Ok. Time for a list of working DVD Players for Tivo DVDs...

[ronnythunder]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
pioneer dv-250

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
tytool, tydemux

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
tytool/dvdauthor, dvdmf, dvdws, ifoedit

4- DVD success or failure?
success on all dtivo streams with all programs, except for early releases of tytool7 (since fixed)

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?
on early tytool7, menu would appear, but video would only play for a few seconds then freeze

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
nero

7- SVCD sucess or failure?
worked fine (but i've only made one)

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?
n/a

9- Short comment on report.
this is a great, cheap player. very forgiving, plays mpeg audio natively (though i haven't tried 32khz from sa tivo) and can convert to pcm. all of my recordables have been - (-r, -rw) so i can't speak for the + formats.

ronny

[Homer S]

1- Brand/make/model/year?

APEX 660/OFFA and APEX 5131 (not brand new)

2- Software to split/process TyStream?

TyTool7r6

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?

VCDEasy 1.1.5.2

7- SVCD sucess or failure?

Success

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?

N/A

9- Short comment on report.

There is a minor error on mastering (see here http://dealdatabase.com/forum/showth...threadid=25632).

[Meathead]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
Sony DVPNS715P

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
tytool7r3,4,6

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
tytool, dvdauthor, ifoedit

4- DVD success or failure?
100% success on close to 100 DVD's. Some audio sync in earlier versions

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?
None

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
None. Only burn DVD's

7- SVCD sucess or failure?
N/A

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?
N/A

9- Short comment on report.
I really like this DVD player. Costs about $130 at Fry's. Progressive Scan, AC3 Optical out. Has played all the -r and -rw discs I have thrown at it. I replaced my Sony ES DVD Player that cost over $1000. I am very inpressed with this one!

[eastwind]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
Sony DVP-N615

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
TYTool7r6

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
TYTool7r6 or DVDLab 1.2.2b

4- DVD success or failure?
SUCCESS!

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?
doesn't return to MENU after playing a show (bug or feature?)

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
Won't play SVCDs
VCDs are fine with Nero Burning ROM including audio sync on cut up shows

7- SVCD sucess or failure?
SVCD - n/a
VCD - SUCCESS

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?

9- Short comment on report.
Only using DVDLab for making fancier menus. I like that TYTool uses separate filesets for each show.

EW

[waileepai]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
Apex DVD1100W, year purchased 2003

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
TyTool 7r3, 7r5, 7r6

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
Ahead Nero 5.5 using Sony DVDRU500 and Pioneer A104 burners

4- DVD success or failure?
Failure

5- Description of the DVD failure:
The menu will display but the machine basically locks up. You cannot select titles with scroll keys or by hitting number keys. Player has to be powered off and back on to remove the disk.

9- Comment
I have tried CD+R, CD-R, CD+RW and CD-RW disks and they all display the same behavior. The same discs will play on my PC's using PowerDVD and in Koss DVP2163 and Panasonic DA100 standalone players.

[waileepai]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
Apex AD800, year purchased 2003

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
TyTool 7r3, 7r5, 7r6

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
Ahead Nero 5.5 using Sony DVDRU500 and Pioneer A104 burners

4- DVD success or failure?
Failure

5- Description of the DVD failure:
The menu will display but the machine basically locks up. You cannot select titles with scroll keys or by hitting number keys. Player has to be powered off and back on to remove the disk.

9- Comment
I have tried CD+R, CD-R, CD+RW and CD-RW disks and they all display the same behavior. The same discs will play on my PC's using PowerDVD and in Koss DVP2163 and Panasonic DA100 standalone players.

[waileepai]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
Koss DVP2163, year purchased 2002

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
TyTool 7r3, 7r5, 7r6

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
Ahead Nero 5.5 using Sony DVDRU500 and Pioneer A104 burners

4- DVD success or failure?
SUCCESS!

5- Description of the DVD failure:
None. DVDs play perfect!

9- Comment
I have tried CD+R, CD-R, CD+RW and CD-RW disks and they all work in this machine.

[Damfino]

1- Memorex MVD-2028
2- TyTool, TyStudio
3- DVDLab, TMPGEnc DVD Author, DVD Workshop (mpeg-vcr to fix timecodes, Nero to burn)
4- mostly
5- ff/rw faster than 4x causes it to jump to the end of the title
6- haven't tried
7- n/a
8- n/a
9- excellent multiregion pal/ntsc progressive scan player, but frustrating to be limited to 4x ff/rw

I also have an Apex AD-600a and had the same results as others (though it was bit stuttery, replacing with another DVD-ROM helped but still a little iffy, but I don't think it's the DVD-R's fault.)

