Very new to Linux so please excuse the obvious ignorance. I can copy files from my Dish DVR by connecting the external drive to my Linux Mint laptop. I would like to convert the files to a format that I can edit. I assume that there are converters, online or otherwise, and would appreciate recommendations. Thanks. xlchief

I've always found ffmpeg to be very reliable and fast, and it's widely packaged for a number of Linux distributions as well.

That said, you should always do a search before asking questions, as this thread from this site is about the same topic.

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Very little info givin. These are video files that your dvr recorded? What kind of video format/container are they? Have you run the file command on them?
Also what video and audio formats are they?
If they are simply a mpeg2 transport stream with ac3 audio(atsc standard), then ffmpeg will reencode them/change containers to whatever you want.
Start with the ouput of file

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Perhaps the files are already in a format which can be edited. You may instead wish to search the web for the best options for video editors in Linux.

Thanks, everyone for the feedback. As stated, I am very new to Linux (3 days), and it was a Google search about file converters that landed me on this forum.

I am using Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon 64-bit (v. 3.6.6)

The Dish DVR recordings are stored on an external HDD. My Linux laptop can read and copy the files from the external HDD. Each recording creates a folder and each folder contains 4 files. The files do not show extensions but this is the file info shown:
NAME SIZE TYPE
bm 3.6 kb Image
cat 556 bytes Binary
tsp 596.0 MB Binary
wtt 1.7 MB Binary

My incredible powers of deduction suggest to me that the tsp file is the video. Does ffmpeg require a file extension for the originating file? Should I guess at the file's extension and add that in Properties?

I tried playing the file with VLC but it did not recognize the file type.

I've never known VLC to have any problems unless the file is any of: unreadable, very uniquely encoded, or not a video file. Even then, say it was a BMP, VLC would still open it and stay stuck at the static image.

Thus, my guess is that these image files are encoded in a special way so as to privatize them from being copied. It may be a licensing issue, or something related. After all, you've potentially DVRed programs which probably have a copyright and the box manufacturer needs to ensure that the content is not pirated.

Have you tried using mplayer, as mentioned here:

http://www.lyberty.com/mediatech/pro...p-to-mpeg.html

I know that Dish may be using a proprietary encoding and if that's the case then I'm out of luck, but I enjoy problem-solving and will butt my head against the wall a few times before I give up. I appreciate the guidance and will report back if there is any success. - xlchief

I've done some work on media devices using HDMI and we've had to sign documents indicating that we would not reverse engineer, reveal, or re-distribute their technology, because they are required by the FCC (in the US) to protect the media which they decode for distribution to a monitor.

Have to imaging a firm like Dish is going to follow that regulation to the letter.

https://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/kb.aspx?c=9#55

I could protest that my intentions are not nefarious but who would believe me? The truth is that over the years we have accumulated almost 1TB of recordings (mostly snippets from NHL games) and we want to preserve those. We'll be canceling Dish next month but the external HDD is ours. Time-wise there are too many to dub off so if I can figure out a way to still watch those recordings we'll be happy and if not...que sera, sera. I do support copyright integrity so I won't be bitterly disappointed if this doesn't work out.

One site suggests that you can upload to a converter site.

Pretty sure Dish locked those files with some security as I recall.

I'd guess there may be other ways to skin this tomato.

Right, not implying that you are breaking laws. I don't know the rules about things you have recorded on free TV. I.e. I have sports things on VHS from years ago when the local teams finally started winning the championships. I started ripping our old VHS and 8mm tapes from cameras of family videos. Technically I can rip those old VHS tapes, but probably won't bother. And no I'm not interested in selling just having the memory. Meanwhile, I'm sure Youtube probably has it all!

But that is a possible option, which I "think" you can play these programs to your TV and using a standard definition video capture method, re-record the files in that format. Like I'm not even sure you're allowed to grab the digitally enhanced versions betwixt box and TV, be that legally or technically. I.e. they may have the same HDMI chip in the TV to decode the signals too. I believe they really may have that. But you can grab the red, white, and yellow video/audio signals and capture those.

Pretty sure it isn't based on the HDMI encryption. The files were under some drm or encryption to stop people from doing this only because Dish wanted it. Almost all US OTA channels have no Record restrictions on them. They are free to record legally this being under an old VHS/Betamax deal where a tax on media was to go to them.

Based solely on the file size, you could be right, but I can't say that for sure without more info. However it does say the word "binary", so that would normally mean something like an executable file or similar, rather than a video/audio file.

It's a good question, and while I'd say no, I can't promise that I'm right. My thinking is that file extensions matter in other operating systems because that's normally how they distinguish one type of file from another. Linux on the other hand generally looks at the code inside the file, so even if you changed the file extension, this alone would not change the type of file it is.

It's likely because VLC doesn't have a codec to play that particular type of format.

I'll be marking this thread 'Solved' since it appears that the Dish files are encrypted and there is no current workaround. I appreciate all of the help. I'll dub a few items but most will remain in HDD-Azkaban because audio sync gets progressively worse as longer programs are dubbed and I don't want to spend my few remaining decades fixing that issue. - xlchief