Right. So I finally transferred some programmes to the PC and wanted to chop out the adverts. The Humax is a brand new cutting edge device so it should provide PC/Windows compatible data, shouldn't it?

Ha! No type extension on the file doesn't bode well. Reading this forum informs me that the format is 'nearly' mpeg, but not close enough that Windows Media Player can play it. Why make it nearly mpeg?

So, it turns out that an older version of WMP can play it.
It also turns out that the correct file extension should be .ts for transport streaming. So why not add it during the transfer

Further delving here recommends a programme called "HDTV to MPEG2". I gave it a go and it turned a 1hr programme into 7 minutes of black and silence.

So, what single piece of software will

a) Deal directly with the native format of the uploaded Humax data?

b) Will allow simple editing (advert removal)?

c) Output mpeg2 data for direct burning to DVD?

I've owned my humax for a month now and I'm not a expert by any means, but in answer to your questions from checking this forum and the humax forum on radio and telly I deduce.

There isn't a native piece of kit that will deal with the data directly without adding a .ts or .mpg extension.

VideoRedo the latest version claims to automatically detect where the adverts are for their removal see link http://www.videoredo.com. I haven't used this, as I have tried to investigate other means of doing this. Remember you can remove adverts on the humax (incidentally the PAUSE button allows you to access the frame by frame buttons on the left side of the screen, top tip from humax support there), still it's not as precise as with computer software.

HDCDtoDVD allows output data to be burnt from the mpeg file. It will convert them into INF and VOB and BUP files. Then you will need to burn them, NeroVision 3 can do this, I used Copytodvd, (Divx has been suggested, so has Roxio Creative 8) to which ends I have burnt them successfully however they are playing out of sync, see thread I added.

I've posted this on both forums 60 people have seen it no reply, am still waiting to be put out of my misery.

VideoReDo will load the files without the need to add an extension and will convert them to mpeg, vob etc. files. These can then be used in other applications to create dvds.

VideoReDo is also good for detecting adverts and for fixing errors using the quick fix option (not sure how this works but files play fine after using it!). No lip synch problems as with other software. You can download a free trial version but have to pay to continue after 15 days.

There are several free programs which allow you to view files on your PC e.g. VLC media player and GOM player.

Thanks for the replies.

I've downloaded the trial version of VideoReDo and so far it seems to do what is required.

The 'Advert Detector' is really a '16x9/4x3' detector, looking for a change in the aspect ratio of the material. The Thumbnail View is pretty good at showing where the ads are though.

So far, I've transferred over 20 hours worth of video from the Humax to my PC and I've been using VideoReDo to edit and fix the mpeg files.
These files can be played directly on the PC using VideoLan's VLC. I have also authored a few DVDs using TPMGEnc without any problems. These DVDs replay fine on my HP Laptop with WinDVD.
Finally, I have also converted a few of the mpeg files to DivX using the DivX Converter (using the 'home theatre' profile). This produces high quality files which are replayable with VLC and, I believe, on some domestic DVD players but which take up about a third of the file size. However, the encoding process is SLOW - On my Sempron 2800+ machine, a 2 hour movie takes about 3 hours to convert to DivX (same with my Celeron M laptop). I think an Athlon 64 or Pentium 4 is really needed to make this process viable.

Finally, I've taken the advice on this site (and others) to make sure the Humax and PC are doing nothing else whilst transferring files - this apparently minimises errors (I've had very no real problems so far).
Cheers,
Kev

I use Xilsoft's iPod Video conversion software to regularly listen to radio recordings, and used it now and then to watch video from the STB, too.

Copy the file from the PVR in the normal manner and rename to the '.mpg' ending. Open up the iPod Video Convert programme, load up your file, and select code-to '.m4v' or '.m4a' for video/radio accordingly. Hit the encode and sit back for a bit. Import the file into iTunes as usual.