Panasonic XW380 - Copying files to PC

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Damager

2125 posts

Uber Geek

#94009 4-Dec-2011 11:12

Hi Everyone

The hard drive is full and want to pull the files off in their original quality so burning to DVD isnt an option or reducing quality via the built in options (too slow).

I cabled the recorder to my network but wasnt able to see where i can read and copy the files to my pc. Then I can reencode them faster.

I'm a bit stumped as to how i can do this. Connecting to the network meant i could just access the internet for YouTube but nothing else. I must be missing something very simple I'm sure.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

Steve

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727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#553432 4-Dec-2011 11:34

Ummmm - pull out the drive and mount it in another case?
Even then, I wouldn't put it past them to have encrypted the content.

I think what you've hit is a basic requirement for Freeview certification, and that is that exactly what you are trying to do is forbidden.

I may be wrong, or there may be exceptions. If so, I'm sure somebody better informed will be along shortly.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#553467 4-Dec-2011 13:26

Damager: Hi Everyone

The hard drive is full and want to pull the files off in their original quality so burning to DVD isnt an option or reducing quality via the built in options (too slow).

I cabled the recorder to my network but wasnt able to see where i can read and copy the files to my pc. Then I can reencode them faster.

I'm a bit stumped as to how i can do this. Connecting to the network meant i could just access the internet for YouTube but nothing else. I must be missing something very simple I'm sure.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

Steve

Because it's Freeview Certified I don't think you can.
I've just had a play with my BW880 to see if it's possible. Got the network setup and running OK and can connect to Internet.
Turned on DLNA and the PC can see and play my files via MS Media Centre.
On the PC the network displays the BW880 as a connected device but won't let me access the files on the HDD so I can transfer to the PC. All it will do is play them on a conected DLNA device and MS Media Centre is the only software I've found on my PC so far that will do that.
Fortunately the BW880 will let me burn HD to BluRay discs.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#553668 4-Dec-2011 19:52

When I've plugged my Mac in using Twonky Media server, it has allowed me to copy the files over my network, onto my laptop. I've then used handbrake to convert them into iTunes files / format shift them.

In a nutshell, I have...
Twonky (grab a free trial?)
VLC
Handbrake.

It has worked like a charm for me with a DMR-BWT700GN. Frankyl, I was surprised it allowed me to do it, but it was perfect at my end.

Damager

2125 posts

Uber Geek

#553671 4-Dec-2011 20:06

xarqi: Ummmm - pull out the drive and mount it in another case?
Even then, I wouldn't put it past them to have encrypted the content.

I think what you've hit is a basic requirement for Freeview certification, and that is that exactly what you are trying to do is forbidden.

I may be wrong, or there may be exceptions. If so, I'm sure somebody better informed will be along shortly.

thanks xarqi. it seems like it is part of the freeview certification, but i've read i think how other freeview dvr's overseas like the UK, have been able to allow files to come off via the network, hence my question.

Damager

2125 posts

Uber Geek

#553672 4-Dec-2011 20:09

B1GGLZ:
Damager: Hi Everyone

The hard drive is full and want to pull the files off in their original quality so burning to DVD isnt an option or reducing quality via the built in options (too slow).

I cabled the recorder to my network but wasnt able to see where i can read and copy the files to my pc. Then I can reencode them faster.

I'm a bit stumped as to how i can do this. Connecting to the network meant i could just access the internet for YouTube but nothing else. I must be missing something very simple I'm sure.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

Steve

Because it's Freeview Certified I don't think you can.
I've just had a play with my BW880 to see if it's possible. Got the network setup and running OK and can connect to Internet.
Turned on DLNA and the PC can see and play my files via MS Media Centre.
On the PC the network displays the BW880 as a connected device but won't let me access the files on the HDD so I can transfer to the PC. All it will do is play them on a conected DLNA device and MS Media Centre is the only software I've found on my PC so far that will do that.
Fortunately the BW880 will let me burn HD to BluRay discs.

I hadn't enabled DLNA to read the files from the dvr so will keep nosing in the options. drive is full of rwc games! Burning to DVD was mind numbing after the first dvd, hence started to look for easier methods.

Damager

2125 posts

Uber Geek

#553676 4-Dec-2011 20:18

Dunnersfella: When I've plugged my Mac in using Twonky Media server, it has allowed me to copy the files over my network, onto my laptop. I've then used handbrake to convert them into iTunes files / format shift them.

In a nutshell, I have...
Twonky (grab a free trial?)
VLC
Handbrake.

