Need advice for emptying my PVR

Gabbadude

Hello
I've done it myself.... but it did require much reading. Hopefully, my experience could help you.
#1: Download the Apple Firewire SDK
You do need a developer account but I think it's free to get (not 100% sure about it)
#2 Install the package.
#3 You will have a bunch of application install on your hardrive. In my case, it was in Hard Drive - Developer folder. I used the Firewire SDK 23 but I just saw that 25 is the latest one.
#4 Locate AVCVideoCap. Launch it.
#5 Connect your PVR (in my case, I did it with with the HD and non HD version Scientific Atlanta).
#6 Now, this is the "tricky" part. I don't believe you can't record live TV with it. This is where I lost a lot of time. So once the application have identified your PVR, select it and click on Capture Now. Enter the amount of time your want to record.
#7 On your PVR, go to List and start the program you want to record. The file created is a .m2t (MPEG-2).

At this point, I haven't found the way to record faster than 1X. So, you have to leave your PVR on to record... and during this time, you can't change the channel.

#8 To watch your show, I'm using VLC... but you have to force it. I drag my .m2t file on VLC by holding the Apple and Option key.

So far, everything you needed was free. If you want to convert this file, the only thing I found is Quicktime - MPEG 2 - Playback software. With this application, you can convert in AVI or something else. It cost about 30$ but it's worth it. Toast will not convert this format. Some other application will convert only the image.
If anyone knows any free way to convert MPEG2 file, please let me know.

Try it and let me know if it works for you.

BTW, 1 hour of non HD is about 1 GB. 1 hour of HD is about 7 GB.

Good luck! Have fun

gwillikers

Good info Gabbadude! Thanks.

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