Hey guys, this is probably a pretty noobie question that has been answered in this thread multiple times but I really don't have time to read all the pages. Here's my situation. I have a comcast motorola dual tuner dvr dct4316 box and it's at 100% capacity and I wanna save all the movies on there before I erase them. I know I need an external HD with a firewire cable and a program to capture the movies, right? Can someone give me a link to a prog that works for this (I'm on a mac with leopard).

Also, when I wanna watch these movies that I've stored on an external HD on my tv again, can I put them back on the dvr and use comcasts remote to rewind and such or do I have to do it through my computer?

Thanks for any help.

Hey guys, this is probably a pretty noobie question that has been answered in this thread multiple times but I really don't have time to read all the pages. Here's my situation. I have a comcast motorola dual tuner dvr dct4316 box and it's at 100% capacity and I wanna save all the movies on there before I erase them. I know I need an external HD with a firewire cable and a program to capture the movies, right? Can someone give me a link to a prog that works for this (I'm on a mac with leopard).

Also, when I wanna watch these movies that I've stored on an external HD on my tv again, can I put them back on the dvr and use comcasts remote to rewind and such or do I have to do it through my computer?

Thanks for any help.

I use an internal HD to capture. As long as you have the space, internal or external should be OK. I use FireRecord to capture. You can get it from mac.softpedia.com It's free.

You have to watch them from the computer, or you can move them to AppleTV, but you can't put them back into the cable box. Also note that many channels cannot be captured due to copy protection (HBO, etc.)

Also note that with most Comcast DVRs, you cannot transfer recorded content to a PC/Mac, only live content.

Hi kaadray,

thanks for your quick reply. I can confirm that with 0.h on my Mac Pro running MacOS 10.5.4, a non-compiled text script (tested first in Script Editor but then saved as a text file by BBEdit) does not call.

The iCal idea sounds great -- it is very easy to access by script and would be a great workaround -- I suspect there would not be as much control over location etc. but I suspect for most people they only have one device and one default location on their hard drive (at least until that one fills up and they switch it to another).

If everyone is interested, I could program a MacProgramGuide script that would schedule FireRecord events in iCal in the expected format and offer it to everyone (and/or give it to kaadray to offer with FireRecord).

Thanks,
Graham Jones
(developer of iEye Captain for EyeTV)

A good scheduling method is my only complaint with FireRecord right now. I have a great workflow of recording, editing commercials out with MPEG StreamClip, and exporting for iPod with Handbrake, but manually putting in the start time/record duration/episode info is getting to be a hassle

Hi - I apologize for not having done something with the scheduling yet. I have a deadline on the 21st after which I will either address it, or give the code to someone to address.

I have the exact same problem with comcast. I was previously able to firewire recorded programs when playing on the Motorolla 6412, but now I can only record live programs. Anyone figure out a way to make this work. I want the DVR to time and record and move the programs I really want to save over, freeing up my DVR space.

Let me know if you figure anything out.

After messing around for a while, I found that I could firewire-record programs saved to the DVR, but the picture on the TV screen would freeze and no sound would be recorded.

After more messing around, I found that if I pause the DVR first, then start recording via Firewire, then hit the play button on the DVR, I can record both sound and picture, but I still get the picture freeze on the TV. The recording itself, however, does not freeze. Unfortunately, the only way to know when the recording is finished is to time it manually.

A PIA work around, but it's the only way I've been able to record saved programs after Comcast did the update.

Sorry, but have tried to look through the posts, but haven't found a solution. I have followed the instructions but to no avail. I have a new macbook pro that I am trying to connect my motorola dch 3416 to via firewire. The MPB has a firewire 800 connection; i have installed the latest version of the firewire SDK and once I was able to have the system see the box, and since then, nothing, I have tried rebooting with the box on, box off, just plugging it in. Nothing. I've reinstalled the sdk and again nothing. I've also set up as a dual boot with windows SP 3 and tried to do this on the windows side and cant get it to record (get error 800705aa). This worked without a problem using my old toshiba laptop.
Please please help if you can.

Thanks

Hi - I apologize for not having done something with the scheduling yet. I have a deadline on the 21st after which I will either address it, or give the code to someone to address.

No worries. Thanks for the update and thanks for the incredibly useful software

Thanks for the responses.

Also note that with most Comcast DVRs, you cannot transfer recorded content to a PC/Mac, only live content.

So I can't do anything with the 50 plus movies I already have saved on my dvr? And I have to be watching the movie live in order to record it. That's pretty inconvenient.

I'm also not fond of having to watch the movies on my computer with a small monitor and no surround surround. Hmm...

So I can't do anything with the 50 plus movies I already have saved on my dvr?

You could try the Hauppauge HD PVR, which captures over component. There are now OS X compatible software betas from EyeTV and Steve Toth:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1081590

I'm also not fond of having to watch the movies on my computer with a small monitor and no surround surround. Hmm...

You could connect a Mac to your HDTV and watch fullscreen, this is after all an "HTPC" forum. VLC will pass the 5.1/AC-3 to your receiver. Or, if you only have an Apple TV connected to your HDTV, Handbrake will convert the files to something it can accept.

That's pretty inconvenient.

It's best to keep something in mind--the powers that be, the cablecos, manufacturers and content providers--really don't want to make this easy for you. They'd prefer you rent and use their equipment exclusively--and keep your computers far, far away.

The fact that we've been able to do any of this over firewire, due to the firewire SDK and FireRecord, and also very easily record clear QAM with our Macs, for as long as we have, is one of the special joys of the Mac as HTPC rather than a Windows HTPC (which, it should be said, offered advantages in other ways.)

And now that there are emerging OS X software options for the $200 Hauppauge which can take advantage of the analog hole and record HD over component, we're in pretty good shape.

hi

I was wondering if anyone could give me some guidance on an issue. Here's the situation. I was a CV subscriber and when I attempted to FW HDTV record to my MBP, I ran into a problem with CBSHD, as it was copy once. All my other local broadcast stations were copy freely. I waited a couple months and have now switched to Fios. I had the TV service installed about 2 weeks and was happy to find that CBSHD was set to copy freely, as were the other local stations. However, that was short lived as I found this week that CBSHD is now copy once. While the other stations are still copy freely.

Now my question is this, is it really worth my time trying to get someone on the phone and possibly get Verizon to switch this back to copy freely? Or is this set by CBS and there's nothing I nor Verizon can? If so, I know that a low level techie may not even know what I am talking about so who should I ask to speak with that may have some clue about this? I have read that this is illegal, and if true, can someone be kind enough to link to that legislation so that I can reference that during my phone call.

thanks for any help

Verizon is an extremely large company. If you call them, you'll be talking to low level employees who are not in a position to change policy--even if you work your way up several levels to a mid-level manager, and even if they wanted to, they wouldn't be able to change their policy. Maybe, if you took them to court, you could effect change, but you wouldn't be able to do it with a phone call.

A couple of products have come out recently that allow you to get HDTV to your computer. One is the Blackmagic Video Recorder (http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/videorecorder/), and another is the Hauppauge HD-PVR (http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html). The Blackmagic product includes software for the Mac, while I think, that EyeTV supports the Hauppauge product. It's unfortunate, but I think these are better solutions for getting HDTV to the computer than firewire.

If your only concern is local broadcast stations, just get a QAM tuner and be done with it. They're far more reliable than Firewire and don't suffer from any sort of copy protection stupidity.

can someone be kind enough to link to that legislation so that I can reference that during my phone call.

