.TIVO decoding mystery

[weaverdrew]

Can anyone propose a reason why this would be happening?

I can successfully pull .TIVO files off my S3 AND I can then successfully convert them (using DirectShow Dump on PC or TivoDecode on Mac) to perfectly playable MPEGs, but if I try to convert these MPEGs into any other format -- AVI, MOV, whatever -- the sound in the resulting file is broken (either it's silent, or choppy with static).

I've tried mixing and matching different .TIVO container strippers (DirectShow Dump, TivoDecode) with different movie file converters (MPEG Streamclip, FFMEGX) with the same results. I've even tried it on two different PCs and two different Macs, same issue.

Could my S3 be doing something unique to the .TIVO files that somehow lingers once the container is removed, only to cause a problem when the raw MPEG is converted to something else? That makes no sense to me.

[moyekj]

You may want to try running the .mpg through VideoRedo Quickstream Fix utility. If you don't have VRD you can download a fully functional trial version to see if it solves your problem. I frequently find I must run QuickStream fix if I plan to edit or re-encode a video filed pulled from my S3 Tivos or else I end up with a bad, choppy or out of sync video.

[ThAbtO]

Another codec might help, theres 1 from www.cole2k.net

[weaverdrew]

You may want to try running the .mpg through VideoRedo Quickstream Fix utility. If you don't have VRD you can download a fully functional trial version to see if it solves your problem. I frequently find I must run QuickStream fix if I plan to edit or re-encode a video filed pulled from my S3 Tivos or else I end up with a bad, choppy or out of sync video.

Thanks! I solved the problem by using VideoRedo, but not exactly as you described. All I have to do is open the MPG file in VideoRedo and "Save As" an MPG. The resulting MPG is problem free, and can be re-encoded into any file format by any other video file conversion program without the broken sound issues. (I use Xilisoft for the subsequent conversions to AVI, MOV, etc.)

I did a little research and figured out why this works. VideoRedo remuxes an MPG when saving. Muxing has something to do with the interlacing of the video and audio tracks. This leads me to believe that the MPG output by DirectShow Dump is not fully compliant with the MPEG2 standards, at least in my case (I have not found anyone else complaining about this with DirectShow Dump), and thus remuxing the file cleans it up.

I found a free program that will demux/remux MPG files, if anyone else needs it --> TsRemux: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=125447

[JosephAngel]

hi,
You may want to try running the .mpg through VideoRedo Quickstream Fix utility. If you don't have VRD you can download a fully functional trial version to see if it solves your problem. I frequently find I must run QuickStream fix if I plan to edit or re-encode a video filed pulled from my S3 Tivos or else I end up with a bad, choppy or out of sync video.'ve tried mixing and matching different .TIVO container strippers (DirectShow Dump, TivoDecode) with different movie file converters (MPEG Streamclip, FFMEGX) with the same results. I've even tried it on two different PCs and two different Macs, same issue.

Could my S3 be doing something unique to the .TIVO files that somehow lingers once the container is removed, only to cause a problem when the raw MPEG is converted to something else? That makes no sense to me.

[JKay]

I use a slightly different approach to converting .tivo files. First I use Direct Show Dump and next I use ConvertXtoDVD to produce a conventional DVD file group, then I simply user Nero 7 to burn the DVD. The video quality is on a par with the original broadcast and I have never encounter any audio problems.