Downconvert HD to SD

[zbucklyo]

I now have a Series 3 Tivo to replace the Series 2 that I had for some time. I would like to take the Series 2 to the basement where there is an SD TV that is not hooked up to cable (no cable outlet there). I used to use it just for DVDs, but am now interesting on watching shows recorded on the Series 3 in HD on this basement TV. Does anyone know of software that converts HD files to SD files so they can be transferred from either my PC or the Series 3 Tivo to the Series 2 Tivo, which are networked together? Thanks.

[TexasGrillChef]

I now have a Series 3 Tivo to replace the Series 2 that I had for some time. I would like to take the Series 2 to the basement where there is an SD TV that is not hooked up to cable (no cable outlet there). I used to use it just for DVDs, but am now interesting on watching shows recorded on the Series 3 in HD on this basement TV. Does anyone know of software that converts HD files to SD files so they can be transferred from either my PC or the Series 3 Tivo to the Series 2 Tivo, which are networked together? Thanks.

The best programs are NOT going to be free.

irst you have to start off with VideoRedoTVsuite. Its the only program I know of that will covert a .TiVo file into other formats. HD or SD.

Convert the file to a MPG2 as TiVo Desktop & pyTivo will transfer that file format the fastest to your S2.

Then your done.

TGC

[bizzy]

doesn't this automagically happen when you MRV from an S3 to an S2? if so, why spend more money on software to do the same thing?

[RonDawg]

doesn't this automagically happen when you MRV from an S3 to an S2? if so, why spend more money on software to do the same thing?

You can't MRV a HiDef program from an S3 to an S2 directly. TGC's solution is a workaround.

[bizzy]

You can't MRV a HiDef program from an S3 to an S2 directly. TGC's solution is a workaround.

ah, my bad, sorry for the misinformation.

[kenrippy]

why not just record it in SD in the first place if you know you want to transfer it?

or, record both the HD & SD flavor if you have both tuners available at the time.

[dwit]

why not just record it in SD in the first place if you know you want to transfer it?

or, record both the HD & SD flavor if you have both tuners available at the time.

That is what I do, most of the time. But still, every so often, you will likely want/need to convert HD to transfer, for whatever reason. Say a HD channel doesn't do sd, like UHD, or Mojo.

[mr.unnatural]

Try HDTV2DVD. It is free and works fine for converting HD content to standard mpeg2.

[TexasGrillChef]

doesn't this automagically happen when you MRV from an S3 to an S2? if so, why spend more money on software to do the same thing?

No... because their is no "Conversion" software built into either the Tivo HD/S3 or the S2.

While the TiVo HD/S3 can read any file that the S2 sends it. The S2 isn't capable of reading HD files from the TiVo HD/S3.

As a result, the ONLY alternative is to transfer the HD file to your computer. Downconvert & then transfer it to your S2.

TGC

[jtown]

You could run a really long s-video/audio cable from the S3 to the basement TV and get an RF remote extender. Or get one of those wireless A/V kits plus the RF remote extender. That will let you watch the material directly from the S3 without a bunch of conversion steps since the S3 downconverts the HD to SD for those outputs. At least I think it does. Never actually tried it. Of course, nobody else will be able to use the S3 while you're doing that but, hey, it's your S3 so too bad for them. :)

[slimoli]

I use Directshow Dump, it's free and VERY fast. It converts TiVo files to MPEG2. 1 hour program takes less than 2 minutes with my PC.

Here is the link

http://www.prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm

I am using Vista Ultimate and never had a problem.

The great thing about this program is that there is no rendering, it's just a filter that removes the TiVo stuff from the file.


Sergio

[brettatk]

Say you record something in HD on your tivo and then bring the .tivo file over to you computer. Is there anyway to convert this to an mp4 file without losing the dolby 5.1 sound and hd format?

[dwit]

I use Directshow Dump, it's free and VERY fast. It converts TiVo files to MPEG2. 1 hour program takes less than 2 minutes with my PC.

Here is the link

http://www.prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm

I am using Vista Ultimate and never had a problem.

The great thing about this program is that there is no rendering, it's just a filter that removes the TiVo stuff from the file.


Sergio

But I don't think an s2 will be able to play the resulting file without further processing. I believe the S2 still recognizes it as an HD file, and won't transfer.

[slimoli]

But I don't think an s2 will be able to play the resulting file without further processing. I believe the S2 still recognizes it as an HD file, and won't transfer.


That's true but there are many programs that can convert MPEG2 files to SD resolution. Very few can deal with a TiVo file. Since there is no rendering with Directshow, you can consider the file as "original". Any editing software can them create a "DVD file" that will be playable on the S2.

[TexasGrillChef]

One other alternative I just thought of.

Once the SLINGCATCHER is released... If you have a Slingbox on your TiVo HD/S3 you could then put a Slingcatcher on your basement TV.

If you need wireless... Just put both the Slingbox & the Slingcatcher on a wireless network.

Althought the slingcatcher is not out yet. It should be before June.

TGC

[TexasGrillChef]

Say you record something in HD on your tivo and then bring the .tivo file over to you computer. Is there anyway to convert this to an mp4 file without losing the dolby 5.1 sound and hd format?

Question:

Why would you want to convert the file to an MP4 and keep the Dolby 5.1?

If you send it back to the TiVo, It will have to be converted BACK to a MPG2 before the TiVo can read it. Thus SLOWING the transfer BACK to the Tivo.

Yes the TiVo CPU is capable of reading MP4's but that FEATURE has yet to be enabled or used YET. Thus the TiVo STILL REQUIRES the file to be in MPG2

But in answer to YOUR question. YES it is possible. 3 (Three) programs I use do a fantastic job of it, and one of the programs even retain closed captioning.

