free software to create dvds from tivo desktop files

[chasludwig]

After using Mydvd for years to burn dvds of tv shows downloaded to tivo desktop, a disk crash made me convert to roxio creator 9 which i am becoming convinced will never work dependably. It looks like Videoredo might fit the bill but is there free software that will convert the tivo files to burn a dvd readable by dvd players that will also provide a menu for multiple episodes?

thanks

[richsadams]

VideoReDo TVSuite (http://www.videoredo.com/en/index.htm) is by far the best TiVo video editing software on the market. I have VMWare Fusion on my Mac for two reasons, to run a version of Dreamweaver (I refuse to pay Adobe twice for the same program) and VideoRedo TVS which (currently) is not available for Mac's. Other's may chime in about freebie or shareware, but if you want an intuitive, no hassle experience, VideoReDo is it. (Works just as well on other videos too.) It's worth twice the price IMHO. Download the free trial and give it a spin. :up: :up:

BTW, YMMV, but I'd stay far away from Roxio's Toast if you value you sanity.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

[ldconfig]

I have no idea about anything windows. I use tiny 4 tivo to transfer shows to my Linux Mint desktop (i select raw mpeg) and then use DeVeDe to convert the transfered mpeg to a DVD .iso. And yes its all free (even virus/spyware free i have no idea how you windows folks put up with all the security issues what is it now over 990,000 and counting?)
ld

[msmart]

@chasludwig, welcome to the forum. Read through this thread to get up to speed:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=282355

[dlfl]

VideoReDo is the way to go, well worth the cost, but for a free process consider *** DVDStyler *** (http://www.dvdstyler.de/). It was a solid program the last time I used it, several revisions back, and it looks like it has been substantially enhanced since then.

DVDStyler has built-in DVD burner software, but I would recommend generating an ISO image file as output then using (free program) imgburn (just google) to burn the DVD. This may be more reliable, but it also has the advantage that if you want to make more than one copy you don't have to re-author the DVD.

So your steps would be:
1. TTG download the .TiVo file using TiVoPlaylist (or TiVo Desktop).
2. Free the .mpg from the .TiVo using TiVo Decoder GUI (http://www.gmonweb.com/portal/CodingFun/Downloads/tabid/54/Default.aspx).
3. Author the DVD ISO image using DVDStyler.
4. Burn the ISO to a DVD using imgBurn (just google for download).

Now VideoReDo will perform all these steps (except TTG), plus clean up the video stream and (optionally) edit out commercials, although I still prefer to burn separately instead of use the VRD built in burner.

There used to be an issue using DVDStyler that the input mpeg2 file needed to have "empty nav packets" (making it a VOB file) inserted in but I'm pretty sure the later versions don't have that issue. Again no issue if using VRD.

If you do go the smart route (VideoReDo TVSuite) consider TVAP (link in signature) for automating or semi-automating the entire process after TTG, including transcoding to MPEG4 using a post process script.

[msmart]

Read through this thread to get up to speed:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=282355

Or just read dlfl's post. Bam! You're at 100mph!

[richsadams]

So your steps would be:
1. TTG download the .TiVo file using TiVoPlaylist (or TiVo Desktop).
2. Free the .mpg from the .TiVo using TiVo Decoder GUI (http://www.gmonweb.com/portal/CodingFun/Downloads/tabid/54/Default.aspx).
3. Author the DVD ISO image using DVDStyler.
4. Burn the ISO to a DVD using imgBurn (just google for download).

Since the OP doesn't have 10 or more posts, he can't see a text link. Here's the actual link to the TiVo Decoder GUI:

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

[dlfl]

Another possible catch I didn't think of is the resolution of the video. It has to be 480 lines (height in pixels) (NTSC - USA) and preferably 720 pixels/line, although other widths usually work, e.g., 480 or 352 pixels/line. That is unless the newer versions of DVDStyler automatically transcode to DVD dimensions using, for example FFMPEG. Seems to me the added feature list for later versions said something like that. Anyway, just another factor that you don't have to worry about if you use VideoReDo.

Edit: From a DVDStyler FAQ:
Using VOB and MPEG files without reencoding

MPEG files will automatically be passed through if they are DVD compliant:
Video 720x576 (PAL) or 720x480 (NTSC)
Audio MP2 or AC3, 48000Hz
and the same format is chosen in DVD settings dialog.
You can check the audio/video encoding option in the title properties dialog: it must be set to Copy to skip reencoding (since DVDStyler 1.7.0).

VOB files will normally neither be reencoded nor be remultiplexed -- see the option "Do not remultiplex/transcode" in the title properties dialog (since DVDStyler 1.7.0).

This implies that current versions will transcode to DVD specs if required, and will remux MPEG inputs that don't have VOB-style empty nav packets.