Unreleated question...Anyone know why so few movies in Comcast on demand are in HD? Usually it's only IMAX type features and not "regular" movies.
Thanks.
Can you copy from Comcast DVR Box?
-
jelmarsh
- Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:13 am
Can you copy from Comcast DVR Box?
Anyone know if you can burn a DVD from the Motorola 6412 dual tuner DVR box? Could I concievably hook up an external pc-type DVD burner to the Motorola and do this?
Unreleated question...Anyone know why so few movies in Comcast on demand are in HD? Usually it's only IMAX type features and not "regular" movies.
Thanks.
Unreleated question...Anyone know why so few movies in Comcast on demand are in HD? Usually it's only IMAX type features and not "regular" movies.
Thanks.
-
donshan
- Major Contributor
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:23 am
I do not have a Comcast box, but I assume it has a S-video output and analog audio outputs to connect to a TV that you can watch and hear the playback from the DVR. If that is true the answer is yes you can transfer the TV program from the DVR to a recordable DVD. One exception will be some channels may add copy blocking signals on their programs. HBO has announced some sort of copy protection to be started this year. They want to sell you a DVD with the Soprano's episodes!!
The FCC just approved 13 (or more) systems to encrypt digital output from TV signals so that you CAN make one DVD that will only play on your system. The encryption rules go into effect July1, and I expect to see a bunch of new DVD burners this year that work with the "broadcast flag". Since these "copy prevent flags" have not been implemented yet, I don't know much about how they will work. This will be a whole NEW thread!
You need to understand the TV program may be on the STB DVR in some proprietary file format, and this must be converted into a file format your hard drive can read and write. Then this hard drive file must be encoded into the DVD MPEG format before burning. Forget Dolby Digital surround sound, that is not supported except in VERY upscale Macintosh or PCs and you would need to do a digital to digital copy.
That said here are two basic ways to copy a TV program to DVD:
1) Connect the Comcast DVR video/audio output cables to one of the DVD player/recorders that are already set up to record TV to an internal Hard Drive and set its output to view on your TV. Put the Comcast DVR program playback into "pause" mode. Start the DVD recorder in "record", hit pause on the Comcast and transfer the program to the DVD recorder hard drive, then use it's features to burn a DVD. It is possible to use one of the cheaper DVD burners without a hard drive, but you just get a direct DVD copy and less flexibility to create DVD chapters and correct mistakes. This is TV DVD burner, NOT a PC DVD burner.
2) Use a PC. You will need a PC with DVD burner, software for DVD burning, and an external converter box, or an internal card with S-video and audio inputs to convert NTSC video to a format that a PC can record to it's hard drive. Several companies provide basic software with their converter boxes or cards. My impression is this is more expensive than option 1, and will take more time to learn, but the software to burn the DVD will probably be better too.
If the Comcast has a IEEE 1394 (Firewire) digital output that is active, it MAY be possible to use a Mac that has Firewire inputs, or to add a IEEE 1394 input to a PC in option 2. Some PC cards support this. If you explore this option, but sure the cable box will talk to the PC software-- this is a risky strategy for a beginner, but if time and money are no object it would produce the best copies. Of course "best copies" is the very reason the industry is restricting IEEE 1394 copies
I am copying a occasional program from a DirecTV HR10-250 to DVD. Progams recorded in HD must be downconverted to 480i to activate the S-video outputs, but it is basically like option 1. PQ on DVD copies are as good as a commercial DVD. In this case I get to set the compression rate used to burn the DVD and 60 minutes per DVD is best for a HD original, but 90 minutes works with SD originals. At 120 minutes I can see the compression drop the PQ. Copying a 2 hour movie is not worth the money and effort since 2 DVDs are needed and you get better sound by buying the commercial DVD. However if saving a few bucks is more important than several hours of time and an inferior copy, it does work.
