Not really advertised, DVD Catalyst actually works with TiVo files.
DVD Catalyst works with TiVo files in 2 directions. It can convert TiVo files to any device or video format, but it can also create files that can be played on a TiVo.
To convert TiVo to your iPhone with DVD Catalyst for example, it works just like converting any other video to your iPhone, or similar to converting a DVD. The main thing you need beforehand is to have the tivo files on your computer. The easiest way for this is to install TiVo Desktop. A free desktop utility available on the TiVo website. Once you have this application installed on your computer (and set up properly) you can use it to transfer your recordings from the Tivo to your computer. Once you have the files on your computer, just add them to DVD Catalyst like normal, either by using the “add videos” button, or by dragging them onto DVD Catalyst.
*IMPORTANT* With the new Premiere, TiVo added a new option in TiVo Desktop that enables faster transfers. Unfortunately with this enabled, the TiVo files you transfered over will NOT convert.
In Tivo Desktop, go to File -> Preferences, then make sure the ‘File Transfer Speed’ is not checked. If it is, uncheck it, and transfer (sorry) your recordings again.
When you start a conversion, DVD Catalyst will ask for your MAC key from your TiVo account. It only needs this code once, and it will remember it for the next time you convert tivo files. With this code, DVD Catalyst will be able to change the TiVo files into files it can convert to any other device format.
It can also be done the other way. DVD Catalyst can convert anything to a format that can be played on your TiVo. To be able to transfer video files to your Tivo, you will need to upgrade to the pay-version of TiVo desktop, which will enable additional features as well.
In DVD Catalyst 3, select Tivo > Tivo to MPEG, and then just add whatever you want to convert. Convert a DVD to Tivo, FLV to TiVO, it’s all possible. Once the conversion is complete, use TiVo Desktop Plus to transfer the files over, or access them from the TiVo using the TiVo Server application.
The best thing of all this is that this can be combined with DVD Catalyst’s automation features.
With TiVo Desktop you can set up a “Seasonpass Transfer”. Whenever a new episode is recorded, the TiVo Desktop application will automatically transfer the recordings to your computer. If you set up DVD Catalyst to monitor the TiVo Recordings folder, and enable auto conversions, you will never have to manually add these tivo files to the conversion. DVD Catalyst will automatically convert the recordings when they come in.
All you need to do is when the files are done (or in the morning when you wake up) get the files on your device.
Or, when we go the other way, you can set up DVD Catalyst to monitor a download-folder, or a media center recordings folder, or just standard DVD conversions. TiVo Desktop Plus can be configured to automatically transfer/provide access to video files located on your computer. While it will work with quite a few different kinds of video files, most of them will be converted using the slower TiVo converter, however, the files created with the TiVo to MPEG profile will transfer to your TiVo without conversion. As soon as a conversion is finished, and if you have the TiVo Desktop Plus software set up to monitor the folder DVD Catalyst stores the files, you can watch your converted content with just the TiVo remote.
You can store a whole bunch of DVDs converted using the TiVo to Mpeg profile on a computer or on your TiVo for quick access.
