[Tarac]

Hi,

I have read quite possibly over a hundred threads about the ease of editing and converting the REC files that the Topfield produces using ProjectX, VideoReDo/VRB and other software.

I have just purchased a new Topfield TBF-7120 - a PVR ready HD STB, and have attached a Seagate 320GB external HDD to record on to.

Because I travel a lot, recording on to an external hard drive really works for me because I can then watch my recordings without having to take the entire STB with me.

So far everything has been working perfectly - the programs that I have recorded can be very easily played back on the STB via the external HDD.

However, my problem is that when I disconnect the the Seagate from the Topfield and then connect it to my Laptop [with Windows Vista] via USB, I am unable to play the files on any software at all including VLC, WMP & KMplayer. The same applies to editing software like ProjectX, VRB & HandBrake.

I have even tried changing the file extension to VOB and MPG [as suggested on some other threads] - but I still end up with the same message: 'Unable to open file.'

I'm not a novice to demuxing files and file conversion as I regularly use MeGUI & HandBrake to create and store MKV files.

But this really has me stumped. I don't understand why ProjectX, VRB & HandBrake won't open the REC files created by the Topfield, or why VLC won't play the files either.

Your help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by Tarac

Hi,

I have read quite possibly over a hundred threads about the ease of editing and converting the REC files that the Topfield produces using ProjectX, VideoReDo/VRB and other software.

I have just purchased a new Topfield TBF-7120 - a PVR ready HD STB, and have attached a Seagate 320GB external HDD to record on to.

Because I travel a lot, recording on to an external hard drive really works for me because I can then watch my recordings without having to take the entire STB with me.

So far everything has been working perfectly - the programs that I have recorded can be very easily played back on the STB via the external HDD.

However, my problem is that when I disconnect the the Seagate from the Topfield and then connect it to my Laptop [with Windows Vista] via USB, I am unable to play the files on any software at all including VLC, WMP & KMplayer. The same applies to editing software like ProjectX, VRB & HandBrake.

I have even tried changing the file extension to VOB and MPG [as suggested on some other threads] - but I still end up with the same message: 'Unable to open file.'

I'm not a novice to demuxing files and file conversion as I regularly use MeGUI & HandBrake to create and store MKV files.

But this really has me stumped. I don't understand why ProjectX, VRB & HandBrake won't open the REC files created by the Topfield, or why VLC won't play the files either.

Your help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Any chance of a link to a sample short file so that the file header can be examined.

[Tarac]

Thanks very much for the quick reply.

I have uploaded an example as a 60MB WINRAR file - with no password on rapidshare [I hope that's okay?!?]

RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting

The RAR contains the following [all of which were created by the Topfield HD STB]:
9am With David & Kim.add
9am With David & Kim.idx
9am With David & Kim.ifo
9am With David & Kim.rec

The REC file is a few minutes long - hence the large file size.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by Tarac

Thanks very much for the quick reply.

I have uploaded an example as a 60MB WINRAR file - with no password on rapidshare [I hope that's okay?!?]

RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting

The RAR contains the following [all of which were created by the Topfield HD STB]:
9am With David & Kim.add
9am With David & Kim.idx
9am With David & Kim.ifo
9am With David & Kim.rec

The REC file is a few minutes long - hence the large file size.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

There does not seem to be a working link to the file (I only need a .rec). From the list of file types it's clearly different to the Freeview files which have all the info in the file header)

[gbjbaanb]

Originally Posted by Tarac

I have read quite possibly over a hundred threads about the ease of editing and converting the REC files that the Topfield produces using ProjectX, VideoReDo/VRB and other software.

You have? I thought they were horrible to use.

Instead, I use HDTV2MPEG just drop the .rec onto the GUI, use the sliders to cut the adverts out, press 'Process' and after a couple of seconds (well, ok, 1min 15sec, to convert this mornings hour-long real rescues), you have a .mpg file you can watch.

However, that applies to my topfield TF5800 which produces only .rec files

[Tarac]

Hi again,

Thanks to both grahamlthompson and gbjbaanb for your replies.

I have already tried using HDTVtoMPEG2, but I get the error message: 'Could not find a Channel!'
I'm not sure what that means - but that is exactly what the error window says.

I have uploaded on to Rapidshare a 35MB REC clip that was recorded on a 2GB Lexar Flash Drive.

rapidshare.com/files/304942756/LAST_COMIC_STANDING.rec.html

I hope that this link works this time.

Your help is very much appreciated.