Convert .flv to MPEG2 TiVo

[hipops]

Folks: I looking for a solution to take a streaming .flv file and convert it so my TiVo will play it. The existing MPEG2 converter works but it give a tall and skinny result. I'm using a 5400 series TiVo DVR to view on a CRT TV with a 4:3 screen. The source file is from an HD channel so I need to get from the 16:9 to 4:3. Is there some way to use the "other" setting under conversion settings to pad the output file.
I tried just changing the out put to 720x403 and that did not work, it was unreadable on the TiVo.

[Jeff Lenney]

Hi Hipops,

What file types, specifically, does the tivo play?

Thanks

[hipops]

Jeff: I played around and got it to work. Tivo plays MPEG2 files that are 720x480.

Here's what worked.

First I cloned the existing MPEG2 coversion setting and renamed it.
There is a setting called "other" that I guess is used to override some of the conversion scripts that are run.

I put in a padding string as follows:
-padbottom 42 -padtop 42

and also changed the video frame size to 720x396.

Works like a charm., no more squished video's when I transfer them to my TiVo.
You get the wide screen bars top and bottom to fit the 4:3 screen aspect ratio on a standard TV.
Note: 396+42+42=480, that's why it works.

[Jeff Lenney]

Jeff: I played around and got it to work. Tivo plays MPEG2 files that are 720x480.

Here's what worked.

First I cloned the existing MPEG2 coversion setting and renamed it.
There is a setting called "other" that I guess is used to override some of the conversion scripts that are run.

I put in a padding string as follows:
-padbottom 42 -padtop 42

and also changed the video frame size to 720x396.

Works like a charm., no more squished video's when I transfer them to my TiVo.
You get the wide screen bars top and bottom to fit the 4:3 screen aspect ratio on a standard TV.
Note: 396+42+42=480, that's why it works.

Wonderful - thanks for the feedback, hopefully it can help others in the future as well! :-)