The MVD-2030 is, I believe, the same guts in a vertical package (and easy to find at Target), it does play the DTivo-ripped DVDs, but I haven't tried to FF/RW faster than 4x on it. I assume it would have the same problem.

[zobetron]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
XBOX

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
TyTool 7r7a

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
TyTool 7r7a

4- DVD success or failure?
Success

5- Description of the DVD failure:
None.

9- Comment
From SA Tivo. TyTool set to transcode audio to 48 @ 192. Built DVD fileset with TyTool 7r7a. Burned to DVD-R & DVD-RW with Nero (udf w/ xbox compatibility switch).

[r0x]

1- Brand/make/model/year?

Portland PVD-1000 (Another cheap no-name player from Target. It's supposed to be a clone of the Mintek 1600 and many others that use the Mediatek chipset.)

UPDATE 7-25-03:

Retested with the following players:

Daewoo DVG-3000N with Factory Firmware

Norcent DP-300 (a.k.a. "Norcent Gold") with
Factory firmware,
Nerd-Out "LH+UOP" firmware (downloaded from the web site),
OFFA v1.4 firmware (downloaded from Yahoo group),
and the latest "Dolphin" firmware (downloaded from Yahoo group).

Both of these players run off of the ESS chipset.

2- Software to split/process TyStream?

TyTool 7r7a. Ty stream processed to SVCD .MPG MUX with audio transcoded to 44.1 kHz @ 192 kbps.

3- Software to create DVD fileset?

n/a

4- DVD success or failure?

n/a

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?

n/a

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?

I created 3 SVCD's:

(a) Burned .MPG generated by TyTool directly to a CD-R with Nero 5.5.9.17. Used Super Video CD setting.

I transcoded the TyTool-generated .MPG with TMPGEnc v2.513.53.162, Core version 1.96.149 with the Ligos MPEG-2 Encoder (from the K-Lite codec pack) as follows:

(b) Super VCD NTSC CBR per the wizard.
(c) Super VCD NTSC CQ-VBR and Motion Search Precision = High Quality custom settings.

and then burned to CD-R in the same way as (a).

7- SVCD sucess or failure?

(a) Failure
(b) Failure
(c) Failure

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?

(a) Blockiness in high action / rapid change sequences. Freezing pixelation and audio dropouts in those same areas. This was only in the first 2 minutes of the program - the rest of it was perfect.
(b) Very jerky / staggered motion - looks more like a rapid slide show. Watchable but annoying.
(c) One freeze about one minute into playback, surprisingly in a segment that wasn't problematic in (a). Same disk plays OK in PC without freezing. Otherwise pretty good. Some motion jerkiness / staggering but not as bad as (b).

9- Short comment on report.

All 3 of my SVCD's had some kind of issue. I'm hoping I can find a better DVD player that can play DTiVo SVCD's without the need to transcode the TyTool-generated .MPG.

UPDATE 7-25-03:

Success!

The Daewoo played my "problematic" SVCD the best with only one minor dropout in the opening sequence. The Norcent had some additional dropouts in the same spots regardless of which firmware I had on it but overall results were very good. (WinDVD shows data rate spikes of up to 10 Mbps for this SVCD.)

Overall either the Daewoo or the Norcent is a good choice for playing SVCD's. The Norcent gets extra points for its versatility! ;-) I was very lucky to find it.

[ctsshack]

So the list of questions:
1- Brand/make/model/year?
JVC XV-S60 (Likes DVD+R and DVD-R)
DVD player in my Infiniti FX35 (don't know brand and only works with DVD-R)


2- Software to split/process TyStream?
Tytool7r6

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
Ulead DVD Movie Factory

4- DVD success or failure?
Success

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?
Only DVD failures are any DVD WITHOUT menus. (The JVC seems to demand this.) DVD Lab's (1.2) menus lock this player up.


6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
Haven't even tried SVCD, don't see need for it.

7- SVCD sucess or failure?
N/A

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?
N/A

9- Short comment on report.
I've tried lots of programs and combination of making DVD from my SAT-T60 Tivo. Here what works every time:

1. Tytool to MPG file.
2. Patch headers to 3.5MBit/s and 352x480
3. Build DVD folders in Ulead (Project settings to 352x480 and don't convert compliant files)
4. Patch only the VTS_01_X VOBs back to 15MBit/s and 480x480
5. Burn on latest Nero as ISO/UDF (don't forget the force compatibility flag)
6. Pop in DVD with some popcorn and smile

One little note. One my home DVD player the audio is in perfect sync. However, on the one in my car, the audio is a little behind.