Legislation:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-225A1.pdf

Complaints:

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

I was wondering if anyone could give me some guidance on an issue.

I'm with coyoteaz and tiptongrange--rather than waste time pursuing something that's most likely being done on purpose or borne out of indifference--supplement what you are able to do over firewire by:

1) getting yourself a nice HD Homerun with EyeTV, stick it on your home network so you have ATSC and clear QAM covered,

2) also pick up the Hauppauge so you have everything else covered over component,

3) enjoy.

A couple of products have come out recently that allow you to get HDTV to your computer. One is the Blackmagic Video Recorder

This is looking more like vaporware every day. Announced in April, supposedly available June/July.

Learn about OS X software for the Hauppauge being independently developed by Steve Toth here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1081590

and there's also an EyeTV beta.

I'm still having great luck recording over firewire with Comcast, but I think there will be a Hauppauge in my future at some point, too...

Hi

Thank you very much for the insight and suggestions. I had a feeling that any attempt to get the flag removed would be an uphill battle.

I am really interested in some of these solutions. My next question would have been if hardware that would record through component, is available for the MBP. But you all already have answered that, so thank you again.

While all the products look great and should do the job, I am very interested in the BlackMagic recorder, due to price and from the looks of it, ease of use and install. But is this actually available for purchase right now? I ask only cause of the vaporware comment above, although I maybe misunderstanding him.

While the other solutions are great and might have to look into them in the future, right now my only need is to be able to record CBSHD through the component, while I can FW record using AVCapture all the other broadcast channels if needed.

thanks again everyone.

You're not misunderstanding me, try to buy it somewhere...it's yet to be released.

Besides budget, obviously, a lot of our choice comes down to how polished we expect the interface or software to be, and only you can answer that for yourself. Good luck however you decide to proceed...

thanks for the help.

I have been recording from a few different SA HD-DVR cable boxes for a few weeks now. Two days ago everything stopped working. I am using Apples Firewire SDK26 AVCVideoCap, MPEG Streamclip, and the Quicktime MPEG2 Component. I am copying only "Copy Freely" channels. I have tested this on 3 different SA Boxes, (2) Explorer 8240HDC boxes and (1) Explorer 8300, all with the same results.
I read a post on page 67 that broke down the packets and this is what I am receiving.

LPCW86:Movies michael$ od -t x1 home034.m2t | head -1
0000000 47 00 65 96 25 0e f4 df 46 2a 81 5d 9a 8e e4 28
LPCW86:Movies michael$ od -t x1 nbc12.m2t | head -1
0000000 47 06 37 96 ce 63 7c 95 99 a5 d2 d8 7e 2e 28 20
LPCW86:Movies michael$ od -t x1 uniHD.m2t | head -1
0000000 a9 15 9c 91 7a e8 a5 ba cd 26 00 ff 6c ac 8d b7

The first home034.m2t is Channel 34 FSA-AZ in Phoenix. This is a Copy Freely channel. After the 47 in the string there is a 00 which means Unscrambled, but still when I open in MPEG Streamclip I get "File open error: can't find video or audio tracks", I click Open Anyways and get "File open error: can't find video or audio tracks".

The second one (nbc12.m2t) I am getting the same thing, and it is a "Copy Freely" channel, I am not sure what the 06 means after the 47.

The third is an encrypted Universal HD with "Copy Once" and I get a9 15 which is an encrypted packet which I suspect.

I can still open m2t files I recorded a week ago in MPEG Stremclip.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

After recommendations here and some reading online, I have decided to go with an HD Homerun/EyeTV 3 package.

Hope the install is easy.

Thanks again for everybody's help.

I have been recording from a few different SA HD-DVR cable boxes for a few weeks now. Two days ago everything stopped working. I am using Apples Firewire SDK26 AVCVideoCap, MPEG Streamclip, and the Quicktime MPEG2 Component. I am copying only "Copy Freely" channels. I have tested this on 3 different SA Boxes, (2) Explorer 8240HDC boxes and (1) Explorer 8300, all with the same results.
I read a post on page 67 that broke down the packets and this is what I am receiving.

LPCW86:Movies michael$ od -t x1 home034.m2t | head -1
0000000 47 00 65 96 25 0e f4 df 46 2a 81 5d 9a 8e e4 28
LPCW86:Movies michael$ od -t x1 nbc12.m2t | head -1
0000000 47 06 37 96 ce 63 7c 95 99 a5 d2 d8 7e 2e 28 20
LPCW86:Movies michael$ od -t x1 uniHD.m2t | head -1
0000000 a9 15 9c 91 7a e8 a5 ba cd 26 00 ff 6c ac 8d b7

The first home034.m2t is Channel 34 FSA-AZ in Phoenix. This is a Copy Freely channel. After the 47 in the string there is a 00 which means Unscrambled, but still when I open in MPEG Streamclip I get "File open error: can't find video or audio tracks", I click Open Anyways and get "File open error: can't find video or audio tracks".

The second one (nbc12.m2t) I am getting the same thing, and it is a "Copy Freely" channel, I am not sure what the 06 means after the 47.

The third is an encrypted Universal HD with "Copy Once" and I get a9 15 which is an encrypted packet which I suspect.

I can still open m2t files I recorded a week ago in MPEG Stremclip.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

I spoke to Cox Communications, and the Video Tech said nothing was changed on their end. He opened a ticket with Cisco to see why this was happening.

In the meantime I have tryed 3 different boxes, 3 Different Mac Book Pro computers with 3 different Firewire cables, All with the same results.

All I can say is this really sucks.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

No, everything is still fine for me, but then I don't use a DVR, just a regular SA 3250 STB. The SA 3250s and SA 4250s seem to be working for most of us...

In the meantime I have tryed 3 different boxes, 3 Different Mac Book Pro computers with 3 different Firewire cables, All with the same results

If you read back in this thread, lots of people have been having problems with the DVRs, and the boxes you tried (8240, 8300) are both DVRs, right? And you're not really going to get anywhere when you ask a question of anyone at the Cable company...new firmware gets pushed through and you're done.

The only other thing I'd suggest is swap a DVR out for a non-DVR with firewire, and also try FireRecord/VLC instead of the AVCVideoCap method.

Hi,

I found the bug that caused FireRecord to not call the AppleScript when that is the tuning method. I'll try to put up the fixed version as soon as possible and post here when it is up.

Edit: 0.5.1 is up which should be tuning properly for all options including AppleScript.

This is my first post here. I have read through most of this thread and it has been very helpful, especially the comments of kaadray and chefklc. Thanks, guys!

I have been able to successfully capture video streams from my set top box to my Mac for some, but not all, channels. Unfortunately, I still can't capture the channel I really want to get! I'm trying to figure out if I have missed something, or if I'm out of luck.

I have a Scientific Atlanta 4250HDC from Time Warner Cable here in Honolulu, connected via FireWire to my MacBook. I am using AVCBrowser and AVCVideoCap from the Apple FireWire SDK 26. Here's what I'm doing:

1. Launch AVCBrowser
2. Select my device
3. Click on "Open Device - Control Panel"
4. Click on "Open Device"
5. Click on "Close Device"

(Opening and closing the device seems to be necessary - I'm not sure why)

6. Launch AVCVideoCap
7. Select my device

(8. Manually set my TV to the right channel - I'm sure this can be done via software but right now I'm just shooting for bare minimum functionality)

9. Back in AVCVideoCap, click on "Capture From Device"

This works, hooray! I am getting .m2t video files at sizes of about 30MB/minute, that I can view using VLC.