The FCC just approved 13 (or more) systems to encrypt digital output from TV signals so that you CAN make one DVD that will only play on your system. The encryption rules go into effect July1, and I expect to see a bunch of new DVD burners this year that work with the "broadcast flag". Since these "copy prevent flags" have not been implemented yet, I don't know much about how they will work. This will be a whole NEW thread!
You need to understand the TV program may be on the STB DVR in some proprietary file format, and this must be converted into a file format your hard drive can read and write. Then this hard drive file must be encoded into the DVD MPEG format before burning. Forget Dolby Digital surround sound, that is not supported except in VERY upscale Macintosh or PCs and you would need to do a digital to digital copy.
That said here are two basic ways to copy a TV program to DVD:
1) Connect the Comcast DVR video/audio output cables to one of the DVD player/recorders that are already set up to record TV to an internal Hard Drive and set its output to view on your TV. Put the Comcast DVR program playback into "pause" mode. Start the DVD recorder in "record", hit pause on the Comcast and transfer the program to the DVD recorder hard drive, then use it's features to burn a DVD. It is possible to use one of the cheaper DVD burners without a hard drive, but you just get a direct DVD copy and less flexibility to create DVD chapters and correct mistakes. This is TV DVD burner, NOT a PC DVD burner.
2) Use a PC. You will need a PC with DVD burner, software for DVD burning, and an external converter box, or an internal card with S-video and audio inputs to convert NTSC video to a format that a PC can record to it's hard drive. Several companies provide basic software with their converter boxes or cards. My impression is this is more expensive than option 1, and will take more time to learn, but the software to burn the DVD will probably be better too.
If the Comcast has a IEEE 1394 (Firewire) digital output that is active, it MAY be possible to use a Mac that has Firewire inputs, or to add a IEEE 1394 input to a PC in option 2. Some PC cards support this. If you explore this option, but sure the cable box will talk to the PC software-- this is a risky strategy for a beginner, but if time and money are no object it would produce the best copies. Of course "best copies" is the very reason the industry is restricting IEEE 1394 copies
I am copying a occasional program from a DirecTV HR10-250 to DVD. Progams recorded in HD must be downconverted to 480i to activate the S-video outputs, but it is basically like option 1. PQ on DVD copies are as good as a commercial DVD. In this case I get to set the compression rate used to burn the DVD and 60 minutes per DVD is best for a HD original, but 90 minutes works with SD originals. At 120 minutes I can see the compression drop the PQ. Copying a 2 hour movie is not worth the money and effort since 2 DVDs are needed and you get better sound by buying the commercial DVD. However if saving a few bucks is more important than several hours of time and an inferior copy, it does work.
-
donshan
- Major Contributor
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:23 am
Below is a link to Canopus. I have NOT used their products, but they have a good website to explore the many options for converting video signals, and burning DVDs using either Windows or Max OS X.
http://www.canopus.us/US/products/Index ... _index.asp
Most IEEE1394(firewire) computer inputs for video are centered on the DV video format used in camcorders. This is a DIFFERENT video format that any format of broadcast or cable video boxes ( At least I have not seen one that outputs in DV format). Thus conversions are needed, with the risk that drivers may not work.
In my case my computer is not in the same room as the DirecTV HR10-250 DVR so I chose a Toshiba DVD player/ burner with Hard Drive and intalled it in the same rack right above the DirecTV DVR. This Toshiba has a IEEE 1394 input- but this is for DV format camcorder input only. Ths DV 1394 input would NOT work with a cable DVR with a 1394 output. It has been intentionally crippled.
A laptop computer might be an answer.
I am not as familiar with PC laptops for burning DVDs, but some Apple Mac portables include a DVD burner, a Firewire input, and some excellent software at no added cost to burn DVDs from camcorders. If one purchased an external box to convert S-video and analog sound to DV firewire output format I see no reason a portable computer could not copy from a cable or DBS DVR and burn a DVD. Someone should try it.
