A couple of questions actually: -Can you record video tapes I already have onto the Tivo. This would then protect the quality right? -If you can record videos, exactly how many hours worth can I record? -If all of this works then would I be able to use the Tivo to burn DVD's using the Philips DVDR985? I am trying to record some tapes onto DVDs but am afraid playing the tapes over and over again will diminish the quality.
Yes, but you have to hack a little bit. TiVo is not really meant for this operation. You'd be better off transferring the video to your computer or DVD (as you mention). If you are talking about commercial videos, all copy protection schemes (ie: macrovision) remain, preventing duplication to the device. Depending upon the model, 35 or 60 hours is the norm. Again, via a relatively simple hack that can be upgraded to several hundred. However, TiVo is really not meant as a long-term storage device. Like any hard-disk based device, the drives are capable of going toes up without warning. Yes, but this all seems a little redundant. Why not go directly to DVD in the first place? You should only have to play the tape *once* to get it there. If your goal is editing, I think you are better off sending the entire content of the tapes to an AV-capable computer, editing and burning your DVDs there. TiVo is primarily meant for effortless searching and time-shifting of television. It is less than optimal for uses beyond that.
Recording from video to DVD is alot of work. Not commercial videos, but rather some old videos that I bought from somebody. Depending upon the model, 35 or 60 hours is the norm. Again, via a relatively simple hack that can be upgraded to several hundred. However, TiVo is really not meant as a long-term storage device. Like any hard-disk based device, the drives are capable of going toes up without warning. I need about about 60-75 hours anyways. I dont need hundreds of hours. It can go "toes up", but what are the chances of that happening? I would always have the orinigal videos to fall back onto. I could always record them onto the Tivo again. Yes, but this all seems a little redundant. Why not go directly to DVD in the first place? You should only have to play the tape *once* to get it there. If your goal is editing, I think you are better off sending the entire content of the tapes to an AV-capable computer, editing and burning your DVDs there. Well I want to make a couple of dvds out of each videos. Playing the tapes over and over again will diminish the quality I'm afraid. I cant afford to send 60 hrs of video to a computer (too much harddrive space) and plus I dont think I would be able to record it onto a Philips DVDR985 (which I already own). I dont want to end up buying the HP DVD+R recorder for the pc as well.
Is it? I thought that it wasn't much more than hitting "play" and "record." The chances are fairly small, but greater than for most computer purposes. TiVo pushes drives pretty hard. Hard Drive space is cheaper than buying a TiVo. Burning is another issue, but once you've gotten your compilations together, that time can be had pretty cheap. Also, remember that you need to pay the TiVo fee ($13/month, $250 lifetime), or the device is a paperweight. My advice would be: (1) If you plan to do this project, then use TiVo for its intended purpose, go for it. With minor difficulty you will be able to get the video in, and burn it back out to DVD. Then when you are done, you will have a great aid for TV viewing (2) If you are thinking about buying TiVo *for* this project, and don't care about the recording TV side of things long term, invest your dollars into a big hard disk and go wild!
