Media Center file conversion to Next PVR format

[peckiro]

I am one of the hold outs from Windows 7 and wanting to convert to Win 10 before next week when I will have to pay for it. I have a Silicon Dust HomeRun Prime cable card device setup to the storage drive of my computer which has served me well for years. But WMC is gone from Win 10 as we all know. I have 30 or more hours of HD TV programs recorded from WMC in the .wtv format that I would like to import into Next PVR which uses the .xml format. I'm so happy to be able to finally find a simple program like NPVR because I found Kodi just to damned complex for an old guy like myself. Is there an easy way to convert the WMC files to .xml so that I don't loose all that programing when I upgrade to win 10? I would certainly be grateful for any assistance that anyone may be able to offer.

[psycik]

I think the .wtv format is a container (like .ts and .avi and .mkv). It may or may not have some DRM (rights management) embedded.

Are you wanting at the actual videos...or the embedded metadata?

Maybe something like this might extract the video out: http://mctvconverter.vivolum.net/ But unsure how you can get the metadata (programme desciption etc) out.

[peckiro]

Thank you so much, I will try your suggestion. Any other suggestions from anyone will be GREATLY appreciated!

[puck64]

Hi Peckiro,

There is a utility program on Windows 7 that converts WTV files to DVRMS. C:\Windows\ehome\WTVConverter.exe
Once converted to DVRMS you can use Mediainfo to extract the metadata. (I don't think MediaInfo works on WTV Files, but I could be wrong )

Use FFmpeg or Handbrake or MeGui to convert to mp4 or mkv (MKV is the flavour of the month on the web)

NextPVR generates an XML file with metadata at the time of recording (sample below ) if the following flag is set to "true" <StoreSeparateMetadataXml>
all you have to do is fudge it

I have attached a copy of my OLD Windoze7 Conversion bat file .... you should be able to get most of what you need in there.... (no fudge but )

To get the data to show up you need the metadata (xml) and the program in the same folder (I think) :confused:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<recording>
<filename>D:\Recorded Tv\BBQ Pitmasters_20160721_20322133.ts</filename>
<channel>7 HD</channel>
<status>READY</status>
<startTime>2016-07-21 20:27:05</startTime>
<endTime>2016-07-21 21:43:35</endTime>
<channel_OID>7271</channel_OID>
<title>BBQ Pitmasters</title>
<subtitle></subtitle>
<description>As temperatures soar, it&apos;s not just the meat that&apos;s getting cooked when teams head to the desert for the Smokin&apos; in Mesquite BBQ Championship for a taste of the ¤40,000 in cash and prizes. PG</description>
<uid></uid>
<firstrun>true</firstrun>
<genres>
<genre>Show / Game Show</genre>
</genres>
</recording>

[mvallevand]

NextPVR only natively supports mpeg-ts files. All other formats and containers would need to handled by Windows. If you do use Kodi for playback, you can play non-DRM'd wtv files directly. Most free players and convertors are based on the ffmpeg engine

Martin

[puck64]

NextPVR only natively supports mpeg-ts files. All other formats and containers would need to handled by Windows. If you do use Kodi for playback, you can play non-DRM'd wtv files directly. Most free players and convertors are based on the ffmpeg engine

Martin

If you convert to MP4 etc you will need to add the files to NextPVR in Media Folders

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Then you should get something like this ... (you can add metadata using the Semi-Hidden Menu Item "Metadata")

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

[mvallevand]

If you convert to MP4 etc you will need to add the files to NextPVR in Media Folders

Right but it will show still won't play them unless Windows is properly configured to play them.

Martin

[spiinnaker]

Another option would be to download MCEBuddy. You can convert your MKV files to pretty much anything you want. The bonus is it will strip out commercials too.

I used to use it in WMC to convert to MP4 for use in Kodi. I am using it now to convert the nPVR TS files to MP4. The bonus is I can play them anywhere and not worry about having the comskip data file.

[EdBrady]

Not sure what your problem with Kodi is, but I made the same transition as you, and Kodi is what I use not only for playing live TV and recordings from nPVR, but also to play wtv and dvr-ms files recorded by WMC in Vista and 7. It plays them fine, though there's no metadata... but I've not found that to be a problem. There wasn't any setup involved; just point Kodi to your recorded tv folder, and that's it. I never had to fool with codecs; it just works.