Windows Media Center

[dolphin2003_ca]

Could someone help me with the Windovs media center content.I am having trouble converting recorded shows from media center,tryed dvd shrink,fab,nero,and i always get mesage no suported media found.

[Westly32]

Do you wish to take your recorded shows and burn them to dvd?
If that is the case, then the dvd authoring software that came preinstalled on your pc, should accept the dvr-ms file format that MC shows are recorded in.

Another option is a program called VideoRedo, which also handles media center recordings. It offers a trial period so you can try it out before buying, and is actually a great program. Enter it into the Searcg box here, or Google it.

[Art Vandelay]

I have media center 2005 and I convert them with Sonic MyDVD software that came with the PC. I am not a big fan of the software. Make sure the software you are using will work with .dvr-ms files which are what MC files are. They are very large files. Shrink will only work with DVD authored files and .dvr-ms isn't compatible, fab is a ripper needs DVD files, Some newer versions of Nero will work with .dvr-ms files I understand.

With my software I just go to recorded shows and select the show I want. One frustrating thing I find is if you have HBO or other premium chanels in many cases MC won't let you record the TV show. I find anything from Fox, NBC,ABC, CBS is OK, and they can be burnt to DVD. last year when i tried to record from HBO I would get about 20 secs. and i would get a blue screen saying "protected content, not authorizes for play back on this machine". Even though this was the machine that recorded the show. Go to MS for updates constantly regarding digital rights management for MC. Many premium chanels have a flag transmitted with the singnal that says copy once, (some times still doesn't work), copy never, or copy always.

I am getting way off topic, but these are problems I had with MC and burning or recording.

I have resorted to taking some shows and only using Sonic to convert to .mpg then demuxing with ProjectX, then converting audio to .ac3 and authoring DVD files with DVDAuthorGUI and then encoding those files with DVD Shrink DA & AEC for better quality or better yet DVD-Rebuilder with HCenc_20 and burning with ImgBurn. It doesn't take as long as you may think with a fast computer and the quality is much better than Sonic or similar products.

[Westly32]

I have resorted to taking some shows and only using Sonic to convert to .mpg then demuxing with ProjectX, then converting audio to .ac3 and authoring DVD files with DVDAuthorGUI and then encoding those files with DVD Shrink DA & AEC for better quality or better yet DVD-Rebuilder with HCenc_20 and burning with ImgBurn

All the while discovering a cure for cancer, male pattern baldness and where Al Capone stashed his booty....
Wow, that's alot to do. I used Sonic's MyDVD on MC recordings until recently, when I bought TMPG DVD Author. It too handles dvr-ms files.

[Art Vandelay]

??

@Westly32

Yes your process may be quicker, but I enjoyed learning the process, the new programs and how DVD's are authored, and it doesn't take much time with a fast PC and the quality is much better than Transcoders. I haven't even touched on menus.

As a cancer survivor (wouldn't wish it on anyone) I did loose my hair, your humor is puzzling but I wouldn't mind finding a cure. It would take much longer than to authoring DVD files. Hats off to all the doctors in research.

[MikeyBK]

Two very good and efficient programs that can convert those dvr-ms files to DVD compliant files is 1ClickDVDMovie and ConvertXToDVD. Both have free trials so you can try them out to see if it is for you. 1ClickDVDMovie uses the MainConcept encoder so you will get very great quality retention although it takes a bit longer than ConvertXToDVD now.

Try them out for free, nothing to lose right??

[dvk61]

Windows Media Center

I also have Windows Media Center and wanted to burn dvds with content from my PVR.

You can use dCut which is a Media Center add-in, free and very good, it loads in Media Center in the more programs section.

I use TMPGEnc Media Editor 2.0 which had a free trial period and I like it better than dCut. Also dCut has no support where as TMPGEnc is a viable working company.

If you don't want to edit out commercials you should be able to burn right from Media Center in the more programs section.

[Art Vandelay]

Dcut

@dvk61

dcut is a great little pgm. I would love it even more if it would convert to mpg rather than wmv. I used it to cut and compress to .WMV but since the file is so compressed and variable when I would load them in MyDVD and transcode I would end up with audio sync problems, even with lots or RAM and a defragged HDD. That is why i did the authoring with the programs I listed in my first post since projectX fixes the audio problem of the mpg, and I gave up on .WMV

do you have problems with dcut if you ff or rr as you go through a clip "run time errors"?

[MikeyBK]

I forgot about this freeware ...http://www.dvdflick.net/
Read about it here...http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=79327


I remembered it after I seen a post by Chewy on another thread...

[Westly32]

@Westly32



As a cancer survivor (wouldn't wish it on anyone) I did loose my hair, your humor is puzzling but I wouldn't mind finding a cure. It would take much longer than to authoring DVD files. Hats off to all the doctors in research.

Oh I'm sorry, there was no offense intended. I was just joking about the number of steps that you go thru to get a good finished product. As much as I hate Sonic MyDVD-hate enough to finally splurge on TMPG, I don't think I could go thru all the things you listed...And their menus do suck.
I wish there were an all in one program out there, something that handled everything as well as all the scattered programs do individually. TMPG DVD Author comes close, but costs alot. I was lucky, I caught the final week of a discounted special while casually checking their site.

[heyjude85023]

there is also this


i haven't tried it since i normally use a tivo dvr, and have other less 'microsoft hobbled' software. but since i also have mce 2005, i wanted to have the tools on hand in case i ever needed to and could use it.

(the only thing i really wanted to use mce for was to record to pc 7 old vhs tapes i had that for some reason wouldn't work with capwiz. each one got the message that it wasn't legal to record them using mce even though they are almost 30 years old.)

[sunstar715]

there is also this


i haven't tried it since i normally use a tivo dvr, and have other less 'microsoft hobbled' software. but since i also have mce 2005, i wanted to have the tools on hand in case i ever needed to and could use it.

(the only thing i really wanted to use mce for was to record to pc 7 old vhs tapes i had that for some reason wouldn't work with capwiz. each one got the message that it wasn't legal to record them using mce even though they are almost 30 years old.)

Hi, I have used that program along with dcut and autogk and i get very high quality media, it works great