Copy Part of Show?

[Resist]

I recorded a show on TV and only want to save part of it, is this possible? Then I want to download it to my iPhone. Is there some way I can edit out all but what I want?

I am wondering if after I transfer it from Tivo to my computer I can use Windows Movie Maker or something to cut it down to what I want to keep and then convert it for my iPhone.

[ThAbtO]

This is what you want: VideoReDo TVSuite (www.videoredo.com) there is a trial period and total cost is $80 but its well worth it if you do alot of editing, burning to DVD etc. It supports the .tivo file format then Movie Maker does.

[Resist]

That is way more than I want to spend. Is there anything less expensive?

[ThAbtO]

The Tivo Desktop is what to use for tranfering to/from Tivo and PC, the Plus will have conversion to ipod, etc. cost is $25 for the Plus Key. But, you cannot edit or burn DVD using Desktop.

[Resist]

I have had Tivo Desktop Plus for years. All I want to do is edit the shows I record.

[moyekj]

There's a free trial version of VideoRedo and all you really need is the $50 Plus version if you decide you like it and want to buy it. The TV Suite just adds DVD burning.
There are ways of doing what you want for free as well - for example you can decrypt .TiVo file to .mpg and then use mencoder to cut out sections of .mpg file you want, but unless you are willing to get your hands dirty VideoRedo is way easier and the free trial costs you nothing.

[Resist]

I just tried the free version of VideoRedo, worked great and just what I needed. Now I have to rethink if I want to buy the full version, DVD burning would be nice. I know there are free ways of doing all I want to do but are complicated. I want one program to do it in an easy way, so maybe I just need to spend the money.

[ThAbtO]

I use both VideoReDo Plus and TVSuite. At first I just paid for the Plus ($50), and then only paid the difference for TVSuite (+30). I can use either as both can reside on the same computer. I used Paypal.com for payment.

[Resist]

I just found one issue with VideoReDo. After cutting my Tivo recording down to size, I tried to convert it for my iPhone. The "Convert for..." option is grayed out and will not allow me to do it. What now?

[windracer]

Did you re-save the file as a .TiVo file? I think TiVo Desktop will only convert files it thinks are .TiVo files. You can't just drop a regular MPEG-2 file in that folder and have it convert it for you.

[Resist]

Just tried saving them as a Tivo file, now it won't let me play them and get this message "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file".

Also trying to convert them in Desktop Plus, nothing seems to be happening.

[ThAbtO]

Just save it as a .mpg file.

[Resist]

The first save was as an .mpg file and Desktop Plus would not allow me to convert them for my iPhone, which need to be mpeg4.

[Resist]

So I thought if I upgraded to Desktop 2.8 it might help. But now I can't even play the VideoReDo files I made in .mpg or .tivo.

Why does this have to be so hard?

[ThAbtO]

You need some codec, try www.cole2k.net. Then you can play in windows media player.

[Ben_Jamin75]

if you only want one part (this won't work for multiple cuts).
I've done this to keep a clip from the news. (it has been a while YMMV)

Pause the recording right before the part you want. Go to another tivo and transfer from paused point. If you do nothing else this will create a copy on the second tivo without the first part.

If you can time it right, you can cancel the transfer, in effect cutting off the remainder of the program. It's not the cleanest way, but it's free.

From that point you should be able to transfer the now smaller recording to your PC and go from there.

Hope this helps.

[msmart]

I have VRD/TVS and love it for editing my TiVo files. I then use Handbrake to convert them for my iPod. You want a "cheaper" solution to VRD eh, try:

TiVo File Decoder (http://tivodecode.sourceforge.net/) then,
MPEG Splitter 1.0 (http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Multimedia_and_Graphics/Video_and_Animation_Tools/MPEG_Splitter_Download.html) then,
HandBrake (http://handbrake.fr/)

[Resist]

You need some codec, try www.cole2k.net. Then you can play in windows media player.The funny thing is that it played just fine when I initially did the edit to an mpg file, but once I redid as a Tivo file then nothing would play.


Update:Well clearly Desktop Plus would not allow the video I edited with VideoReDo to be converted, no matter what I saved it as. So I ended up using Handbrake to convert the VideoReDo file for my iPhone, and that worked like a charm. All is well again.