Noobie help, Tivo doesn't record in stereo!

It can not be anything but stereo if the source is stereo and you are using SCART or AV leads.

It can not be anything but mono if you are watching TiVo via an RF (aerial) lead.

Excuse my ignorance

I rigged the unit as per the diagram in the tivo book!

I get nicam stereo when I turn channel to rf channels, but mono when I go to the ftvb/tivo channel

Tivo will only give you stereo if all hookups are by scart cable from your freeview box to tivo to tv

Tivo's RF output via the aerial cable is only mono sound like vcr's used to be.

Automan.

Please bear with me but unhooked the rf cable from the ftvb to TV, only got a picture on the aux channel and no sound

Try restarting TiVo (via the menu) is there is no sound via the Scart lead.

Try a different SCART lead. If there is no sound via AUX bypass then there is no sound reaching the TiVo.

The optimal method of connecting the Tivo to your AV system is

Aerial -> TiVo -> TiVo's audio out jacks -> Your TV or receiver.

Don't connect the TiVo's RF out to your TV, you'll only get mono.

Another (better) option is
Aerial -> Freeview -> Freeview Scart -> TiVo Aux In
TiVo Scart TV out -> TV
(Or Sky / cable)

For convenience, I use my TV's audio out to redirect the stereo it receives to the AV receiver. That way whatever is shown on the screen is what is coming out of the amp

terryeden said:

For convenience, I use my TV's audio out to redirect the stereo it receives to the AV receiver. That way whatever is shown on the screen is what is coming out of the amp

Click to expand...

That's what I do.

I only need to change the amplifier input to pick up Dolby Digital / DTS from my DVD player and Xbox 360, although Dolby Surround is fine from the TV's stereo connections.

iankb said:

I only need to change the amplifier input to pick up Dolby Digital / DTS from my DVD player and Xbox 360, although Dolby Surround is fine from the TV's stereo connections.

Click to expand...

I also use the TV out liek that but I put the digital output of my DVD player into the same input on the amplifier. If the DVD player is in standby I get analogue from the TV, but when the DVD player is on the digital input 'overrides' the analogue and I get full Dolby Digital. I only switch inputs for the PS2 (in digital) or stereo inputs like the CD and MP3 player.

ozsat said:

It can not be anything but mono if you are watching TiVo via an RF (aerial) lead.

Click to expand...

Not that I use RF, but I thought TiVo would pass through NICAM on RF?

Though there is a NICAM bug in some older TiVos, mine included, but that results in no audio I think.

Anyway, I'd hook it up as follows...

FTV box SCART output -> SCART input on TiVo -> SCART out on TiVo -> SCART input on the TV.

If using the speakers on the TV, that should be it (assuming the TV is in fact stereo).

DeadKenny said:

Not that I use RF, but I thought TiVo would pass through NICAM on RF?

Click to expand...

It will pass through - ie. from RF-in to RF-out - whatever it receives.

However, the RF modulator that converts recorded (and, of course "Live TV") content to RF doesn't add NICAM to the signal.

Have you checked your SCART leads? Do you get stereo if you plug the FTV box directly into the TV?

DeadKenny said:

Not that I use RF, but I thought TiVo would pass through NICAM on RF?

Click to expand...

If you watched BBC1 on BBC1's real tv channel - then you'll get NICAM via RF, but if you watch BBC1 on TiVo via RF it would be in mono although recorded in stereo on TiVo in case you watch it via SCART.

DeadKenny said:

Anyway, I'd hook it up as follows...

FTV box SCART output -> SCART input on TiVo -> SCART out on TiVo -> SCART input on the TV.

Click to expand...

That's how I have my system setup

I have RF going into my tivo, then going into my FTVB

I can only get audio with audio leads going from my tivo to vcr in on my SS system.

Ozsat When you say restart the tivo do you mean rebooting and losing my settings or unplug it?

MarkH
On your Tivo if you press Tivo, Messages & Setup then System Information can you confirm what it says for

Program Source (1):
Source Input(1):
Program Source (2):
Source Input (2):

Also which make and model Freeview box do you have?

Automan.

Automan said:

MarkH
On your Tivo if you press Tivo, Messages & Setup then System Information can you confirm what it says for

Program Source (1):
Source Input(1):
Program Source (2):
Source Input (2):

Also which make and model Freeview box do you have?

Automan.

Click to expand...

Program Source (1):digital cable/digital terrestrial with s......
Source Input(1):Scart, L/R Audio
Program Source (2):Aerial Only
Source Input (2):Coax RF in

FTVB is a Panasonic TU-CT41

Thanks for the help so far guys!

Just realised something, I have disconnected the rf connection to the TV, which was slightly handy as I could watch a terrestrial channel while recording a FTV channel, is there anyway of getting facility back?

MarkH said:

Just realised something, I have disconnected the rf connection to the TV, which was slightly handy as I could watch a terrestrial channel while recording a FTV channel, is there anyway of getting facility back?

Click to expand...

Is that the RF from TiVo to the TV? Can you connect the RF direct from the FTV box into the TV (not going anywhere near TiVo)? Or is that how you did it originally? (in which case if you're not getting stereo from that, then it's either the FTV box or the TV at fault).

i.e.
FTV RF -> TV RF
FTV SCART -> TiVo SCART -> TV SCART

Then you should be able to watch the TV's RF whilst TiVo records off the SCART input.

Though your days of RF viewing are numbered as analogue TV will be gone by 2012. Okay it's a while yet, but some areas are starting to switch to digital only now.

Only solution then would be another FTV box, perhaps connected to another SCART input on the TV if you have one, or otherwise (shock!) abandon TiVo for a Freeview PVR box with twin tuners or Sky+/Sky-HD (which also has twin tuners).

Just want to say thanks for all the help guys, the TV picture and sound now is great, just one little niggle though

The surround system seems to have a better surround sound effect when I connect and use the rf input, should it be this way?

Depends how you are operating.

If you are recording BBC One/Two, ITV1, C4 and Five analogue via RF then you will be using NICAM digital stereo (the Tivo has a NICAM decoder in it), which is 728kbps and only companded (14 bit to 10 bit 32kHZ) and not heavily compressed, whereas if you use a Sky or Digital Cable connection via SCART, although it will be stereo these platforms use quite high levels of compression 192-256kbps 16bit 48kHz MP2 usually, which can kill the phase information used to contain surrond information.

Ironically, "analogue" broadcasts using NICAM can sometimes sound better than "digital" broadcasts using MP2...

If you are using RF connection for a Sky or Digital Cable box then you will only get mono - so no surround at all (Sky/Cable Digital boxes don't have NICAM encoders in them)