows it is 1400MB, the info page says 1.36GB.

I've also confirmed that when transferring from S2 to HD results in the same doubling in size.

I haven't yet compared any of the other sizes. I'll report back when I do.

[bkdtv]

As noted in the FAQ, some SD recordings must be transcoded into a compatible format, resulting in larger file sizes.

[Haxx]

I did see that, but I wouldn't expect the file to start on the HD, TTG - it still stays the same size, then bringing it back to the HD results in double the size.

[bkdtv]

I did see that, but I wouldn't expect the file to start on the HD, TTG - it still stays the same size, then bringing it back to the HD results in double the size.If you transfer files from TivoHD to Series3, there is no change in size.

The size only changes when you involve a Series2. The Tivo must transcode (convert) those SD recordings into a compatible format, and the Tivo uses a higher bitrate (requiring more space) to avoid quality loss.

[Haxx]

My initial experiment included files back and forth from S2 to Desktop to HD and yes, the file increased in size.

However, a basic quality show from the HD to S2, the file size stayed similar (720MB).

The same file from the HD to the Desktop, stayed similar in size. It wasn't until it went back to the same HD from where it came that it doubled in size. There was no other TiVo (Series 2 or otherwise) involved.

Why would a file from the HD and back to the HD need to be transcoded? I would expect a file from the HD and back to the HD to remain the same in size.

[bkdtv]

Why would a file from the HD and back to the HD need to be transcoded? I would expect a file from the HD and back to the HD to remain the same in size.Once you send the recording to the S2, the original recording no longer exists. All the Tivo can send back is the modified recording.

The same file from the HD to the Desktop, stayed similar in size. It wasn't until it went back to the same HD from where it came that it doubled in size.Are you sure about that? I've transferred many recordings from the TivoHD to my PC and back, and they never changed in size.

[moyekj]

Are you sure about that? I've transferred many recordings from the TivoHD to my PC and back, and they never changed in size. Me too (round trip S3->PC->S3). I've also done quite a bit of S3->PC->Direct Show Dump->Womble to edit out commercials->S3 and the resulting size is smaller than the original as expected with commercials stripped out.

[Haxx]

I just tried it again with a different file.

From Desktop I selected a file from the HD that was 360MB. The file once on the Desktop showed it was 323MB in size. From the HD I selected it to come back. The new file back on the HD is now 710MB. The info screen says it's 0.68GB. The info on the original (which is still on the HD) says it's 0.35GB.

I think it's got to do with basic quality files. I don't think it happens on high quality ones. I haven't checked other qualities.

[moyekj]

I just tried it again with a different file.

From Desktop I selected a file from the HD that was 360MB. The file once on the Desktop showed it was 323MB in size. From the HD I selected it to come back. The new file back on the HD is now 710MB. The info screen says it's 0.68GB. The info on the original (which is still on the HD) says it's 0.35GB.

I think it's got to do with basic quality files. I don't think it happens on high quality ones. I haven't checked other qualities. Oh, so these are recordings from analog channels.... I don't have any analog channels to record from when using cablecards so can't test that out. Still doesn't sound right though.