Ulead Moviefactory Plus 6 with free HD pack add on (CC support)
Ulead VideoStudio Plus 11 with free HD pack add on (CC Support)
Roxio Easy Media Creator 10. (No CC cupport)

TGC

P.S.

The HD/S3 won't transfer a HD show to an S2. The S2 CAN'T decode a HD file. Thus... If you want to watch the HD show on the S2, you will have to perform some form of work around. Several have allready been mentioned in this thread.

[litkaj]

Say you record something in HD on your tivo and then bring the .tivo file over to you computer. Is there anyway to convert this to an mp4 file without losing the dolby 5.1 sound and hd format?

I don't believe that the MP4 container can hold an AC3 stream.

[TexasGrillChef]

I don't believe that the MP4 container can hold an AC3 stream.

Yes it can hold an AC-3 Stream. It can also hold a CC stream as well.

TGC

[brettatk]

Yes it can hold an AC-3 Stream. It can also hold a CC stream as well.

TGC

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if I could transfer over a movie I've tivo'd on HBOHD and be able to convert it to m4v or mp4 format so I could add it to my movie collection and stream it to my ATV. I was successful in doing this with another converter but I lost the 5.1 sound and HD quality. I'll look into one of your suggestions.

[BiloxiGeek]

I haven't tried this but I believe it's possible.

If the show gets recorded on the HD unit and then saved to a computer pyTivo would handle the conversion on the fly. You shouldn't have to do anything to the file.

At most you might have to convert it to an mpeg format using something like VideoReDo and then serve it up via pyTivo. This way you can maintain one copy of the file in an HD format and if you happen to be watching on a standard def TV with the Series 2 it'll get converted through pyTivo.

[TexasGrillChef]

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if I could transfer over a movie I've tivo'd on HBOHD and be able to convert it to m4v or mp4 format so I could add it to my movie collection and stream it to my ATV. I was successful in doing this with another converter but I lost the 5.1 sound and HD quality. I'll look into one of your suggestions.

SOME of the conversion programs that I have tried don't carry/convert the audio very well.

One example is Intervideo's (Corel) Copy DVD Plus 6. It does a FANTASTIC job on the Video side of UPCONVERTING, & even DOWNCONVERTING. However... it's audio side sucks. It converts all audio to a plain stereo stream. No 5.1 Audio at all. UNLESS your just copying the DVD to another DVD. A Very weird program. Nice if you want the best video with stereo.

I have tried Nero 8 Ultra, with HD pack. Nice it does a decent job with video & audio both in Upconversion as well as Downcoversion. Maintains the 5.1 audio stream & allows CC stream to be maintained as well. I just personally don't like the "INTERFACE" of Nero.

Roxio Easy Media Creator 10. IMHO has the easiest and fastest interface of all the programs I have tried. The Video conversion & Audio conversion quality are exceptional. Only drawback. Is it will NOT maintain the CC stream in a MPG2 or MPG4 file.

Both Ulead's products.... VideoStudio Plus 11 with Free HD Pack, AND MovieFactory Plus 6 with Free HD pack do a fantastic job in upconversion & downconversion as well. The maintain 5.1 Audio & are even capable of maintaining 6.1 & 7.1 Audio as well for HD MPG2, & HD MPG4 files as well. They both have great capability in maintaining & configuring the CC stream as well. The only thing I don't like about these programs are it's User interface. Alot clunkier then Roxio, but MUCH easier than NERO. Just remember if you buy either one of these programs. Go online and download their FREE HD pack, otherwise you won't get HD capabilities.

I have tried the "Free" programs.. but I don't beleive the quality is there. I do beleive you get what you PAY for.

Currently though. None of these programs read a .TiVo File. So you still have to use another program to convert a .TiVo file to MPG2 first. TiVo files are allready MPG2. So the program just has to strip the TiVo Stuff out.

TGC

[TexasGrillChef]

I haven't tried this but I believe it's possible.

If the show gets recorded on the HD unit and then saved to a computer pyTivo would handle the conversion on the fly. You shouldn't have to do anything to the file.

At most you might have to convert it to an mpeg format using something like VideoReDo and then serve it up via pyTivo. This way you can maintain one copy of the file in an HD format and if you happen to be watching on a standard def TV with the Series 2 it'll get converted through pyTivo.

You make a very good point.

However, while pyTiVo is pretty fast at conversion. The DOWN-Conversion quality is NOT as good as you will find if you downconvert it first. pyTiVo was built for speed first, quality second.

I have found other programs that were designed for converting file formats to do a much better job in upconverting & downconverting than pyTiVo or even TiVo Desktop.

I only use pyTiVo and TiVo Desktop to transfer my shows. Not convert.

TGC

[greg_burns]

I use Directshow Dump, it's free and VERY fast. It converts TiVo files to MPEG2. 1 hour program takes less than 2 minutes with my PC.

TivoDecode is slightly faster in my tests.

http://www.gmonweb.com/portal/CodingFun/Downloads/tabid/54/Default.aspx

Also, some people have reported audio sync problems with DSD and not with TivoDecode.

Finally, TivoDecode will install with just .NET 2.0 (or newer I think) installed. DSD's installer forces you to install .NET 1.1.

Use whatever works best for you.

[Greg_R]

I looked at all of these problems, solutions, & options and just ended up buying another HD Tivo (yes, for the standard definition TV). That was the cheapest & most versatile solution. I figure that the TV will eventually be upgraded to a HD display and I'll be set when that happens. In the meantime, I can share programs between my two Tivos without any HD/SD worries. The Tivo box downconverts the highdef content to 480i when you use S-video or composite video.