[jastavoss]

Can you convert Tivo files to mp4? If the file is 5GB, will it still be that size as an mp4 file?

 

[Mikeguy]

I highly endorse the easy-to-use TiVo Decoder GUI, to decrypt .tivo files. TiVo Decoder GUI - Just another WordPress site - GmonWeb

 

[Mikeguy]

I just experimented, and it took TiVo Decoder GUI just over a minute to decrypt a 400K .tivo file, into an approximately same-sized .mpeg file.

 

[fyodor]

KMTTG will convert files to MP4. Size depends on compression rate, but generally the H.264 algorithm is about twice as efficient, so you'll see similar quality at half the size.

 

[ThAbtO]

Can you convert Tivo files to mp4? If the file is 5GB, will it still be that size as an mp4 file?

It would need to be decrypted first, then it would be either a .MPG or .TS file, depending on whether its a PS or TS download.
A MPEG4 is a compressed video file and a 5GB MPEG2 file would be approximately 700Mb more or less.

 

[kpeters59]

Can you convert Tivo files to mp4?

They don't need to be "converted", as they're already .mp4 (or .mpg depending on the transmission source) and just need to be decrypted.

Keeping them as .tivo files is way past silly.

-KP

 

[Mikeguy]

Keeping them as .tivo files is way past silly.

Agreed, except: if you may never be using them apart from on your TiVo box, I can see not bothering to decrypt them; as well as, if you use WMP, they are playable as .tivo files.

 

[kpeters59]

What's the upside?

-KP

 

[Mikeguy]

None , apart from one step less (but of course, then being locked into the restrictions of the format).

 

[ggieseke]

What's the upside?

It keeps the metadata if you transfer it back to a TiVo.

 

[kpeters59]

Well, I guess there's one thing...

-KP