However... it seems that this only works for TV channels that are part of my "Digital Cable Service" package. When I try the same thing with channels in my "Standard Service" package, I get zero-length .m2t files.

AVCVideoCap has an "EMI" text box at the bottom -- for the channels that I can capture, this text box displays either "Copy Freely" or "Copy Once"; for the ones that I can't, the box remains blank.

My problem is that I really want to record from Home & Garden TV, which is a "standard service" channel for me. I can't capture it with the steps I've described above. Does anyone have any thoughts on how I can do this?

Alternatively, I also have a channel in my "High Definition" package, Home & Garden TV HD, but it seems like this doesn't carry the same content as the regular HGTV channel so this may not be useful to me. I tried anyway, and was able to capture a stream from this channel as well, at about 100MB/minute, but VLC wouldn't play it.

Any comments? Thanks everyone for all your discussions!

Hi kaadray,

wonderful, thanks!

- Graham.

Hi everyone

I picked up my HD Homerun and EyeTV 3 software last week. And I am very happy to say that all worked out beautifully.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-10/61187/GW_12-26-08.jpg

Was able to capture CBSHD via my OTA signal. Will tryout the QAM feed as well.

thanks again for the help guys.

happy new year.

@ Eric808, although I can't provide much help to you as to why you cannot record the standard def channel, as for playing the recorded m2t from HGTVHD, as long as it was displayed as copy freely on the EMI box, you should be able to play it. I have had problems with VLC and find that mplayer for OSX works much better.

good luck.

@ Eric808, although I can't provide much help to you as to why you cannot record the standard def channel, as for playing the recorded m2t from HGTVHD, as long as it was displayed as copy freely on the EMI box, you should be able to play it. I have had problems with VLC and find that mplayer for OSX works much better.
@thecaptain2279, thanks for the suggestion. However the HGTVHD stream was flagged as "Copy Once", not "Copy Freely" -- does that make a difference as to whether VLC can play it?

@thecaptain2279, thanks for the suggestion. However the HGTVHD stream was flagged as "Copy Once", not "Copy Freely" -- does that make a difference as to whether VLC can play it?

Unfortunately, it does make a difference. Copy Once streams cannot be captured via firewire. The only way to accomplish this is to use either the component connection or S-video. Happauge makes a nice PVR that copies through the component cables. There are also a few apps that copy via the S-Video connection which may be your best bet to copy the regular HGTV signal.

I use Pinnacle Studio Plus 11 for my non-HDTV captures, seems to work decent enough.

best of luck to you.

Hi epitaphmike.

I have a SA8300HD and use the Firewire AVCVideoCap method on an old Mac G4 400 successfully since last june. The last time I've transfered "Copy freely" material on my Mac was on 2008-12-28. Not later than 2009-01-02. AVCVideoCap recognized the SA8300HD device but was not able to show the duration dialog box. This app has always showed the duration dialog box.

I do'nt think the problem is about the SA device, nor the wire itself. AVCBrowser still open and close the device and can even launch VLC to view the previously recorded material on the remote device.

I suspect that a recent Mac update has spoiled my configuration. Maybe something in the AppleScript arena. Of course, when talking of troubleshooting an app, whe always talk in an hypotheticall mater until we spot the real problem.

I'll follow this thread from time to times to see how things are working around.

Regards

Hi,

I'm trying to understand which application is considered 'State of the Art' in terms of recording via Firewire on a Mac. This is a LONG thread. Taking a quick look at the first post it looks like some of the links are out of date (circa 2004).

chefklc, I understand you're a longtime firewire user. Which is the most reliable/user friendly application you'd recommend for for a newbie planning to try and hook up their STB?

Thanks,

Steve

Steve, I personally prefer FireRecord:

http://www.ammesset.com/firerecord

Hi,

Just skimming through the forums, Ammesset Software (FireRecord) looks like they've done a pretty good job but they're pressed for time and maybe cannot give the community what it wants. Also kudos to kaadray (from Ammesset?) for all of his work so far.

One of the things I've tried to demonstrate with HDPVRCapture is that I'm here on AVSForum, every day, listening to user feedback, bug fixing, adding features and trying to improve the application to help where I can. (Minor plug: Have you seen the HDPVRCapture v2 UI?)

I certainly don't want to take anything away from kaadray, Ammesset and FireRecord but is their a significant interest from the readers in this forum in seeing a new Firewire recording solution, perhaps with full applescript support, integration with TitanTV, iCal scheduling, daily/weekly repeated recordings, multiple device support, channel changing, (external blasters?) perhaps also some post processing - the whole nine yards - much like HDPVRCapture?

Just so we're clear, it would not be a free application so likely around $30. I can't make that any cheaper and keep up the level of daily support I give.

Everyone, please let me know your thoughts, if this market is currently very well served then I'll skip this and focus my attention on some other aspect of TV on he Mac.

I really am interested in your thoughts.

- Steve

Make no mistake Steve, there would be significant interest in a $30 or so app that could handle firewire recording. We've been waiting for 5+ years for someone, anyone, to take what started as a "proof of concept" and produce a polished, full-featured app. The great value of FireRecord is that it is free, easy to understand, has a rudimentary GUI and works very well for manual recordings--there's little bloat and few bells and whistles. But, as you know, it takes time and resources to develop and support something--that support is worth paying for.

The great value of EyeTV is that's updated and supported. Likewise, you're providing tremendous updates and follow-up support for your HDPVRCapture, in fact, I marvel at your patience and restraint in answering questions on that thread, many of them off-topic or unrelated to your app. But both depend on the purchase of additional hardware.

I'd suggest there would be at least as much of a following for a full-featured firewire app as what you've seen coalesce around the Hauppauge device, especially since no additional hardware purchase (like a tuner) would be required besides your cable STB. Problem is, cablecos aren't going to keep firewire active for much longer--it's sketchy at best now and the affordable Macs are losing firewire.

chefklc: Thanks, kind words and much food for thought.

It's no secret, firewire is a mixed bag. For me (under Linux) it's mostly reliable. It's a pity that Apple took the firewire ports off of the MB and offer nothing at all on the mini. I guess express card options will probably exist for a while - although, hmm, I don't even think the MB has that.

In terms of other Mac TV projects, I'd toyed with the idea of porting some of my other Linux drivers to the Mac although I'd start to overlap with Elgato in a number of areas, probably not a good idea. USB2 would have a market but I'm pretty sure the market for PCIe drivers on the Mac is zero, or close to.

<plug>Before I drift off topic completely and the moderators jump all over me, if anyone _IS_ looking for PCI / PCIe support for TV tuners on the Mac then please PM me.</plug>

Again, thanks for your feedback.

- Steve

Hi Steve,

I am/was the developer of iEye Captain for the EyeTV -- I am willing to correspond if you think my input would be helpful. I worked with both the IRTrans and ZephIR infrared device developers for my app, and have both for testing (though firewire channel changing is the best if it is supported on the STB).

I love FireRecord, but I would definitely pay $30 for an app that had a few more features. It doesn't need to be hugely complicated -- even iCal, Applescript, and better channel changing would do it for me.

You can contact me directly if you like -- info(at)vidcan(dot)com.

Cheers,
Graham.