It has worked like a charm for me with a DMR-BWT700GN. Frankyl, I was surprised it allowed me to do it, but it was perfect at my end.

Haven't tried Twonky in years! Used it with a D-Link Wiress media player which was a bit hit and miss wireless wise but fine via ethernet.

Okay let me try Twonky but sounds good!

Then the torturous task of burning all of the rwc 2011 games to dvd will be no more!

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#553703 4-Dec-2011 21:12

Dunnersfella: When I've plugged my Mac in using Twonky Media server, it has allowed me to copy the files over my network, onto my laptop. I've then used handbrake to convert them into iTunes files / format shift them.

In a nutshell, I have...
Twonky (grab a free trial?)
VLC
Handbrake.

It has worked like a charm for me with a DMR-BWT700GN. Frankyl, I was surprised it allowed me to do it, but it was perfect at my end.

Wooooo!
Great tip!

You wouldn't have a slightly larger nutshell around would you?

For instance:
Isn't twonky a DLNA server? How does it enable you to retrieve files at all?
What part does VLC play? I know it as a media player for lots of formats, and with streaming capability, but this doesn't seem to be either of those.
(The Handbrake part I get.)

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Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#553754 4-Dec-2011 22:13

Twonky is both a DLNA server and a DLNA client... letting it send and receive media content.
VLC strips copyrighted material (one of the reasons that the makers of Handbrake recommend for it to be installed on the computer you use H.Brake with).
So yeah, all I can say is 'works for me'.

Oddly enough, it has never worked for me when I've recorded sports directly off MySky via the analogue loophole in the DMR-BWT700, only for content recorded directly off the Freeview tuner.

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#553765 4-Dec-2011 22:24

Excellent, thank you.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#553790 4-Dec-2011 23:23

It's definitely worth a trial if you own a Panasonic network Freeview recorder.
Twonky is available as a trial, VLC and Handbrake are free... the rest of the cost is your time.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#554203 5-Dec-2011 19:15

Oddly enough, it has never worked for me when I've recorded sports directly off MySky via the analogue loophole in the DMR-BWT700, only for content recorded directly off the Freeview tuner.

I'm guessing you have hit CGMS/A protection or similar - with a "copy once" flag in the video stream, so it will record to the Panny unit, with a flag that it can go no further. I did some research on this a couple of years ago and (from memory) you can get CGMS controllers that connect between the analog source and the recorder to change or strip out these flags. A video stabiliser, which is what I used to deal with macrovision a couple of years ago when migrating my small VHS collection, might also work.

If they still exist and are available, a couple of Google searches on "CGMS/A Remover" (or controller, suppressor etc) will probably turn up what you need.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#554530 6-Dec-2011 16:06

Dunnersfella: It's definitely worth a trial if you own a Panasonic network Freeview recorder.
Twonky is available as a trial, VLC and Handbrake are free... the rest of the cost is your time.

Twonky doesn't seem to work for me.
Just been playing with it and eventually found out how to acces the BW880.
However it won't play the files which it says "cannot be played by the local renderer because it's an unknown file type" and when it scans the BW880 it says "No status can be retrieved from the selected server.
It doesn't show in the player box either.
Have to play with the Sony TV sometime and see what happens.
So far I'm not impressed as it seems very user unfriendly.
Maybe Handbrake has to be installed to make it work??
Just updated the BW880 firmware today to latest (1.43).

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#554654 6-Dec-2011 19:17

I doubt VLC needs to be installed...
Are you using a Mac or a PC? My efforts have been with a Mac, using the (obviously) Mac versions of Twonky / Handbrake and VLC.
I'll give it another nudge tomorrow, just in case firmware updates haven't caused issues?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#554726 6-Dec-2011 22:12

Dunnersfella: I doubt VLC needs to be installed...
Are you using a Mac or a PC? My efforts have been with a Mac, using the (obviously) Mac versions of Twonky / Handbrake and VLC.
I'll give it another nudge tomorrow, just in case firmware updates haven't caused issues?

PC and Windows 7.
Got VLC to tune Freeview yesterday. Didn't know it did that. Works better than WinTV 7 and looks better than Media Centre. No stuttering and lock-up with hardware acceleration like WinTV and the EPG works.
Haven't tried Handbrake as I use VideoReDo.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#554739 6-Dec-2011 22:38

Just out of interest, how did you get VLC to tune Freeview? Would be most interested in a quick howto.

I have a USB tuner for my laptop, never thought of using VLC with it.

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