TiVo Files?

rwsjr wrote on 10/25/2006, 7:36 PM

I have been gone for a long time--haven't posted in almost three years. However, I received the e-mail about getting a nice price on upgrading my copy of Vegas. In fact, I'm still on version 4.0 of Vegas and 1.0 of DVD Architect. It's okay though--the only project I have going right now is editing the tape of my daughter's birth and this software generally is meeting my current needs.

I'm intrigued by the new versions, especially since my version of DVD Architect doesn’t support dual layer discs. I need some help getting off the fence—here’s my question:

Does anyone know if the current version of Vegas can edit TiVo files? I have a lot of TiVo files from my series 2 sitting on my hard drive. If I could edit out the commercials and put these items on a DVD, I think I could get off the fence on the upgrade. I see that the new versions also support the iPod video format. If I could work with the TiVo files I have, I would probably be able to get off the fence.

Can anyone help me get off the fence as far as if I should upgrade or not considering the above factors?

Comments

riredale wrote on 10/25/2006, 9:56 PM

Do a search on this board for Tivo. There have been discussions on this in the recent past.

John_Cline wrote on 10/26/2006, 7:43 AM

If you just want to edit the commercials out of your TiVo files, I would suggest getting VideoReDo. It will perform cuts-only editing and render the resulting files with no quality loss. The way Vegas currently works with MPEG2 files, it rerenders all MPEG2 files, which results in a quality loss.

www.videoredo.com

John

rwsjr wrote on 10/27/2006, 3:50 AM

Thanks, John. I'll take a look at this. I'm still giving some thought to the upgrade--using the trial, it doesn't look like Vegas supports the TiVo files, but it is great software and if I can look at my budget, maybe I'll jump in anyway.

bStro wrote on 10/27/2006, 3:05 PM

The issue with Tivo files (aside from them being based on MPEG2, which Vegas has never edited well, though there have been improvements) is that TiVo files are copy-protected. Not just copyrighted, but copy-protected. Any company that wants to (legally) write software that makes use of TiVo recorded video is supposed to go through them. Last I heard, the only company to have a deal for this sort of thing was Sonic, though it's been awhile since I've kept tabs.

So, no, Vegas doesn't "support" TiVo files directly. You'd have to defeat the DRM in the files first.

Rob