Steve
Purchased your other app. but believe this would have merit as well. For the past 3 years, I've used AVC Video Cap for copy freely and Eye TV 250 for copy once. Needs are very basic-manual transfer of previously recorded show on Explorer 8300. Deal maker would be recording copy once but probably never possible via firewire, correct?

Steve
Purchased your other app. but believe this would have merit as well. For the past 3 years, I've used AVC Video Cap for copy freely and Eye TV 250 for copy once. Needs are very basic-manual transfer of previously recorded show on Explorer 8300. Deal breaker would be recording copy once but probably never possible via firewire, correct?

Thanks.

Good question. I'd have to look a little more closely at the Mac's implementation of 1394 A/V to answer that, not something I can comment on right now.

Assuming my STB (SA4250HD) is actually inserting the appropriate DTCP copy once descriptor then (with my Linux system) it's being ignored. :) If the Mac A/V stack obeys and doesn't pass payload up the stack then we're stuck.

Let me review this.

- Steve

GrahamAJones: Thanks for the feedback, very good to know. The initial response to this idea (both public and private) is encouraging. If this continues then I'll green-light the project and I will need external IR Blaster support, in which case I'll be in touch.

Thanks again.

- Steve

My post will be more discouraging. My Firewire capturing is from a Comcast HD DVR and something has changed so that I can only capturing live TV. Attempts to Firewire capture a program saved to the DVR's hard drive results in the displayed frame on the TV being frozen for the entire recording period and the resulting recording having no audio track. Since I can record the network HD channels and most SD channels with my EyeTV 2008 Hybrid, the only situation where I'd do a Firewire capture in the future is from a live, non-network, copy-freely channel. That's not going to happen enough to make it worth it to me to purchase an application to do this (although at $30 I might do it just to support the effort).

I've looked into the Hauppauge HD DVR and with the new EyeTV 3.1 software it looks much more useful than Firewire capturing given how limited the latter is with my Comcast service. But in truth I wouldn't use it much, either.

Hi epitaphmike.

I have a SA8300HD and use the Firewire AVCVideoCap method on an old Mac G4 400 successfully since last june. The last time I've transfered "Copy freely" material on my Mac was on 2008-12-28. Not later than 2009-01-02. AVCVideoCap recognized the SA8300HD device but was not able to show the duration dialog box. This app has always showed the duration dialog box.

I do'nt think the problem is about the SA device, nor the wire itself. AVCBrowser still open and close the device and can even launch VLC to view the previously recorded material on the remote device.

I suspect that a recent Mac update has spoiled my configuration. Maybe something in the AppleScript arena. Of course, when talking of troubleshooting an app, whe always talk in an hypotheticall mater until we spot the real problem.

I'll follow this thread from time to times to see how things are working around.

Regards

Just for troubleshooting shooting sake, What configurations are people running?

I am on a 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro 4 GB Ram running Leopard 10.5.6
I am using the Firewire SDK 26 with the AVCVideoCap program to record and MPEG Streamclip to view. I also have Quicktime MPEG2 Converter installed.

I have even tried recording with FireRecord in both .m2t and .ts files. I have tried opening the .ts files in VLC as well as MPEG Streamclip.

Thanks.

OK, Good news. Somehow I got this working. I read a blog and it worked
http://www.super-cooper.com (http://www.super-cooper.com/archive/2009/01/04/ripping-recorded-video-from-a-cox-dvr-on-os-x/)
Basically what I did was plug the firewire into the mac, then opened AVCVideoCap. I started the program on my DVR and then paused it. Then I plugged in the firewire to the DVR. I started the capture in AVC then pressed play on my remote.

Wa-La it worked.

This is after this not working all of the sudden.

My guess is it has something to do with the firewire connection. Before I just left my firewire connected to the DVR.

I hope this helps someone.

I've skimmed this forum; sorry if this question was discussed previously and I missed it. I have a DVR (Motorola, from the cable company) connected to a Polaroid DVD recorder (it has a built-in hard drive), so I do have the ability to copy shows I've recorded on the DVR to a DVD. But to do that, I have to record in real time, and that ties up the DVR from being used for regular viewing. So, I'd like to connect the DVR to either the DVD recorder or my Mac (firewire is fine) and drag files off the DVR onto the Mac or DVD recorder hard drive. Is that possible? Or do all the recording options involve playing the show on the DVR and recording it in real time?

I hooked up the Motorola DVR to my Mac via firewire, but the Motorola isn't showing up as a drive on the Mac. I'm using an old PowerBook G3 running OS 10.4.11. It has more than 60 GB free hard drive space. If that's not good enough, I could use my new MacBookPro (unibody) running 10.5.6, but I'd need to buy a firewire cable that links firewire 400 (on the DVR) to firewire 800 (on the MBP).

So at this point, I want to know if it's possible to copy the actual files off the DVR, or if the DVR must play a show in real time in order to record it elsewhere.

Thanks!

So at this point, I want to know if it's possible to copy the actual files off the DVR, or if the DVR must play a show in real time in order to record it elsewhere.

Thanks!

It's not possible. You have to play the show.

It's not possible. You have to play the show.

Thanks for the reply. Seems crazy that there is content stored on the DVR hard drive that can't be accessed as actual files.

Thanks for the reply. Seems crazy that there is content stored on the DVR hard drive that can't be accessed as actual files.

Agreed. Cable Labs and others don't want to make it easy.

Agreed. Cable Labs and others don't want to make it easy.

One more question: my DVR can record one show while I watch another. If I've recorded one show on the DVR, can I play it (so that I can record it to my DVD recorder) at the same time I'm watching a different show?

I'm just trying to record the stuff that's on the DVR without having to watch it all in real time. Any way of doing that?

No and no.

For anyone who subscribes to this thread via email but doesn't actively read the Mac general forum, you're probably interested in this new firewire capture app being developed for the Mac.

It's previewed and discussed here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1111561

I searched all over the forum and cannot find a solution, so I'll ask my question here. Thanks in advance.

I live in Vancouver, Canada using Shaw Cable Service.
My PVR box is the Motorola DCT6416 III
I'm using a MacBook, firewire 400, VLC player, AVCVideoCap (v.1)

I was able to transfer a few shows from the PVR to my laptop a couple of months ago. Since then, the captured file plays without video and audio.

The program AVCVideCap is able to detect/identify the PVR.
The EMI says "Copy freely".

Please help!

I finally took my first shot at recording from my set-top box. (DCT3416 from Shaw cable in Vancouver)

So far I've been able to record everything I tried (all indicated "Copy Freely"). I was able to change channels using the AVCBrowser and view the incoming stream using VLC, which to my surprise allows me to watch live TV on my iMac.

My work flow so far is:

Record stream to iMac using AVCVideoCap.

If required, edit out commercials using MPEG Streamclip. IMPORTANT: if you want to retain the AC3 soundtrack, do not do any conversion here. Just "Save As".ts file.

Use Handbrake to convert video from 1080i to 720p (or smaller). I start with the Apple TV Preset with de-interlace, 4500 kbps ABR for 720p, 2500 for 480p, 2 pass encoding.

The resulting H.264/M2V plays happily in QT Player & iTunes. CAVEAT: while QT Player shows the AC3 to exist, I don't have a digital audio out hooked up, so I can't prove it.

Does anybody see anything I might be missing?

Otherwise, like I said, so far so good.

Ron

sorry, that should read:

The resulting H.264/M4V plays happily in QT Player & iTunes. CAVEAT: while QT Player shows the AC3 to exist, I don't have a digital audio out hooked up, so I can't prove it.

