How to Use a Codec for TiVo

You can transfer the TV programs that you have recorded on your TiVo to your PC by using TiVo ToGo transfers. These files can be played back on your PC by special software known as codec. Codec is a technology used to compress and decompress data so that the video files on your TiVo can be converted to a compatible format for your PC to replay. Most PCs come equipped with a compatible codec for TiVo. If not, you can purchase the suitable codec online. Here’s how you can use codec for your TiVo.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC
• Compatible codec
• Widows Media Player Version 9 (for 2000)
• TiVo ToGo DVR
• Windows media player version 10 (forXP)

1. Have you watched DVDs on your PC? It uses the same MPEG-2 codec that is used by TiVo. The codec that is used to determine the high quality of picture and sound effects for DVDs on your PC is the same one used by TiVo. This ensures that your transferred shows will have the same high quality.

2. Watch your transferred shows on your PC and convert shows for your iPod, PSP, Treo or other MPEG-4 compatible device using the MPEG-2 codec.

3. Watch the TiVo ToGo transferred programs on Microsoft Portable Media Center devices such as Zen Vision or Toshiba Gigabeat using specific and compatible codec.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that not all MPEG-2 codecs will play TiVo recordings on a Microsoft PMC device.
• The following codecs are compatible with TiVo ToGo transfers on Microsoft PMC devices: For Windows XP--Sonic Cineplayer DVD Decoder Pack, CyberLink DVD SE, InterVideo DVD XPack, NVIDIA DVD Decoder