Should AVIs play automatically on S3 w/ Desktop Plus?

[weaverdrew]

Using Tivo Desktop Plus, shouldn't AVI files that I place in the "My Tivo Recordings" folder be playable on my S3 without any additional conversion work by me?

Other video file types show and play fine. All the .AVIs show up on my S3 with red cross-out symbols saying "transferring prohibited by the copyright holder" even though I created them (using a Canon min-DV cam and Windows Movie Maker).

The sticky MRV/TTG/TTCB thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=371710) seems to imply AVIs should play fine using Desktop Plus.

[greg_burns]

DivX or XviD (.avi,.divx)

That is saying .avi that contain DivX or XviD. Not .avi in general. AVI is a container format.

[MPeter]

I've had mixed success with getting my DivX avi's onto my Series 3 via Desktop Plus. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

When it doesn't work, there is no error message or log I can check to help troubleshoot the issue. I'll just notice the blue light on my Series 3 is no longer on and when I expect to see the transfered program in my Now Playing list it's not there.

All I can think is the on-the-fly decoder in Desktop Plus encounters a problem with the DivX AVI and stops the transfer. It's frustrating there is no error to tell me what is going on.

[TexasGrillChef]

I have had that same issue.

Are you using the Canon software to import the movie, or another program?

It seems that when I use the software provided with my Canon Camcorder I have that same issue. When I use another program Such as Ulead (Corel) VideoStudio 11 plus (http://www.ulead.com)I don't have that issue.

I do have the DivX Converter program that will convert an AVI into DivX format. It is from from DivX.com (http://divx.com)

However.... one important thing to KNOW....

TiVo Desktop Plus CONVERTS ALL (100%) Video to MPG-2 format then transfers it to the TiVo.

The only format that ISN'T converted prior to transfer to Tivo is MPG-2

I have found that Roxio Creator Version 10 (http://www.roxio.com), as well as Ulead Video Studio 11 Plus (http://www.ulead.com)do a BETTER job of CONVERTING AVI's, DivX to MPG-2 for the Tivo then does TiVo Desktop Plus.

As a result.... I now convert ALL Video to MPG-2 format prior to watching on my TiVo. (I mainly use Roxio Version 10 to convert all my Video to MPG2)

TGC

[greg_burns]

Not just any old MPEG-2, though. It has to be to Tivo spec.

http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/TiVoCollection/4012D160-79C3-4238-96C8-A27B323D1413/ins_Content.html

If it is not, I assume TivoDesktop will convert it(?) (Or maybe it just won't play. Not really sure.)

[demon]

If it is not, I assume TivoDesktop will convert it(?) (Or maybe it just won't play. Not really sure.)

Only TiVo Desktop Plus will. There are third-party programs, like pyTiVo and Galleon, that will do the same thing at no cost (I believe TiVo Desktop Plus is a $25 one-time license).

[ZeoTiVo]

I have found that with PcketDivXencoder you have to go with High quality setting to work. It gives me a single file I can play on TiVo or my smartphone so that is good but I do not have the space savings like before

[TexasGrillChef]

Not just any old MPEG-2, though. It has to be to Tivo spec.

http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/TiVoCollection/4012D160-79C3-4238-96C8-A27B323D1413/ins_Content.html

If it is not, I assume TivoDesktop will convert it(?) (Or maybe it just won't play. Not really sure.)

I have found that when I convert other video files to MPG2 with either Roxio, or Ulead.. the picture & sound quality are much better when TiVo Desktop does the final transfer to the TiVo then when I let TiVo Desktop convert & transfer a MOV, DivX, or AVI file.

I think the only difference between the MPG2 standard & the MPG2 that tivo uses is that it provides a sport for "meta" data that the TiVo likes to use.

TGC

[greg_burns]

I think the only difference between the MPG2 standard & the MPG2 that tivo uses is that it provides a sport for "meta" data that the TiVo likes to use.

The differences I was referring to was were the things listed here (http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/TiVoCollection/4012D160-79C3-4238-96C8-A27B323D1413/ins_Content.html)

bitrate, resolution, audio type, etc.