To Steve Toth:

Keep working on a software front-end for firewire recording. I've seen your HDPVRCapture.app and would love to have something that elegant for firewire recording. And yes, I'd be willing to pay for it.

Am I correct in saying that the main advantage of the Haupage HD-PVR & HDPVRCapture is not having to worry about copy protection?

To Steve Toth:

Keep working on a software front-end for firewire recording. I've seen your HDPVRCapture.app and would love to have something that elegant for firewire recording. And yes, I'd be willing to pay for it.

Yeah, that's AVCNoodle.

Kind words, thanks.

Am I correct in saying that the main advantage of the Haupage HD-PVR & HDPVRCapture is not having to worry about copy protection?

Yes, it avoids all DRM issues - because it's using analog.

I personally think it has lots of other plus's (HD via Component, 5.1 via SPDIF) but we're heading off topic. Head over to the HDVRCapture thread if you want to discuss specifics.

- Steve

So I am just starting to record some HD from my Motorola 6412 to my G5 running OS10.5.5 and I am having a few issues. I first tried recording with FireRecord. The first couple of test's went fine. I was getting between 11-16bps and the image would fill the full from when playing back with VLC. Then I tried VirtualDVHS and the image did not fill the screen, I had black bars on the side and top. So I went back to FireRecord, the next couple of test recorded at 11.8bps, but instead of fluctuating like it id the first few times, it stayed at 11.8. The when I played that back the image did not fill the frame. The the next couple of test it recorded at -0.00bps, this could not be played back. So any ideas on what's going on? The other thing I can not figure out is how to get 5.1 playback, it's playing back in stereo. I tried to go into the midi setup and make the changes that the VLC read me file suggested, but when I select mutichannel I can still only select stereo, everything else is grayed out. I have my G5 connected via spidf.

Is a G5 powerful enough to play these back?

As far as black bars and not filling the frame once you start playing back a recording, just use the VLC > Video fullscreen command. If that doesn't snap it into proper view, move the file over to something more modern, an Intel Mac like a Mini, MB or MBP and play it back...verify it works fine there and then you'll know your problem has nothing to do with VLC or the recorded file itself.

The first couple of test's went fine. I was getting between 11-16bps and the image would fill the full from when playing back with VLC. Then I tried VirtualDVHS and the image did not fill the screen, I had black bars on the side and top. So I went back to FireRecord, the next couple of test recorded at 11.8bps, but instead of fluctuating like it id the first few times, it stayed at 11.8. The when I played that back the image did not fill the frame. The the next couple of test it recorded at -0.00bps, this could not be played back. So any ideas on what's going on?

Most likely you're not going to be able to record all of your high def channels, some you will, some you won't. Was this all on the same channel or did you change? And you're manually changing the channel on the 6412, right, with the FireRecord default channel on 0? Before each test recording, make sure your 6412 is selected in the FireRecord device tab, if you have other firewire devices connected sometimes it switches off the one you want.

What I'd do is stop switching between software programs and take the "fill the frame" issue out of the equation, because I think that's a red herring (more a function of your setup and connection to your display and less the act of capturing the stream itself.) To prove that, just work with FireRecord and record some test clips, a minute or two in length, from various channels, making note of which clip is which. Obviously you've proven you can record something properly, now you have to do more work to figure out which other channels you can record, and which you can't.

The firewire connection between devices is finicky at times, occasionally you have to unplug, restart and/or reconnect to get your STB and Mac to pair up again.

With VLC and a Macbook, I don't normally need to go into MIDI and change any setting manually to "get" 5.1, so leave that issue aside for the moment--in preferences just set it to use s/pdif when available and force detection of DD surround. First, though, I'd figure out which channels you can record, and then move on to which are supposed to have 5.1 audio. (Many are just 2.0)

It's a dual 2.0ghz G5 and it plays HD back just fine. I stopped trying to use FireRecord and have been using AVC Capture. So far I have recorded 8 movies. All play back perfectly fine using VLC except for one move. For some reason that movie appears to have some judder when the camera pan's, but it plays back fine from my cable box. This movie was recorded from the same channel as two others and they don't have this issue, so I don't think it has anything to do with the channel. I fixed the 5.1 issue, thanks chefklc, except I find that sometimes I need to shut down my computer and restart in order for it to playback DD from VLC.

The only other issue I have with playing back these HD files is with jaggies. But I am not sure it's the fault of VLC. I know that VLC has a deinterlacer, but I have my computer hooked up to the Iscan VP50 so I don't want to deinterlace it twice . With the VP50 the only setting that get's rid of the jaggies is the Game 1 setting, but that also makes the image slightly softer. I am still fairly new to the whole htpc thing so I will keep playing around with everything, but has anyone else had issues with jaggies?

So far I have recorded 8 movies. All play back perfectly fine using VLC except for one move. For some reason that movie appears to have some judder when the camera pan's, but it plays back fine from my cable box.

I am still fairly new to the whole htpc thing so I will keep playing around with everything, but has anyone else had issues with jaggies?

You're in a difficult spot, Steve, because likely no one else here is using a Mac with such an expensive external scaler and projector combo as you, so everything you try to do is more complicated. But one easy test you can do to figure out if what you're calling judder and jaggies is actually inherent to the file itself or to your hardware path and settings is simply move it to one of your Intel Macs and play it back with the same software (VLC) there. That'll tell you right away if it's the file, or suggest you look in another direction, like the lack of CPU in the G5, the graphics card in the G5 or your settings and connection as you go out to the scaler to projector.

This movie was recorded from the same channel as two others and they don't have this issue, so I don't think it has anything to do with the channel

It may not have anything to do with the channel per se, but I think you'll find differences between individual recordings captured across all channels--there are just too many production and broadcast variables for you not to.

For some reason that movie appears to have some judder when the camera pan's, but it plays back fine from my cable box.

That's just telling you the cable box is doing a better job handling that fast motion pan, you may or may not be able to achieve that with your G5.

I fixed the 5.1 issue, thanks chefklc, except I find that sometimes I need to shut down my computer and restart in order for it to playback DD from VLC.

This happens to me sometimes as well, usually it's because some other app or front end with digital out, like say EyeTV, hasn't let go (within AudioMIDI) or it might be that your AVR has lost its lock on the incoming optical signal, say after waking your Mac from sleep. Sometimes closing that other app or toggling off to a different audio input on your AVR and then back to the Mac input again is enough to get DD 5.1 back, short of restarting.

So I hooked up my 8 Core Mac Pro and that fixed the issue with the jaggies but I still had the judder issue. (At least I think it's judder, the image is jerky whenever the camera pans). I did some testing and recorded the same movie on the 8 Core. I tried unplugging the firewire, switching firewire ports on the cable box and tried quitting then re-opening AVC Capture before I recorded the movie. They all still had the same issue. But I found that sometimes if I quit VLC, re-opened it, then played back the file it would have little to no judder. Has anyone else experienced this? I also recorded this same movie on my dvhs and that played back perfectly fine.

I am curious if putting a new video card in my G5 would fix the issues with the jaggies? The strange thing is, when the display preference is set to 1080i and run the computer through the VP50, the menus and type on the desktop are slightly jaggy. But if I plug the computer straight into the projector it looks fine. This is with the G5 not the 8 Core.

