Sunday, June 25, 2006
DVD MAKER:
I've tried about three different ways to make DVD's from my favorite programs recorded on my TiVo box. Two involved hooking up the Tivo to my computer using an analog-to-digital converter (reviewed previously). This works. But let me review the process:
1) hook up the devices
2) turn on the computer
3) get into Adobe Premier
4) turn on the input recorder
5) record the program as an .avi file
6) edit the program (which IS nice; you can completely remove the commercials, etc)
7) conver the program, as edited, into an .mpg file
8) exit Adobe Premier; enter Adobe Encore
9) assemble the movie, titles, menus, etc
10) record the DVD
If all has gone well, you have the program on a DVD.
OR, hook up your new Philips HDD-DVD recorder.
The FIRST time I look at the program on Tivo, I have the Philips recorder running. Any time I come to a commercial, I zap through it rapidly, and continue watching. At the end, I make an executive decision: a) save this program, or b) discard it.
If I elect to save it, it's saved on the Philips' hard drive.
Insert a DVD into the Philips machine.
Push a button to record the program onto DVD.
Done.
It takes about 10 minutes......as compared to 6-8 hours the old way. Albeit, I have little bits of rapid-forwarded-through commercials, and no fancy title or menu system---but it plays on any DVD and the quality is great.
Now, YOU choose!
I've tried about three different ways to make DVD's from my favorite programs recorded on my TiVo box. Two involved hooking up the Tivo to my computer using an analog-to-digital converter (reviewed previously). This works. But let me review the process:
1) hook up the devices
2) turn on the computer
3) get into Adobe Premier
4) turn on the input recorder
5) record the program as an .avi file
6) edit the program (which IS nice; you can completely remove the commercials, etc)
7) conver the program, as edited, into an .mpg file
8) exit Adobe Premier; enter Adobe Encore
9) assemble the movie, titles, menus, etc
10) record the DVD
If all has gone well, you have the program on a DVD.
OR, hook up your new Philips HDD-DVD recorder.
The FIRST time I look at the program on Tivo, I have the Philips recorder running. Any time I come to a commercial, I zap through it rapidly, and continue watching. At the end, I make an executive decision: a) save this program, or b) discard it.
If I elect to save it, it's saved on the Philips' hard drive.
Insert a DVD into the Philips machine.
Push a button to record the program onto DVD.
Done.
It takes about 10 minutes......as compared to 6-8 hours the old way. Albeit, I have little bits of rapid-forwarded-through commercials, and no fancy title or menu system---but it plays on any DVD and the quality is great.
Now, YOU choose!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Satellite Internet re-visited:
I'm off of Verizon Broadband, sadly, because it's so EASY! Setting up the satellite dish was just as hard this time as it was the first time---I'm thinking that there are better tripods around than mine. Find a way to level mine up is frustrating. Then getting a good signal and getting the dreaded skew correct takes up even more time. Not everybody has it this hard. I don't know "why me?!"
Another difficulty is high winds. While my arrangement, anchored with two screw-into-the-ground tethers, plus a pile of heavy rocks, is about as steady as I can imagine, the wind still shakes the dish fairly mercilessly. A big dish, in a 30 mph wind, and something will shake.
I'm ordering a device which "may" make dish aiming easier. A follow-up will be provided for anybody interested.
I'm off of Verizon Broadband, sadly, because it's so EASY! Setting up the satellite dish was just as hard this time as it was the first time---I'm thinking that there are better tripods around than mine. Find a way to level mine up is frustrating. Then getting a good signal and getting the dreaded skew correct takes up even more time. Not everybody has it this hard. I don't know "why me?!"
Another difficulty is high winds. While my arrangement, anchored with two screw-into-the-ground tethers, plus a pile of heavy rocks, is about as steady as I can imagine, the wind still shakes the dish fairly mercilessly. A big dish, in a 30 mph wind, and something will shake.
I'm ordering a device which "may" make dish aiming easier. A follow-up will be provided for anybody interested.
