Robbaged from here but i found it so useful i thought i ought to share, and edited with my extra tips. For converting Media PC Recorded TV files (dvrms) to encoded avi (divx or xvid)

Tools needed:
DVRMSToolbox
VirtualDub-MPEG2
**This uses either the Xvid or DivX codecs.

>>Open C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Recorded TV to view your recorded tv files

Start DVRMStoMPEGGUI application from the start menu

Enter the input file in the appropriate text box

Enter the destination file in the appropriate text box. Don’t forget to give it the correct extension (mpeg).
**You can find the episode name by selecting the drv-ms file in my computer or windows explorer and reading the info in the status bar

In the profile drop down list, choose which action you want the utility to perform. I usually choose Convert DVRMS to MPEG.
**To convert to avi this must be done in two steps: dvrms => mpeg => avi

Click Run. Wait for this process to complete. You will be prompted to save a copy of the log to a file, I wouldn't bother.

>>Open VirtualDub-MPEG2.

Open the MPEG video file either by file | open video file or drag and drop the file onto the VDub GUI

It will take a few mins to parse the data.

**F9 toggles show/hide input video stream.
**F10 toggles show/hide output video stream.
**You can find show input//output settings by clicking options on the menubar
**Arrow keys also move the timebar for more specific editing

Only show your input video stream. it will be displayed on the left hand side.

At the bottom, there a control for the current frame of the movie. As you move this handle from left to right, the input screen will show the movie's video data. Move this handle to the beginning of your show to get ready to cut out any unwanted data preceeding your show.

Press the End Key. This will select all frames from the beginning to the current frame.
Press the Delete Key. This will delete the selected frames.

Move the time handle to the beginning of the first set of commericals.
**When your close to where the commerical begins, you should use the right or left arrow keys to move back and forth in the file. If hold alt and use the arrow keys, the cursor will move 50 frames forward or backward.
Press the Home Key. This will set a start point
Move the time handle to the end of the first set of commericals.
Press the End Key. This will set your end point and select all frames inbetween start & end.
Press the Delete Key. This will delete the selected frames.
Repeat for all commerial sets.
**After you mark the beginning of your last set, press ctrl and the right arrow key to take you to the end of the file. Press End & Delete.

Click video in the menubar.
Click Full processing mode.
Click video in the menubar.
Click Compression.
Click which codec you wish to use to encode the file.
Click Configure to change the encoding settings.

I'm using xvid at 700 kbps as a standard sizde. An hour will give you about 800MB in this format, ie regular xvid film size for time relative.

When your done fixing your video codec settings get back to the VDub GUI.

Click audio in the menubar.
Click Full processing mode.
Click audio in the menubar.
Click Compression.
I click LAME MP3 at 192Kbps
Click ok

Click video in the menubar.
Click Filters.
Click Add.
Pick Deinterlaced and set it to blend together. This will blend any bad horizontal lines.
**I've seen forum posts where ppl also add sharpen and smoother but i have since stop using these filters.
Click Add.
Pick Resize and input the resolution to width 640 and height 352 to remove picture distortion, change it the precise bicubic.
Click ok in the filters dialog box.


Now, you're back at the VDub GUI again and we want to make sure the audio is sync'd with the video.

Since, you only have your input video screen on, press F9 & F10 to swtich only your output video screen on.

The time handle is prolly to the far right. Move it back just bit to a screen where people are talking.

Press Enter. The output video will start to play. Try to tell if the audio is early or late. If the audio and video isn't sync'd, click audio in the menubar and click Interleaving. Put a positive value, if the audio is early, Negative value if its late. Click Ok. Review the output video again.

Press F7 to save the file. Enter a filename and click save. A progress bar will appear. When its finished, play your file. Check the end for audio//video sync. Close the file in VDub and delete the uncompressed files.




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Hope this helps, it certainly helped me! I didn't add too many extra tips but the ones did add (ie the resizing one) will save you a lot of hassle!

sorry if i'm being blond here, is on demand tv (downloaded from channel 4) dvrms??

because 4od tv files are encrypted and so far i cant convert them - boo hoo

No, DVR-M$ is the basically dvd quality recorded off M$ M3di@ C3nt3r. It was just an I found a tut and decided to add it on here and try to improve it. I can have a look for recoding the 40d files if you want though.

Digital Video Broadcasts such as ODTV can be encrypted to allow to either not record or record once twice whatever they feel like. When the analogue signal goes, this will happen more and more, My dvd recorder is fitted with copyright protection software built in which is set to pick up any encryption by the TV networks.

Sounds daft i know but check it out if you don't believe me mateys

I have been trying for a long time to convert dvr-ms to .avi and get rid commercials. This worked well..THANKS. One question though...I do not have the option to use Lame Mp3 as audio format in VirtualDub, do I need to install a codec?