Hey guys it me again....with the movie Im trying to get off of my DVR from HBO

So heres the scoop, the movie is on DVR but it is also playing again on the 9th

Its a movie not released on DVD and is public domain content

Now the tech stuff...
So I did a couple of sample captures using AVCCapture and FireRecord, just 1 minute long, it is recording frames cause I can see it count the frames. I tried to open the 1 minute caps in VLC but no dice. I then move both the captures over to my Windows machine and use Media Player Classic with K lite codec pack to open them and I actually get some video with about a 3 second delay jump from scene to scene. So I know the movie is being captured.

Question: Is this because its from the DVR? Should I try when it is actually playing on HBO? Or is it some other reason?
Should I try another application? Or try recording into another format other than m2t?

Thanks for your guidance guys

(side note, did a one minute capture of CBS in HD, output was perfect, no problem and no skipping)

Question: Is this because its from the DVR? Should I try when it is actually playing on HBO? Or is it some other reason?
Should I try another application? Or try recording into another format other than m2t?


HBO and most of the pay channels and premium content are copy protected. That is the problem. Only some of my non-network channels that are captured will play back.

Is this because its from the DVR? Should I try when it is actually playing on HBO? Should I try another application? Or try recording into another format other than m2t?

I'm with teague, it's because your dealing with HBO. The answer to all your questions above is no.

did a one minute capture of CBS in HD, output was perfect, no problem and no skipping

This confirms you know what you're doing.

As we told you previously, you still can get this movie off your DVR and onto your Mac, you just have to go component out with the Hauppauge HDPVR.

Some of the discussions recently have revolved around issues getting HBO (or other premium channels) via Firewire.

The unstated but apparently accepted theory is that these channels are protected by 5C and that's why the video is blocky.

In terms of the two or three cases discussed recently they appear to say: 'blocky video'. That is, some or many good video frames but then something happens in the stream to break the MPEG. Later, the video is fine again. IE. intermittent break up. No mention of audio so I cannot comment.

Assuming I'm judging this correctly then this doesn't sound like 5C, this sounds like a buffering bug in Apple's firewire framework (that everyone is using on all of the apps) - which is probably repairable.

I've asked a couple of people for samples of the video so I can analyze this, and perhaps find the bug. Nobody has responded.

From memory, when 5C is enabled, you don't get _ANY_ clear video (even small pieces) from the STB. The packets are either all encrypted (specifically - not decrypted by the STB - IE what you'd see on the cable with a QAM tuner) or, you don't get any packets what-so-ever.

I'm willing to work on this if someone can give me an apparently 5C protected video stream exhibiting this 'valid video but breaks up' problem.

Or, we can keep making assumptions.

- Steve

I'm willing to work on this if someone can give me an apparently 5C protected video stream exhibiting this 'valid video but breaks up' problem.


stoth,

If my helping can help me get my movie off of DVR or able to stream it off of HBO on the 9th, im all for it!!!! Cause I really want to get this.
Im putting the links to the samples I took with avccapture and firerecord.....they dont play with VLC but they will play in MPC on windows but with the chunk effect, meaning I can see HD video for a second or two at a time, then I have a black out then it skips to a different scene. As for the audio, I am getting none. As for AVCBrowser, it wont let me stream thru VLC off of the DVR, but CBS is not a problem

hope this description helps and here are the links to the samples which are labeled as follows

Off of my DVR, HBO Kidco movie

AVCCapture sample
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9UBCW3Y4

FireRecord sample
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XKDVQ5O7

I have been able to copy hd movies from HBO, Showtime, Starz and the movie channel and all where from my dvr. I cable carrier is Astound.

movieguy163201: I analyzed these streams with the lab tools. These files are not corrupt, in fact they do not have any encryption and are not missing any packets. They do contain some invalid fields in the PMT and XDS structures but the video and audio is in tact. The DTCP structure reads a little odd, arguably even contradicting itself, but essentially these two videos are 'Copy Freely' unprotected.

stoth:

So if I were to use AVCCapture and capture all of the movie on to my Mac (from there I could move to Windows if need be) what software do I need to fix the playback on the files and/or encoding to a different codec say x264 or say down to a MPEG2 stream the size of of a DVD5?

How do I fix the streams basically? what tools or software do I need?

edit: or if I capture the entire movie, would you be willing to help maybe via PM if I sent you the whole file maybe split up in multiple 1GB rar chunks?

Is the content from firewire output from the Motorola 6412 & 6416 being sent out at it's native res? So that a show that is 720p will be recorded at 720p?

Yes.

Is there a way to extract only the audio portion of a .m2t file? I'd like to make an audio CD of it (the file is of a broadcast concert), so I guess I'll also need to convert it to AIFF or WAV.

I'm using a Mac Pro, if that makes any difference.

Thanks for any advice!
Russell

Is there a way to extract only the audio portion of a .m2t file? I'd like to make an audio CD of it (the file is of a broadcast concert), so I guess I'll also need to convert it to AIFF or WAV.

I'm using a Mac Pro, if that makes any difference.

Thanks for any advice!
Russell

MPEGStreamclip is the app you'll need. Just do a google search. It'll probably be the first hit. To see/work with the video, you would need to buy the apple MPEG2 playback component, but I don't think you will need that if you just want to extract/convert the audio. Just open the file using the program and choose "File...Export Audio"

stoth,

If my helping can help me get my movie off of DVR or able to stream it off of HBO on the 9th, im all for it!!!! Cause I really want to get this.
Im putting the links to the samples I took with avccapture and firerecord.....they dont play with VLC but they will play in MPC on windows but with the chunk effect, meaning I can see HD video for a second or two at a time, then I have a black out then it skips to a different scene. As for the audio, I am getting none. As for AVCBrowser, it wont let me stream thru VLC off of the DVR, but CBS is not a problem

hope this description helps and here are the links to the samples which are labeled as follows

Off of my DVR, HBO Kidco movie

AVCCapture sample
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9UBCW3Y4

FireRecord sample
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XKDVQ5O7

I looked at the first clip. It has no problems.

Transcode the file with VLC....
Open up VLC
Chose "File..Open File...Browse...[choose the file]"
don't hit OK just yet.
Chose "Streaming/Saving" in bottom left corner.
Then chose "settings" in the bottom right corner
On the new window, click "browse," and chose a new file name for the file to be created.
Leave all the other presets alone. Choose "OK" to close that window.
Chose "OK" to start the streaming.
Wait a while for VLC to finish. Then I always close and re-open VLC. Then Play the file like normal.

This isn't always guaranteed to work with all files, but it sometimes does. It did work with your sample file. I didn't try the second link. I assume it's the same clip.

MPEGStreamclip is the app you'll need. Just do a google search. It'll probably be the first hit. To see/work with the video, you would need to buy the apple MPEG2 playback component, but I don't think you will need that if you just want to extract/convert the audio. Just open the file using the program and choose "File...Export Audio"

That did the trick--thanks again! It did say that I was missing the MPEG2 playback component, but I proceeded anyway and was able to extract the audio very easily. The resulting AIFF file was sampled at 48K, but I resampled it to 44.1K (and did some edits) using Sound Studio, and then was able to burn a CD.

