[tkoff]

Hi there, fellow tivo users,

Okay, I've pored over these community forums, and there's a lot of great stuff here, but really -- why is it so #@%&@!! hard to take a tivo file and burn it to a dvd that will play in a dvd player? I mean, is that asking so much?

And how many pieces of useless software must we install, ho wmany hours of trial and error must we endure, simply to accomplish this?

I would be really grateful if some experienced user out there could give us a really simple (I'm not a video engineer) way to accomplish what has become the impossible dream.

many thanks in advance

 

[dirtypacman]

Buy a Humax, Toshiba or Pioneer Tivo with DVD Burner combination.

Other than that its the old trial and error.

 

[classicsat]

You need the TiVo Desktop for one, as that is the only way to get the DRM engine DLL. You can leave the server portion off if you desire.

You probably need codecs. If you have a DVD burner, chances are strong you got a DVD player app included, which will have appropriate codecs.

Then you need a a DVD burning app, which one should have also came with the burner.

You might want or need a program to directly convert .tivo files to MPEG.

 

[clovis8]

Its really very easy.

1) Download Tivo desktop

2) transfer program to your computer

3) you need an mpeg-2 codec to play on computer
-(free one here http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Stinky_MPEG_2_Codec.htm)

4) burn to DVD or VCD using somthing like nero

I have done this several times with no problem.

 

[tkoff]

I appreciate the responses, but please keep in mind I want to burn a DVD that will play in a (non-computer) DVD player. So simply copying a Tivo file (or making it an mpeg file and then copying it) doesn't quite do what I'm trying to do.

And since I've already bought my Tivo, I don't see myslef rushing out to buy another with a built-in DVD drive (though if I had known what a bother this would be I might've done just that).

So, any simple ways to accomplish this?

 

[clovis8]

you can burn the files onto dvd or vcd and play them on a normal dvd player. I do it all the time.

 

[SoBelle0]

I use Sonic - I think it's called MyDVD. I don't recall how much it was - but I can use it to (albeit laboriously) remove commercials so it's been a great piece of software for me.

Here are the steps:

1) copy show from TiVo using TiVo Desktop (free download)

2) add desired shows to Sonic - Video Create a Project

3) edit - optional

4) click Burn button

It is slooow copying the shows over to the PC - and takes a lot of patience to edit the shows (save often) - but the end product turns out great! If I had the funds I'd upgrade to a TiVo with DVD burner - but for the interim I'm able to make this work. Good luck!

 

[MasterOfPuppets]

Personally, I'll never buy a non-PC DVD burner...can't edit anything on them, and what happens if it breaks...
I've been trying to burn stuff lately, but my videos keep getting pixelated during conversion from .tivo to .mpg...
As for, ya know, help...see the posts above...other tools you can use are Video ReDo, TV Harmony AutoPilot, and Nero Vision...all editing is a pain in the ass though, just FYI...

 

[padmalinowski]

I appreciate the responses, but please keep in mind I want to burn a DVD that will play in a (non-computer) DVD player. So simply copying a Tivo file (or making it an mpeg file and then copying it) doesn't quite do what I'm trying to do.

Believe it or not, it can be pretty painless on Nero, which came OEM with the DVD burner I added to my computer in July. Search this forum for "NVFACache" and you'll find instructions for a tiny baby little hack that in my experience burns perfectly good DVDs for use in your home entertainment center. You'll have to be willing to *gasp* save your work and *double gasp* quit and restart the software!

 

[dwgsp]

I appreciate the responses, but please keep in mind I want to burn a DVD that will play in a (non-computer) DVD player. So simply copying a Tivo file (or making it an mpeg file and then copying it) doesn't quite do what I'm trying to do.

I think that you may be misunderstanding the advice that others have given you. Software such as Nero, Roxio, Sonic, etc. will all burn a DVD that you can watch using a standalone DVD player that is connected to a TV.

This assumes that you have a computer that is equipped with a DVD burner, and that your computer and your Tivo unit connected to a home network.

 

[classicsat]

Most DVD burning packages come with a DVD authoring tool, which you use the authoring tool to make files, from your .tivo file(s) which the burning program uses.

 

[bomberjim]

Not all DVD players (non-computer) are capable of reading a computer authored DVD - especially older models. My oldest player for example, will read DVD +R or -R but not +/- DVDRW, nor will it handle DVD Ram. My son's player won't even handle DVD +R. This might be your problem. For assistance, do some research on what your player supports here: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.

Jim L

 

[MasterOfPuppets]

As a rule of thumb...DVD-R is generally said to have be higher compatibility, especially with older players...
Newer model DVD Players will likely play anything you throw in there...assuming you actually spent more than $25 and got yourself something that's not, ya know, useless...

 

[aeb430]

Roxio Easy Media Creator 8.0 is able to open the .tivo files you copy to your PC via Tivo2Go. The video editing software included with it is very easy to use and I do not have save my work at any time during the editing process. After it renders the edited video, you can burn the commercial free file to DVD.

You can also use a freeware app called DirectShow Dump to convert the .tivo files to .mpg before editing (which is what I do). The conversion takes only a few minutes.

 

[Denvers Dawgs]

OK after using DirctshowDump, I then Use TDA to author. THe problem is tivo files aren't in dvd compliant video form, so my dvd player plays them with the video in centered. How can I make the now edited Mpeg file to be in dvd complaint specs?

 

[Jestr40]

Can I use this External drive to record strait from the signal source of my TIVO? It says in the specs that is has S-video and RCA inputs to record from a camcorder or VCR.

 

[hoffa]

I use Sonic - I think it's called MyDVD. I don't recall how much it was - but I can use it to (albeit laboriously) remove commercials so it's been a great piece of software for me.

Here are the steps:

1) copy show from TiVo using TiVo Desktop (free download)

2) add desired shows to Sonic - Video Create a Project

3) edit - optional

4) click Burn button

It is slooow copying the shows over to the PC - and takes a lot of patience to edit the shows (save often) - but the end product turns out great! If I had the funds I'd upgrade to a TiVo with DVD burner - but for the interim I'm able to make this work. Good luck!

Where can I get this tivo desktop free download?

 

[wendysimon]

I have tried several times and am getting really frustrated. How do I edit a movie and burn it. I double click my file and it opens in roxio but I can't figure out how to edit it. I would think they would have a start stop mark and it would be something along those lines but I can't figure it out.

Also how much can fit on a dvd? I record in medium format and I have a bunch of christmas specials I want to put on dvd for my kids but am wondering if every hour show is going to be one dvd?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Denvers Dawgs]

you can put as much as you want on a dvd, just remember the more time (hrs) you put on, the less the video qaulity will be. Usually 2hrs per disc (high/good quality) 3hrs quality gets shotty

 

[188]

It seems that whenever I try to put much more than an hour onto a DVD, the MYDVD program either does not complete the DVD or crashes. Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid that?