How to Get shows off TIVO onto iPOD

I. Strip TiVo Metadata

TiVo doesn’t want you trading shows on BitTorrent, so they’ve gunked up a typical MPEG2 file. Let the de-gunking begin…



Launch DirectShow Dump (http://prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm)
Click ‘Add Files’
Browse to My Documents\My TiVo Recordings
Highlight the .tivo file you’d like to work with
Click ‘Open’
Wait for conversion to complete
Click ‘Close’


II. Convert MPEG2 to MPEG4

The video-capable iPod only supports MPEG4 and MOV files, so we’re in need of a conversion…

1. Launch VLC (http://www.videolan.org/vlc)
2. Click File > Open File
3. Browse to My Documents\My TiVo Recordings
4. Highlight converted .mpg show
5. Click ‘Open’
6. Check ‘Stream Output’
7. Click ‘Settings’
a. Check File, type the file name and location such as C:\vidpod\show.mp4
b. Check MP4 for Encapsulation Method
c. Check Video Codec, choose mp4v in drop-down, choose Bitrate 1024, Scale 1*
d. Check Audio Codec, choose mp4a in drop-down, choose Bitrate 128, Channels 2 channels

* If your TiVo’s connected to a satellite receiver via S-Video and recording at “Best”: Scale .75; DVD-burning TiVos recording at “Best” or “Good”: Scale .5

8. Click ‘OK’






III. Load Up iTunes and iPod




All that’s left is importing the video into iTunes and syncing up…

Launch iTunes
Click File > Add File to Library
Browse to and highlight file
Click Open
Click Videos to see your show has arrived
Sync and go!

Once you’ve mastered these basics, you may consider exploring more powerful and complex methods of manipulating video. For example you can script batches, further compress video file size, or choose specific output resolutions using PSP Video 9 (http://www.pspvideo9.com/). With Apple diving into the portable video market, we’re also bound to see new software solutions springing up – some of them may even be useful.


Resolution Addendum for the Geeky

For those of you in the know, the new iPod is capable of handling MPEG4 video up to 480x480. That corresponds nicely to most TiVo devices which output 480x480 video at “Good” and “Best” quality. Resolution is slightly less using lower quality and/or RF Smoothing. Resolution is higher on DVD-burning TiVo units and those connected to satellite receivers via S-video. To compensate for those higher initial resolutions, VLC allows us to scale back the resolution as needed. For example, a DVD burning model’s 720x480 resolution must be brought down 50% to 360x240 for iPod playback. While a TiVo connected to a satellite receiver via S-video and recording at “Best” quality serves up 544x480, and should be dropped down 25% to be iPod compliant.