Russell

joshMV4

Ill have to give that a shot! Right now my Macbook is in for repair the motherboard went bad on it but no big deal, it should be back in less than 2 weeks

BTW those two files arent the same files, theyre were capped with different programs and theyre different segments of the movie

Give it a shot and let me know, when I get my macbook back Ill record the whole movie thru firewire onto my mac using AVCCapture and then we can go from there

Thanks for the input tho

So I've ready through maybe about 20 pages of this thread...and boy is it helpful. I have just started using the latest build of FireRecord and am getting .m2t files...I downloaded the Quicktime MPEG Component so I can open and convert in Streamclip. Here is my issue...I want to view these on my iPhone...any suggestions on output settings for Streamclip--there's just so many variables it is confusing me! I also use Miglia TV MiniHD which has a handy export for iPhone function which is awesome. I also have Sorenson Squeeze if that would help in any way. thanks!

I have been recording over firewire successfully for the last couple of months, then last week I tried recording the Simpsons, on fox, and I noticed that it recorded the wrong channel even thought I had fox selected. So I started recording, using AVC 1.06, and then changing the channels to see what happened. I found that whenever I selected fox it would record the next channel up. It would record any other channel but fox and abc. In AVC the EMI says "copy freely", but I am wondering if maybe they changed from copy freely to copy never?

Here is my issue...I want to view these on my iPhone...any suggestions on output settings for Streamclip--there's just so many variables it is confusing me!Open your video in Streamclip, go up and click on File, then scroll down to Export to Other Formats; from there, scroll and select iPhone from the available options. The default settings worked just fine for me.

I have been recording over firewire successfully for the last couple of months, then last week I tried recording the Simpsons, on fox, and I noticed that it recorded the wrong channel even thought I had fox selected. So I started recording, using AVC 1.06, and then changing the channels to see what happened. I found that whenever I selected fox it would record the next channel up. It would record any other channel but fox and abc. In AVC the EMI says "copy freely", but I am wondering if maybe they changed from copy freely to copy never?
Fox does seem to randomly enable the broadcast flag during primetime, and Motorola boxes will interpret this to mean copy protection should be enabled.

Have other people recently had issues recording from fox or abc?

stoth:

So if I were to use AVCCapture and capture all of the movie on to my Mac (from there I could move to Windows if need be) what software do I need to fix the playback on the files and/or encoding to a different codec say x264 or say down to a MPEG2 stream the size of of a DVD5?

How do I fix the streams basically? what tools or software do I need?

edit: or if I capture the entire movie, would you be willing to help maybe via PM if I sent you the whole file maybe split up in multiple 1GB rar chunks?

I've been capturing HD content from my 8300HD for sometime now and can outline the process I use.

1. I use AVCCapture to get my .m2t streams obviously.
2. I copy the file to my PC and run it through MPEG2 Repair.
3. I take the repaired file and load it into DG Index, I save the project which creates a d2v file and demux's the audio stream. Nice thing is the AC3 filename includes the delay in the name which gets picked up by software used later.
4. I launch Delay Cut and process the AC3 file with the option of "Silence" for CRC errors. This is very important, failing to do this will give you audio\video sync issues. Once the AC3 file has been processed, delete the old AC3 file and remove the "fixed" from the filename of the new AC3 file. You need to do this so that the d2v script still point to the proper audio stream.
5. I use XviD4PSP, load the d2v file and let it do it's initial process, it will confirm the audio stream and detect black borders to eliminate them. I then set my resolution and aspect and change my output to be 1280 from 1920 (I do this because 720p is fine for my viewing). I then go to Interlace\framerate and and let it analyze the interlace and field order which yields the proper settings most of the time.

At this point you just have to decide the quality of the file and the container to use. I use x264 and the MKV container as it provides a pretty good quality file and allows me to keep the surround sound and add subtitles and chapters if I want to go that far. As far as the quality I mostly use 1 pass high quality and adjust the bitrate to get the file size I want. If I want to get better quality I choose the 2 pass template. On average the encoding times are about 5 hours for 1 pass and 10-12 for 2 pass.

If you follow that process you will get a successful encode most of the time. There are occasions where your encode will be fine but you will see some artifacting, and other times the audio\video sync will be fine then suddenly be way off. For me the recordings on my PVR look fine, i've gone back and not noticed any issues that I saw on my final encode. I believe it's either a glitch on the encode from the Mac or a bad firewire cable.

For the bad glitch I took a look at the file on Video Redo application and I can see audio missing for a number of frames, the transport stream file will play fine in VLC with this glitch but on the encode it throws the sync way off. I have not been able to find a way to repair this other than record from PVR again and hope I get a clean run.

The artifacting is tolerable but it be nice not to have any.


Hope this helps.

I followed the instructions and playback works flawlessly on my MBP.
One thing I'm missing is the cable guide. Is there a way to get the guide showing? Is there a way to change the resolution output? I cannot change it from the 480p shown on the box to 1080i since I cannot access the cable box options. Anyone has a solution for this?

Hi kokeradio,

as far as I understand only the digital stream coming from the broadcaster is sent over Firewire -- overlaid graphics such as the cable guide are superimposed over the HDMI and analog outputs.

As such, you will need to hook up a TV or LCD monitor to your cable box if you want to see the settings. You could use an inexpensive EyeTV device like the EyeTV Hybrid if you want to view this output on your Mac (you would use it just to access the cable guide and settings, not to record).

Hope this helps,
Graham.

Does anybody know if the Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC can be ripped this this method?
I have it from TWC in San Diego.Thanks

If not over firewire, then certainly over component with the Hauppauge HD PVR.

If not over firewire, then certainly over component with the Hauppauge HD PVR.

Hauppauge HD PVR, what is that?
Thanks

Hauppauge HD PVR, what is that?

A device that takes advantage of the analog loophole. Google it. Nice OS X software for it discussed here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1081590

EyeTV also supports the device.

Here's how the Firewire thing works.

It merely takes the raw stream of data from the tuner, bypassing the tuner and sending it to the Firewire port.

If the channel is 480i, that's what you are going to get. If the channel is 720p, that is what you are going to get.

For deinterlacers, this is what I reccomend: 480i and 1080i, I reccomend "bob". It keeps full framerate. For 720p, disable, obviously.

I just recorded last nights Magic game with this setup, and am encoding a DVD right now.

will this work with the cox Motorola DCH3416 to the new unibody MBP?

will this work with the cox Motorola DCH3416

Will what work? If you're talking about recording over firewire, the answer is maybe, you have to find out if the port on your box is enabled. Good software here:

http://www.steventoth.net/blog/products/avc-noodle/about/

If you're talking about the Hauppauge device using component and USB, the answer is yes (and that's discussed on a different thread.)

i mean can i record through firewire. ok so i have to order this program. if it doesnt support firewire then no point of paying money

i mean can i record through firewire?

of course you can, in theory. It all depends on your particular cable company.

You don't "have to" buy that software up front. While it's the most fully functional and actively supported software of its type out there, and Steve (the developer) posts at AVS regularly in case you need some handholding and technical support, you can do two things right now:

1) just download the app from his site and try it, for free. (Recording time is limited until you pay for a license.)

or

2) try one of the bare bones but free recording over firewire apps out there, like FireRecord.

That's the best way to verify if you can record over firewire from your particular STB.

well, it is a good software.

That did the trick--thanks again! It did say that I was missing the MPEG2 playback component, but I proceeded anyway and was able to extract the audio very easily. The resulting AIFF file was sampled at 48K, but I resampled it to 44.1K (and did some edits) using Sound Studio, and then was able to burn a CD.

Russell

Did you ever get kidco to a file? I saw the partial on megaupload and was really impressed. I have been looking EVERYWHERE for that movie. I was wondering if you could upload it and send me the link?

