Saving HD Recordings To Analog

[SpiritualPoet]

I have three questions. 1. Can an HD TiVo or a Series 3 TiVo be set to record all programs in analog (in other words, turning off the HD quality for record purposes)? 2. Can an HD recorded program on one of those machines be dubbed (outputted to a V.C.R. or analog DVD recorder) in analog instead of HD quality? Reasons for asking: When purchasing a new HD TiVo machine (regardless of which one), I may use it on my analog cable to record everything which will be only in analog anyway, as my cable provider doesn't send programming in high definition. Or, I'll use rabbit ears at least until Feb. 2009 to record only in analog (my preference) for saving to analog VHS or analog DVD since I own nothing that will make a permanent HD recording. 3. If it is not possible to record only in analog, is there a cable or product that will convert HD signals to analog from the TiVo output jack to the vcr or dvd recorder input jack?

[jtown]

I think you're assigning inaccurate definitions to the terms "digital" and "analog". Digital does not automatically equal High Definition. Most cable companies are already "simulcasting" both analog and digital versions of Standard Definition programming. In addition to the digital SD channels, they also have digital HD channels which are often (but not always!) simulcasts of the analog and digital SD channels. So, for ABC, you'll have three versions of the same programming. Analog SD, digital SD, and digital HD. OTA, you'll generally have analog SD and digital HD. Sometimes there will be a couple of digital SD subchannels like weather and news feeds.

If you're not going to rent cablecards from the cable company, you don't have a whole lot of choice. You'll only get programming data for the analog cable channels and that's what the tivo will record. You will be able to record both analog and digital signals Over The Air (OTA) with an antenna. Again, OTA digital signals can be either SD or HD. The difference with OTA reception is that tivo provides programming data for all types of OTA signals, both analog and digital, SD and HD.

If you're going to rent cablecards from the cable company, they will automatically remap the digital versions of the SD channels in place of the analog versions. I don't think there's any way force the tivo to record the analog versions when you're using cablecards and there are digital versions available. However, I can't imagine a scenario where that would be desirable, anyway. The digital versions of the SD channels will be clearer and perfect reproductions of the signal sent out by the cable company. The digital SD recordings take up roughly the same amount of space as a recorded/compressed analog recordings so there's no advantage to going with analog. Well, except perhaps for copy-protected recordings. I don't know if there are any issues with recording an HBO movie to a VCR using the analog outputs of the Tivo. (Of course, that wouldn't matter anyway since you can't get premium channels in analog any more so you wouldn't be able to record non-protected versions with any configuration.)

And that brings me to the second question. The HD Tivos have composite and s-video analog outputs. By definition, these are analog SD. HD shows should be downconverted and sent out on those ports just like any other program played back by the Tivo.

[JimSpence]

All recordings are digital on the hard drive. You can set the output to 480i in order record to DVD.

[SpiritualPoet]

With regard to this aspect of your reply: By definition, these are analog SD. HD shows should be downconverted and sent out on those ports just like any other program played back by the Tivo. That sounds as if you're saying that all programs played back by the TiVo are analog SD. That is not possible for someone who owns an HDTV receiver (I don't) can view HD programs live or played back by TiVo, right? Or are you telling me that the signal when played back to the HDTV receiver is not true High Definition from a TiVo recording?

By the way, I never addressed digital vs. analog. I was only referring to HD vs. analog. Nor did I bring up cable cards. I don't plan to use cable cards for I don't have any HD receiver to benefit from HD quality. I don't need another Series 2 machine. I plan to buy a HD capable TiVo machine. It's just that I'm stuck on using analog storage products (vcr and/or dvd recorders all analog only).

[jtown]

I'm saying any signal sent out by the Tivo on the composite and s-video ports is SD. Those are the ports you would use to connect a VCR or DVD-recorder. The digital (HDMI) and analog (component) ports capable of carrying HD signals will, of course carry HD signals if they are present.

Can an HD TiVo or a Series 3 TiVo be set to record all programs in analog (in other words, turning off the HD quality for record purposes)?

That is the statement that led me to believe that you consider digital to be HD. It is not necessary to exclude digital recording to avoid recording HD material as not all digital material is HD. And recording HD material will not preclude recording to an SD device because the content will be downconverted for output on the SD outputs listed above.

[MickeS]

All recordings are digital on the hard drive. You can set the output to 480i in order record to DVD.

This is the short and correct answer. Hook your VCR up just like before and record from the TiVo, no matter which channel or source the show was recorded from.

[classicsat]

You don't need to wait until Feb 2009 to hook up an antenna to OTA record digitally.

You can stop it from recording on HD channels by locking them out, or not recording from them.

You cannot choose to record an HD channel in SD. The most you can do is is choose to record the SD version of the channel, if possible. If you most record a from a channel that is HD only, you can still watch and record it on your SD equipment.

[SpiritualPoet]

Thanks very much for all the answers to each who posted.