How do I take a DVD and put it in my Tivo Now Playing?

[Shanezam203]

I have tried to do this once before but didn't have success. I have the 1tb Western Digital esat drive so I would like to put 2 DVD's on my Tivo in Now Playing.

What do I need to do to convert the DVD to .tivo?

Thank you,

Shane

[djenk2]

Try using DVDFab to copy the DVD to hard drive and then use VideoReDo TVSuite to convert those .vob files to a .mpg or .tivo file and then use TivoDesktop to share the .mpg file to tivo. There might be an easier way but that is how I've been doing it.

[AudioNutz]

...What do I need to do to convert the DVD to .tivo?

Shane,
Is this for a Mac or a PeeeCeee?

[Shanezam203]

Shane,
Is this for a Mac or a PeeeCeee?

PC guys.

[Yoav]

PC guys.

You don't really need it to be a .tivo file. Just a regular mpeg-2 (which is what you get from ripping the DVD) will work fine. You can use Tivo Desktop to push it out, or if you're willing to install another tool, I highly recommend 'pytivo'.

[Berryman1979]

I use (software name removed) to get them into a single .vob file, some meta data generator (forgot the name,sorry) to name the file what i want it to say on the tivo and pytivo to move the files over. It works really well.

[AudioNutz]

You don't really need it to be a .tivo file. Just a regular mpeg-2 (which is what you get from ripping the DVD) will work fine. You can use Tivo Desktop to push it out, or if you're willing to install another tool, I highly recommend 'pytivo'.

Can pyTiVo convert from DVD though?

[ajayabb]

Can pyTiVo convert from DVD though?

Yes, as long as it has been ripped first to MPG or VOB

[AudioNutz]

Yeah, I knew pytivo could accept a mpg file. I was hoping I missed the part where it did the actual transcoding directly from the DVD files.

[Berryman1979]

The vob files on a dvd are mpg. You can just change the extension if you want but there is no need. Tivo understands the vob as it is. No need to transcode.

[Berryman1979]

Sorry let me clairify what I said. The dvd is most likely protected and split into many 1GB files. You need something to fix all that and get it into one unprotected file. from there you can send it without much trouble.

[Shanezam203]

Sorry let me clairify what I said. The dvd is most likely protected and split into many 1GB files. You need something to fix all that and get it into one unprotected file. from there you can send it without much trouble.

I think you are correct, what will I need in this case?

Pytivo?

[Berryman1979]

No pytivo is like tivo desktop plus, only far more flexable and free. What you are looking for is of questionable legality. Fair use vs. DMCA and all that jazz. I'm not sure what I can say without getting in trouble. Just google DVD ripping and you can learn a lot.

[Yoav]

Yeah, I knew pytivo could accept a mpg file. I was hoping I missed the part where it did the actual transcoding directly from the DVD files.

Is this on your mac? If so, instead of DVDFab you can install VLC and use "Streaming/Export Wizard" to save it out to an mpeg-2 with no transcoding.

Personally, I'd still go with Handbrake and rip it to a nice mp4 file instead though. Then stream the mp4 to the tivo. Takes longer since you're ripping AND transcoding, but you'll end up with a smaller file to keep around....

[Shanezam203]

I used DVD shrink andon my PC I now have a folder with the DVD name and in it is a folder for Audio and one for Video.

Inside the Video is 4gig of individual files, what do I need to do so this is 1 file, and how do I then convert it to .tivo or something that the Tivo will read?

Thank you, I am making progress.

[djenk2]

Use "VideoReDo" to convert that folder to a .tivo file and then use "TivoDesktop" to share the .tivo file to tivo. I'm sure there are other programs that do the same job as "VideoReDo" but "VideoReDo" is the most popular.

[gastrof]

Does the "video" folder have files with the extension ".vob"? I don't know why the audio folder(s) show up, but .vob files should have both your audio and video.

I've been able to use .vob files to recreate new DVDs using my computer's DVD authoring software and its DVD burner.

[Ckought]

Open a Command Window and navigate to the VIDEO_TS folder that contains the VOB files you want to join. The MS PowerToy "Open Command Window Here" makes this part a lot easier.

Type the following command (assuming that there are 3 VOBs):

Copy /b VTS_01_1.VOB+VTS_02_1.VOB+VTS_03_1.VOB MovieFile.mpg

[djenk2]

I don't know why but the command Copy /b VTS_01_1.VOB+VTS_02_1.VOB+VTS_03_1.VOB MovieFile.mpg was only successful in copying the first .vob file so I tried an old dos technique and it seems to work. I created a .bat file named mpg.bat with the following lines in it.

Echo off
cls
echo Combining .VOB files into one .MPG file
echo This may take some time so be patient
REM Copy /b VTS_01_1.VOB+VTS_02_1.VOB+VTS_03_1.VOB MovieFile.mpg
type VTS_01_1.VOB > Movie.mpg
type VTS_01_2.VOB >> Movie.mpg
type VTS_01_3.VOB >> Movie.mpg
type VTS_01_4.VOB >> Movie.mpg
type VTS_01_5.VOB >> Movie.mpg
cls
echo Combining has completed!
dir *.mpg

If there are less than 5 VOB files there will be an error but you won't see it and it will complete successfully.

Thanks Ckought for pointing out that .vob files are the same as .mpg files. I never would have guessed....

[PaJo]

On linux we have a little command line tool called "vobcopy". You type in vobcopy -l and in a couple minutes the movie is wherever you typed in the command, it will copy all the files into one large .vob file that you can name anything you like. I seem to remember reading that windows had a similar program, probably even better, called vob2mpg and it will copy the vob files to one large mpg file.

