DVR / Tivo / whatever to FCP?

[2000lux]

I've brought this up before but...

I want to be able to record the things I've shot off digital cable, on to a DVR (that I can set to record remotely), and then put the file in to FCP so I can edit out the bits I shot so I can add them to my demo' reel.

I've had friends record stuff on their Tivos or other DVRs and then some how they burned it on a DVD and gave it to me. Then I have to use a program that separates the audio and video and turns the whole show in to a Quicktime movie of which I'll use a couple minutes or fifteen seconds. I'd like to set up my own system that I can log in to and set remotely to record, and then just chop out the bits I want when I get home.

Any suggestions?

[canuckcam]

If you already have PVR at home on your computer (I've used the Hauppauge MCE-250 and my sister has the WinTV USB2 on her laptop, both are top notch although you'll pay for them.) ... your easiest way is to VNC back to your home computer.

Search for VNC on Google, it's a free remote desktop program, works well. If you have a PC, you can turn on Remote Desktop as Microsoft bought out the company that made an incredible algorithm... it's almost like sitting at your desk. VNC is a much slower but totally usable if you're not doing heavy work. Anyone who's used Citrix will attest that it feels "just like sitting there."

[PhrozenPhoto]

As far as the magic of Tivo if you have a Tivo that can be tied into your home network it is pretty simple. I believe as long as it is Series 2 or above you can do it pretty easy, either via USB or Ethernet. From there you download free Tivo PC manager software that lets you transfer programs to your PC. So let's say you shoot a segment for Dateline. You Tivo that episode, then transfer it to your PC. From there the only other thing you have to buy is Roxio's Media Creator 9. I got it at Costco for between 60 and 70 bucks. Tivo's website will tell you in greater detail which programs work with their video format, but I know Roxio's MC9 works, and it does other things I want as well, so that's why I got that.

Within that program they have what most TV people would consider a crude editor, but for your purposes, you can edit out all the material you don't want, then burn it to DVD from the same program. I don't use it for resume stuff or anything, but have played around with it and it works great. We Tivo'd a PBS show on the Blue Man Group that was 90 minutes long. It was a cool show, but had a lot of time wasted with pledge drive "commercials" so I used Roxio's software to edit those things out and then burn off the program. Played back on our DVD player in the living room great. (I mostly did it to play with the DVD burner in our new PC, but hey, now I have the show on DVD) The other nice thing about this setup is in theory if you shoot something that airs out of your market but you know someone with Tivo they could in theory record your program, just burn the file as a file onto a DVD for you send it to you where you could edit out the stuff you don't need.

[Necktie Boy]

When you mean digital cable, do you mean off the cable using a box?
As long as the channel isn't scrabbled, a regular tuner will pick up the channel. If that what you are trying to do, you can buy a DVR/DVD unit. They are few on the market. I just got one for my parents to record their favorite Spanish shows. I bought it from Wally-Mart. It's an RCA unit with a 80 gig Harddrive and DVD Burner.
Works like an old fashion VCR. The cost was $200 bucks. The unit has RCA outs for audio, video and component video. It also has a S-Video out. You can record from the Harddrive to the DVD and Harddrive to DVD. The only bad thing it has a mono tuner.

[2000lux]

When you mean digital cable, do you mean off the cable using a box?

Yep. Most of the shows I work on now are on the regular basic analog cable, but I'd like the option to do the others too whether I work for them, or just want to record the show.

A DVD recorder might work. Can I program it while I'm away from home over the internet?

I saw an add where the Tivo box was free and then you had to pay for the service. I might do that but I was hoping there might be a slicker solution where I could record to a Quicktime file and load it straight in to FCP on my Mac.

[Necktie Boy]

Hi 2000lux,

The one I got has to be programmed by you. It cannot be programmed over the net. Maybe if you get a PC tuner and PC Anywhere, software that lets you access your computer over the net, then you can program over the net. Most of the cards are cable friendly. Tuner cards are under $100 bucks or so. They come with software to record off the tuner.
This may work for you. Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick: High-Def USB Tuner & DVR. Retail cost is $130 bucks. I found this in my Sound & Vision Mag. "The HD Pro Stick can tune in and record analog(but not digital)cable channels directly from coaxial cable."
Not too sure what is meant by that since you can use a regular anntenna with the tuner. You might to go to the Pinnacle site and see if this is the card for you.

[(Sin)ical]

I use a AV/DV converter, and dump DVR recordings directly into my laptop. I edit and DVD from there. Of course this is all for resume reel purposes only.

[FTOJRLST]

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/

I just began using this DVD Authoring program and it has some co-programs that you can use with it or on their own that will work wonders on all kinds of digital files.

It's one of the best authoring and burning programs I've seen in a while...and it's free to use for 30 days with no watermarks.

[Ed_Scott]

I record signal out of the Tivo into my DVcamera. Then I transfer the video into FCP.

[FTOJRLST]

I record signal out of the Tivo into my DVcamera. Then I transfer the video into FCP.

That technique has worked great for me in the past too....probably one of the easiest ways in a pinch.

[Dirge]

We Tivo'd a PBS show on the Blue Man Group that was 90 minutes long. It was a cool show, but had a lot of time wasted with pledge drive "commercials" so I used Roxio's software to edit those things out and then burn off the program. Played back on our DVD player in the living room great. (I mostly did it to play with the DVD burner in our new PC, but hey, now I have the show on DVD)

Silly me. I run an output on TiVo into my stand alone DVD Recorder/VHS combo unit (~$100). When recording onto a DVD I hit “pause” when I come to unwanted content. Then, just before the part I want comes back, I hit “pause” again.

You guys have much better solutions.