How to Transfer, Convert and Burn TiVo Shows to DVD

TiVo is a brand and model of digital video recorder which allows users to automatically record programs—not only those the user specifically requests, but also other material the user is likely to be interested in. It also allows the viewers to pause live television, and rewind and replay up to a half hour of recently viewed television. It has the capability to transfer the recordings to your computer by using the TiVo Desktop Software.

An issue with the files is that they are not always compatible with other multi-media programs when you may want to view TiVo files. As a result, it is required to convert the TiVo files to MPEG format for viewing on most computers. Well, lots of users would then edit out the commercials with software and copy TiVo shows to a DVD disc. Well, how to convert TiVo to DVD seems to be a problem since most DVD burner will not recognize TiVo file. This tutorial shows you the detailed guide on how to transfer, convert and burn TiVo shows to DVD disc.

How to Transfer TiVo Shows to PC?

To burn TiVo shows and movies to DVD with DVD burning software, the first step to go is to transfer recorded TV shows and movies files from TiVo to your PC. Before you begin, make sure that you have TiVo Desktop software installed on your PC, and that your TiVo DVRs are connected to your home network.

1. Launch TiVo Desktop.
2. Click "Pick Recordings to Transfer." A window showing your TiVo DVR's "Now Playing List" appears.
3. Highlight any title in the list to see more information about the show—the same show information you have on your TiVo DVR.
4. Check the box next to the title of the show (or shows) you want to transfer.
5. Click "Start Transfer."

Tips: You may visit www.tivo.com for detailed guide of how to transfer TiVo shows to PC. You can play TiVo video files using Windows Media Player.

How to Convert TiVo to MPEG?

Well, most DVD burner software doesn't support .TiVo file, what we need do now is to convert TiVo to MPEG format which is recognizable by DVD burner software. DirectShow Dump is a free utility to extract the content of .TiVo file as unprotected MPEG.

1. Launch Downloaded DirectShow Dump.
2. Click "Add Files" and load the TiVo files you'd like to convert.

Tips: If you cannot convert TiVo to MPEG successfully, please download the Microsoft .NET 1.1 architecture, which the conversion of TIVO to MPEG may depend on.

How to Burn Tivo (MPEG) to DVD?

To burn TiVo to DVD, you need a TiVo to DVD burner which supports the converted MPEG files. DVD Creator supports all kinds of popular video formats and HD videos. Give it a try.

1 Download TiVo to DVD converter and install it

If you are a Mac user, please download Mac version and go to the detailed tutorial of DVD Creator for Mac >>

Once you've downloaded the program, double click it and follow the set up wizard to install it. Meanwhile, insert a blank, recordable DVD disc into your computer's DVD burner drive.

2 Load converted TiVo shows and movies

Launch DVD Creator that was just installed. Click the "Import" button to browse video and photo files in your computer and choose some to add to the DVD Creator. Once successfully imported, there will be thumbnails displayed on the left interface. The right interface allows you to view the loaded video file.

3 Burn TiVo to DVD

Once you've imported TiVo movies and done the necessary editing, here comes the burning. Click on Burn tab, there will be a window asking you to select aspect ratio, TV standard, etc. And select the output options as DVD disc. Once everything ready, click on Start button to convert movies to DVD. It will take one or two hours depending on your TiVo movies.

Tips: Editing movies is optional, highly recommended to cut out commercial ads of your TiVo shows and movies with this DVD Creator.

This TiVo to DVD Burner also can help you convert Ares, LimeWire, Rapidshare, BitTorrent, BitComet, FrostWire, eMule, Hulu, uTorrent, etc. to DVD.