converting SageTV Recording to DVD

[GreggP]

I'd like to create a DVD from one of my SageTV recordings.

I have a program that when recorded resulted in 9 separate files:

ProgramName-299638-0.mgp
ProgramName-299638-1.ts
ProgramName-299638-2.ts
ProgramName-299638-3.ts
ProgramName-299638-4.ts
ProgramName-299638-5.ts
ProgramName-299638-6.ts
ProgramName-299638-7.ts
ProgramName-299638-8.ts

I've tried opening these files with a multitrack video editor, so I can prepare them for my DVD authoring software.

Only the first 2 files on the list seem to have an audio track. However, when I play them with SageTV, the audio is fine.

I then decided to experiment a little. First, I copied all of these files to a backup directory in case I totally messed things up.

Then, using SageTV I tried converting the original recording into the DVD format with 'Standard Play'. I did not check 'Replace Original Recording'. (btw, what is the difference between these quality settings - standard, long play, and extra long play?)

These files converted to:

ProgramName-299638-0.tmp
ProgramName-299638-1.mpg
ProgramName-299638-2.mpg
ProgramName-299638-3.mpg
ProgramName-299638-4.mpg
ProgramName-299638-5.mpg
ProgramName-299638-6.mpg
ProgramName-299638-7.mpg
ProgramName-299638-8.mpg

I'm not sure what happened here, but for some reason the conversion of the first file did not work. Instead I have what appears to be a useless '.tmp' file. So now the program starts with the '1.mpg' file, which is 10 minutes into the program. I also noticed that the original recording was overwritten. And when I try to play the program from SageTV Recordings, it does not start at the beginning and instead will start about 10 minutes in.

I tried playing the converted file and it does the same thing.

I still have the original files in the backup folder, but I don't know how to bring them back into SageTV to try the conversion again.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[gplasky]

Find evilpenguin's DVD burning plugin. That's all you'll need.

Gerry

[evilpenguin]

If i'm correct in assuming that you want to combine all of these videos into one and then burn it onto DVD then, unfortunately, my plug-in can't help you.

[GreggP]

Originally Posted by evilpenguin

If i'm correct in assuming that you want to combine all of these videos into one and then burn it onto DVD then, unfortunately, my plug-in can't help you.

Will your plugin let me create a DVD with each file treated as a different chapter?

[GreggP]

BTW, I tried changing the 'tmp' extension to 'mpg' and it worked, so now ProgramName-299638-0.mpg is the 1st 10 minutes that I was missing.

I still don't understand why the convert utility didn't do this in the first place. I also thought by not checking 'Replace Original Recording' that it would retain the original files for me, but it didn't, they were gone after the conversion was finished.

Also - is 'Standard Play' higher quality than 'Long' or 'Extra Long'? I assume it is, because long implies a lower bitrate so more data can fit in the space and allow it to play longer... Am I right? Usually when you see a list of options. The best is at the top. And since this is a list of 'Quality' options, you should have the highest quality at the top of the list. It's more intuitive...

[jbarr]

Originally Posted by GreggP

Will your plugin let me create a DVD with each file treated as a different chapter?

If I recall correctly, yes. You select the shows and add them to the processing queue. This is excellent for consolidating multiple "episodes" onto one DVD.

This is an EXCELLENT addition to SageTV. My only complaint is that it really hammers my system's resources. It would be really nice to be able to have some sort of "throttling" capability (like you can with DirMon2+ShowAnalyzer.)

[GreggP]

I must be missing something. I followed all of the installation instructions and now have the option of burning DVDs from SageTV. I've also installed DirMon2 and ImgBurn, etc., per the instructions.

But... Are there any step by step instructions with getting it to work? I assume you select a recorded file, pick Burn to Video DVD and choose Single-Video or Multi-Video DVD, then what?

I tried picking Single-Video and the dialog just closes. If I pick Multi-Video it shows 1 Video in the list...

Then what are you suppose to do???

[evilpenguin]

I could have sword I wrote up a usage, but apparently I didn't. No wonder people are having such trouble using the plug-in. Oh well, i'll write one up this weekend.

edit: Ok, check the first post again in the SageTV DVD Burning STVi. I've updated it with the usage info.