In the rules FCC set up for allowing encrypted copying, home computer networks, including wireless networks, were allowed under these new rules, but with blocks on internet transmission or distributing copies to some other DVD player. The computer companies are sure to have products to do this.
Finally the there is a move for a court challenge to the FCC's right to "force" PC product makers into complying with these FCC rules on the grounds FCC has no authority. Stay tuned
http://www.canopus.us/US/products/Index ... _index.asp
Most IEEE1394(firewire) computer inputs for video are centered on the DV video format used in camcorders. This is a DIFFERENT video format that any format of broadcast or cable video boxes ( At least I have not seen one that outputs in DV format). Thus conversions are needed, with the risk that drivers may not work.
In my case my computer is not in the same room as the DirecTV HR10-250 DVR so I chose a Toshiba DVD player/ burner with Hard Drive and intalled it in the same rack right above the DirecTV DVR. This Toshiba has a IEEE 1394 input- but this is for DV format camcorder input only. Ths DV 1394 input would NOT work with a cable DVR with a 1394 output. It has been intentionally crippled.
A laptop computer might be an answer.
I am not as familiar with PC laptops for burning DVDs, but some Apple Mac portables include a DVD burner, a Firewire input, and some excellent software at no added cost to burn DVDs from camcorders. If one purchased an external box to convert S-video and analog sound to DV firewire output format I see no reason a portable computer could not copy from a cable or DBS DVR and burn a DVD. Someone should try it.
In the rules FCC set up for allowing encrypted copying, home computer networks, including wireless networks, were allowed under these new rules, but with blocks on internet transmission or distributing copies to some other DVD player. The computer companies are sure to have products to do this.
Finally the there is a move for a court challenge to the FCC's right to "force" PC product makers into complying with these FCC rules on the grounds FCC has no authority. Stay tuned
-
donshan
- Major Contributor
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:23 am
"Easier"- maybe-maybe not- there are tradeoffs. I chose option 1 above.jelmarsh wrote:Don,
Thanks for your reply. I am going to explore option 1, seems like the much easier approach.
One weakness of this standalone DVD burner (vs a PC), is the internal software built into the box firmware to operate the recording and DVD burning. No option to change software as in a PC. My Toshiba reminds me of the days of DOS programs, complicated further by having to use the IR remote to do everything. Definitely crude by comparison to a mouse/keyboard on a PC or Mac. The Toshiba was a frustrating first couple of hours to learn their software, but once I "got it" the process is fairly easy. On a computer you have multiple menus that are mouse/keyboard operated. My Toshiba DVD player/burner has FIVE buttons on the remote to bring up various menus needed to set dozens of settings required to set recording options, recording quality, and to burn DVDs. I have several posts on another thread on "BEST Home theater Remote" describing how the Harmony remote excelled in learning all these menus.
If you get the chance while shopping look at the manual and and compare models on how many hoops they make you jump through in the internal software. This feature is as important as technical specs and price. For anyone challenged by setting the clock and the record time on a traditional VHS tape VCR these DVD burners could have an overwhelming learning curve.
These DVD recorders are far superior to the traditional VHS VCR and are replacing them for those willing to learn to use them.
There are number of these DVD burners available with built in tuners to record directly from the unencrypted analog channel 2-99- just connect the cable to the F connector input. This is just like all VHS VCRs. They also can record and copy as in option 1 above from a cable or DBS box. However with all cable systems moving toward 100% digital requiring a digital cable STB these built in tuners are soon to be obsolete. There is an FCC rule in place that by July1, 2007 all VCR or DVD burners that include a NTSC tuner MUST also include a digital broadcast tuner. ( none are out yet)
Good luck.
BTW I just saw a news item that a court case has been filed challenging the FCC's authority to "regulate" PC DVD burners. The challengers said FCC does NOT stand for "Federal Computer Commission" or "Federal Copyright Commision". It is a possibility that a Federal court could intervene in the upcoming July 1 date to require the "broadcast flag" compliance on PC equipment.