[I_dunno]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
RCA/RC5220P/~1998

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
TyTools

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
TyTools and DVD Lab

4- DVD success or failure?
TyTools - Consistently Yes!
DVD-Lab - Worked Once, all else failed

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?
TyTools - Failures due to not selecting 48khz audio w/subsequent success after being told to read the docs!

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
N/A

7- SVCD sucess or failure?
N/A

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?
N/A

9- Short comment on report.
TyTools works beginning to end!

[ttabbal]

1- Brand/make/model/year?

Sony DVP-S360 ~1999

2- Software to split/process TyStream?

TyTool 7r3

3- Software to create DVD fileset?

TyTool 7r3

4- DVD success or failure?

Success

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?

No problems yet. All menu navigation and chapter stops worked perfectly, no sync issues.

6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
7- SVCD sucess or failure?
8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?

Didn't do SVCD. CD-R not compatible, CD-RW works with other SVCDs I've tried. Just FYI for anyone that might be wanting to use this player for VCD.

9- Short comment on report.

Great tool, works perfectly with my player and my PC. Burned with Nero on a Pioneer A-103 w/Verbatim DVD-R and Memorex DVD-RW. Both work fine in this player with menus. I'll be testing 7r7 or newer for the next DVD burn.

[sych0]

1- Brand/make/model/year?

Philips 724 (bought it in 2002)

2- Software to split/process TyStream?

TyStudio/Mpeg2vcr/DVD Patcher

3- Software to create DVD fileset?

Ulead DVD MovieFactory

4- DVD success or failure?

Success

5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?

N/A

9- Short comment on report.

I basically followed ctsshack's method with a few changes.

1. TyTool to extract
2. TyStudio to convert to MPG
3. Mpeg2vcr to split into parts (between commercials) (I tried cutting the commercials out, and saving as one mpg, thus eliminating step 4, but mpeg2vcr would always crash. But cutting into part worked...)
4. Join them with tmpgenc
5. Patch headers to 3.5MBit/s and 352x480
6. Build DVD folders in Ulead (Project settings to 352x480 and don't convert compliant files)
7. I had to repatch the VTS_01_X VOBs back to 15MBit/s and 544x480. 480x480, and 352x480, resulted in scrambled video for about 5 seconds or so...then mysteriously corrected itself. Repatching to 544 fixed this.
8. I burned on Nero6 as ISO/UDF but didnt find a force compatibility flag.

[mikey]

1- Brand/make/model/year?
Pioneer? DV-F727/~97or98

2- Software to split/process TyStream?
Tyserver_mfs6/Tystream7r7

3- Software to create DVD fileset?
WinProducer3, DVD-Lab, TyStream, TMPGEnc DVD Author Nero
4- DVD success or failure?
Both
5- Description of the DVD failure if there was one?
Success(limited): TyStream as per Snoopy’s ( I think) instructions TyStream to extract, multiplex, up sample audio in one quick and easy step. Into WinProducer3 for frame accurate cuts deleting commercial and then re-encoding (the program does not allow many things that DVD-Lab does). Using this method I can create DVD’s that play every time, but there is some artifacting that is not present in the original .ty or in the TyToools generated .mpg and the DVD’s are only 2 hours (shows) each.

Failure: as per Snoopy’s ( I think) instructions TyStream to extract, multiplex, up sample audio in one quick and easy step. Import into DVD-Lab for menus. Burn. NOTE: THIS IS A PIONEER DV-727 PROBLEM. The video only shows on 2/3 of the screen. It plays perfectly on my father-in-laws Apex and my uncles DVD player L AHHHHHHHHH! 5 or 6 one hours shows on one DVD.

Failure: Tystream --> DVD Author same as above.


6- Software to create SVCD fileset?
VCD easy and several others I do not remember the name of.

7- SVCD success or failure?
Failure! SVCDs will not play on this player.

8- Description of the SVCD failure if there was one?
The OSD says play, the disk spins, and in a few minute it will let you take the disk out. You can use the TMPGEnc header trick, but the video only shows up on 2/3 of the screen. NOTE: THIS IS A PIONEER DV-727 PROBLEM

9- Short comment on report.
If you want a DVD player that will play DVD’s from a DTivo This Ain’t It. I have tried many different methods to make this player play an .mpg stream from Tivo with out re-encoding. I can not seem to coax, threaten or force it to.


Thanks JDiner for the great tools!