I don't know how well either program works with copy protected movies as I don't do that sort of thing and I certainly don't recommend watching copy protected dvds on a tivo, nor do I recommend downloading any copyrighted material unless you have purchased it.

[Ckought]

djenk2:

The copy command seems to work for me. What might be the difference is that I'm combining multiple titles (ie - several episodes) and it looks like you're combining multiple parts of one title. The naming convention is different.

I do this to combine titles:
Copy /b VTS_01_1.VOB+VTS_02_1.VOB+VTS_03_1.VOB MovieFile.mpg

You would need to do this to combine multiple parts of one title:
Copy /b VTS_01_1.VOB+VTS_01_2.VOB+VTS_01_3.VOB MovieFile.mpg

Of course, if I'm wrong it wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last.

[pcbrew]

I used DVD shrink andon my PC I now have a folder with the DVD name and in it is a folder for Audio and one for Video.

Inside the Video is 4gig of individual files, what do I need to do so this is 1 file, and how do I then convert it to .tivo or something that the Tivo will read?

Thank you, I am making progress.

In DVD Shrink, go to: Edit -> Preferences
Select "Output Files" tab and UN-check the setting to Split VOB files into 1GB size chunks.

Re-run DVD shrink and you'll have 1 big VOB file.
Change the extension to .MPG and rename the file to match the movie name.


Some caveats:

DVD shrink may have issues - you may need DVD Fab to rip first
Resulting MPG may have playback issues on the TiVo - I find that I have to run some files through VideoRedo (Quick stream fix)

[djenk2]

Ckought:

Your suggestion worked. I really feel stupid not seeing the difference. Once I got the names right all worked like it should. Computers don't take any $%^& off of anybody. THANKS ...

[djenk2]

Look at these URL and see if they meet your needs.

http://www.effectmatrix.com/total-video-converter/
or
http://www.dvdfab.com/video-converter.htm

[Shanezam203]

Try using DVDFab to copy the DVD to hard drive and then use VideoReDo TVSuite to convert those .vob files to a .mpg or .tivo file and then use TivoDesktop to share the .mpg file to tivo. There might be an easier way but that is how I've been doing it.

I have DVD Fab, AnyDVD and Total Video Converter...

Which should I use and what format do my videos need to be in?

Not a single one of my videos below show up on my Tivo but I can play them on my PC. :confused:

http://images9.fotki.com/v114/photos/7/260457/8159039/76201115407AM-vi.png

Thanks,
Shane

[steve614]

Videos need to be in MPEG-2 (.mpg) format in order for you to see them on the Tivo.

[Shanezam203]

Videos need to be in MPEG-2 (.mpg) format in order for you to see them on the Tivo.

It's finally working! I can play my video's on my Tivo, thank you. :up:
Total Video Converter did it, thank you!

[johnjay829]

check out pytivo no extra conversions needed it does it all

[Shanezam203]

check out pytivo no extra conversions needed it does it all

I've attempted twice to read up on pytivo and install but it looks very complicated for me. Is there anyone that can assist me in setting it up on IM or a gotomeeting? :confused:

I have the below formats and all work on my PC, but my goal is to get them to play in either iTunes for Apple TV or Ultimatly Tivo because I have it wired in every room.

Can anyone assist?

http://images9.fotki.com/v114/photos/7/260457/8159039/76201115407AM-vi.png

[caddyroger]

never mind made a different post of the same

[caddyroger]

I've attempted twice to read up on pytivo and install but it looks very complicated for me. Is there anyone that can assist me in setting it up on IM or a gotomeeting? :confused:

I have the below formats and all work on my PC, but my goal is to get them to play in either iTunes for Apple TV or Ultimatly Tivo because I have it wired in every room.

Can anyone assist?



Try read this it might help.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=469354

[Shanezam203]

Try read this it might help.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=469354

I looked at it a few times, and searched some more & it is too complicated for me. Maybe I will attempt to install it again another time.

[Shanezam203]

My trial period of Total Video Recorder is up, before I pay the $30, is there anything Free that will convert media to .Tivo format as easily as TVR for $30?

Thank you,

Shane

[bobfrank]

No need to convert your media to .tivo format. TiVo is perfectly happy with .mpg files. Tivo Desktop, pyTivo, Streambaby (all free) will transfer .mpg files to your TiVo with no problems.

What format are your media files in now? If they are already .mpg then you don't need anything to convert them.

If they are not .mpg files then there should be lots of options, depending on the format you need to convert to .mpg.

Bob

[Shanezam203]

No need to convert your media to .tivo format. TiVo is perfectly happy with .mpg files. Tivo Desktop, pyTivo, Streambaby (all free) will transfer .mpg files to your TiVo with no problems.

What format are your media files in now? If they are already .mpg then you don't need anything to convert them.

If they are not .mpg files then there should be lots of options, depending on the format you need to convert to .mpg.

Bob

Most of my Media is in iTunes MPEG 4 format, I am not able to view that in My Tivo Recordings folder and watch on my Tivo.

http://images9.fotki.com/v114/photos/7/260457/8159039/76201115407AM-vi.png

[lrhorer]

1. PyTivo can handle an MPEG4 input, and transfer it to the TiVo. It will have to be transcoded on the fly, unless you push the video rather than pulling it. This will probably take a long time. Pushing requires the video be H.264, which your videos may or may not be.

2. The most recent version of VideoRedo can recode .mp4 files.