For some reason, FireWire SDK 20 works fine for recording content from my Motorola DVR to my Macbook Pro. Unfortunately, if I want to defer recording for a later time on AVCVideoCap, I cannot set a date after 2007. The likely solution would be to download the most current version (FireWire SDK 26) so that I could defer my recordings until a later date in 2009.

Unfortunately, when I run AVCVideoCap from FireWire SDK 26, the following happens...

After opening AVCVideoCap, my Device (Charter DVR) shows up at the top. After clicking on my device, I select "Capture from Device." As with the old version of SDK, I have the option of saving my file. However, instead of allowing me to choose how long to record, etc...it skips this step and goes back to the Device screen. No recording occurs...If I click Capture From Device again, it says "Could Not Open Device."

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated...

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated...

Probably an app bug, either patch the code or find another software application that fits your needs. (FireRecord - Free, AVCNoodle - paid for).

Hey guys..i dont have time to filter through the thread right now, but i got a question.

I got a macbook, and recently got a Scientific Atlanata 3250hd box. Now from what i understand, I cannot turn that receiver by hooking up a external hard drive to it.

Is there anyway i can connect the box to my macbook and setup a recording schedule to record some programs/sports on my laptop and be able to watch it later on? any suggestions?

there has to be a way to turn that box into being able to record to something either an external hdd or a macbook, or another laptop in general? any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I also have an SA3250 but have only ever recorded things over firewire manually, i.e. it's already on, I've changed the channel to what I want to record or started the On Demand program, set the record length and I start the recording. I record most of my HD with EyeTV, firewire is just for the special stuff that isn't "in the clear."

You might check with Steve Toth, he's developed a more sophisticated firewire capture program, not sure whether the 3250 turns on or not with it...it's called AVC Noodle I think, and there's a thread somewhere here about it...his site is here:

http://www.steventoth.net/blog/products/avc-noodle/about/

Maybe consider swapping the 3250 for a 4250, since it appears that can turn on:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1111561

thanks for the info..

any suggetsions on recording from the SA 3250hd to ps3?

I figure if i am trying to pvr to the mac or the ps3 i can have my external hdd hooked up and it will just copy it straight to there.. i hope??

any info on freeware? i am broke as a joke right now. so i cant really pay for products at the moment.

any suggetsions on recording from the SA 3250hd to ps3?

None, this wouldn't be the place for it anyway.

I figure if i am trying to pvr to the mac...i can have my external hdd hooked up and it will just copy it straight to there

Yes. You don't have to record to an internal hard drive, you can record to an external just fine. (I can't promise that a USB external is fast enough, never tried it personally.)

any info on freeware?

I use FireRecord:

http://www.ammesset.com/firerecord

I deleted a recording from the list in FireRecord while it was recording... and now I always get the "No Device" message and am unable to record anything. I had been recording off of my Scientific Atlanta 8300HD for about 8 months before this with no issues whatsoever. I have tried rebooting the MacBook (Leopard) with and without the device connected via Firewire, reinstalling FireRecord, rebooting the STB, all to no avail. Any ideas?

"What if there were no hypothetical situations?"

here is what to do:

go to User/<your mac computer name>/Library/Application Support/Firerecord
select all and delete
restart firerecord should get it working again.

if not.
you need to reinstall, making sure that directory is empty before running the program to capture

also, why not just use AVCVideoCap?
I use that all the time, now under snow leopard 10.6.1

paul




I deleted a recording from the list in FireRecord while it was recording... and now I always get the "No Device" message and am unable to record anything. I had been recording off of my Scientific Atlanta 8300HD for about 8 months before this with no issues whatsoever. I have tried rebooting the MacBook (Leopard) with and without the device connected via Firewire, reinstalling FireRecord, rebooting the STB, all to no avail. Any ideas?

"What if there were no hypothetical situations?"

Hi,
where can I get AVCVideoCap?
I googled but I am having hard time finding and downloading.
Thanks

try getting the latest AVCVideoCap here:

http://www.pressleypress.com/blog/?p=35

paul




Hi,
where can I get AVCVideoCap?
I googled but I am having hard time finding and downloading.
Thanks

Thanks!

anytime...

the Sharapova HD capture here in this video was taken with AVCVideoCap back in 2006....
Neat stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQIEYFlwBuc&HD=1

paul


Thanks!

looks really nice.
Boy she's hot!

try getting the latest AVCVideoCap here:

http://www.pressleypress.com/blog/?p=35

paul

Hi Paul,
There is a later version for the Firewire SDK V.26
The link you gave me is V.22.
Have you tried the latest? Would that work under Snow Leopard?
Thanks

the AVCVideoCap in question is the same in v.26

paul


Hi Paul,
There is a later version for the Firewire SDK V.26
The link you gave me is V.22.
Have you tried the latest? Would that work under Snow Leopard?
Thanks

OK cool,
Thanks again!

I am at this moment recording Fringe 206 "Earthling" on KPTM Fox 42 (having discovered that it is a new episode tonight and not another MLB game) using my own patched version of AVCVideoCap (for more convenient date and time settings). It is flagged "EMI: Copy Once". The Frame/Packet Count is increasing, as is the file size, but VLC won't play what I already have recorded.

I was able to record episodes 204 and 205 just fine. Last week I had intended to record The Office but had my cable box tuned to Fox instead, and that recording would not play, presumably because it was MLB and flagged Copy Once. They've left the flag on again for tonight.

Except for local ads. Then it goes to Copy Freely, then back to Copy Once again.

Is there anything I can do to play back this recording after this one copy on my Mac, or am I going to have to wait for an alternate source (like I will have to do for Bones, since it was new too)?

Addendum:
Incidentally, I called Time Warner Cable, and they basically disavowed any knowledge of cable boxes that had Firewire enabled, that it shouldn't be enabled, and they can't troubleshoot any problem with any HD outputs other than coax, HDMI, or component.

I had similar problems with Fox over the series 24 last year, and the TiVo Series3 had indicated no special flagging. Also had problems with KLKN HD ABC over a Nebraska Football game; KETV HD ABC recorded fine then.

does anybody knows the best way to convert M2V files from AVCVideoCap into Quicktime?
Thanks!

does anybody knows the best way to convert M2V files from AVCVideoCap into Quicktime?
Thanks!
I use MPEG Streamclip (http://www.squared5.com/) to convert them to DV, then Final Cut Studio to edit them and master them as DVDs. It can also export to Quicktime, AVI, MPEG-4, and other formats. It still however needs Apple's MPEG-2 codec, which is included with Final Cut, but is deleted by installing Snow Leopard, but is reinstallable.

MPEG Streamclip can edit directly in MPEG-2, but not very accurately. It wants to cut only at keyframes; you can't get down to a particular frame. Cutting out commercials tends to either leave a little of the video or audio of the commercial behind or cut into the episode a bit.

^^^^^
HTH,

Thanks for the tips, that's exactly what I am trying to do.

gugy,

I forgot to mention, MPEG Streamclip will also let you export front L&R, back L&R, center, and LFE tracks. I find it fun to listen to some shows using only the front channels or only the center channel, but you can also drop them into the audio tracks in Final Cut Pro and re-encode them back to AC3 audio for DVDs. It's OK if they aren't the same length as the exported video track; they're all the same length as each other, and they stay in sync with each other and the video.

FCP wants its 5.1 tracks ordered Left, Right, Center, Low Frequency Effects, Left Surround, Right Surround. You'll export Center and LFE in mono.