CD player

[billydontomlinso]

I have connected a CD player to my Tivo A/V inputs. How do I view/record from this player through/to my Tivo? Thanks Bill

[Stephen Tu]

Tivo won't record anything unless it gets a video signal. So you can fake it out by telling the Tivo in guided setup you have a satellite box, connecting a VCR for just the video (outputting the VCR default blue screen or whatever), and setting up manual recordings.

I would recommend instead recording CDs to a networked PC in MP3 format (at whatever bitrate is high enough to satisfy you), and stream them to Tivo using the Tivo desktop software or 3rd party alternatives.

Is there a particular reason you wish to record from the CD player rather than the MP3 on PC route?

[billydontomlinso]

sorry I wasn't clear. my player plays rental movies. when I connect to the TV channel 3 I get a lot of snow, but it also has 3 connectors for a/v. when i hook player directly to the tv I get a clear signal, but my tv only has one AUX input which i normally connect to the tivo. what i need to do is connect the player to the tivo to get a clear signal, but the channel lineup on the tivo has no AUX. Bill

[phox_mulder]

TiVo wasn't made to be hooked up like this.
The A/V inputs on the back are for a cable box or satellite box.

You want to get an A/V switcher to switch between the TiVo and your CD/DVD player.

You can get them pretty much anywhere, manual or remote controlled, even auto sensing ones that switch to the device that is powered on.

Here's a couple samples from the first place that turned up on a google search.
http://www.familysafemedia.com/4_device_audio__video___game_s.html

I think I got mine at Radio Shack.


phox

[lessd]

sorry I wasn't clear. my player plays rental movies. when I connect to the TV channel 3 I get a lot of snow, but it also has 3 connectors for a/v. when i hook player directly to the tv I get a clear signal, but my tv only has one AUX input which i normally connect to the tivo. what i need to do is connect the player to the tivo to get a clear signal, but the channel lineup on the tivo has no AUX. Bill

You will not be able to play Rental Movies using your TiVo because of copy protection built into all rental movies, you must go directly into the TV. There are ways around it but i not going into that in this form.

[scandia101]

You will not be able to play Rental Movies using your TiVo because of copy protection built into all rental movies, you must go directly into the TV. There are ways around it but i not going into that in this form.

Not True. Playing DVD's through a Tivo works just fine.
What you can't do is play a DVD through a tivo and out to a vcr or dvd recorder. The Tivo allows the copy protection to pass through and the vcr or DVD recorder will not record a clean copy.

To watch DVD's or any video using the Tivos composite inputs:
from: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=369578
I also discovered this today after getting 9.3 on my 540.
What i just finished doing is setting up the Tivo to use cable and satellite even though I only have cable (no box). I chose to say that I have dish network when I repeated guided setup. Then I went through page after page after page after page after page... of channels I receive and unchecked all of the dish channels except for channel 101. I'll use that instead of channel 00 now and it's even easier because you don't have to set up a recording to get the channel to display.

It was a major pita, but now that it's done, watching and recording from DVDs will be easier than before.

[Stephen Tu]

Playing DVD's through a Tivo works just fine
I wouldn't characterize it as "just fine". You are losing a lot of quality by going through the reencoding cycle. Plus you can't watch a DVD at the same time Tivo wants to record something else.

The best solution for the original poster is the AV switcher. Or an AV receiver as the beginning of a home theater system.

[scandia101]

I wouldn't characterize it as "just fine". You are losing a lot of quality by going through the reencoding cycle. Plus you can't watch a DVD at the same time Tivo wants to record something else.

The best solution for the original poster is the AV switcher. Or an AV receiver as the beginning of a home theater system.

Sorry. Perhaps I should have stated it differently for the videophiles.
The mechanics of playing DVD's through a Tivo works just fine.

What the best solution for the OP is his decision.

[JimSpence]

Clarify something for me. What CD player plays rental movies? :)

Anyway, I hope the OP has read the replies here.

Bottom line, he needs a new TV to handle more inputs.

[Stephen Tu]

Bottom line, he needs a new TV to handle more inputs

That's nuts, who needs to buy a new TV just to get more inputs? Just get a switch. A new TV is for bigger, better picture, HD capability, not just for more inputs.

[phox_mulder]

That's nuts, who needs to buy a new TV just to get more inputs? Just get a switch. A new TV is for bigger, better picture, HD capability, not just for more inputs.

A new TV will accomplish both of those goals, for the most part.


phox

[JimSpence]

I guess my implication was that a new TV with more inputs would also handle HD better.:)