I downloaded this package not because I had an immediate need but new that at some point in the near future I would want to try something like this.

I still haven't actually used the software, however the crap that I've had to put up with tells me it will not be worth it regardless.

The registration process is overly cumbersome and in hindsight designed to all the company to collect email addresses. What did I find in my inbox this morning? SPAM from Engelmann Media GmbH in German. If a company is going to send out sale emails for local online retailers to an international audience they should at least pay attention to the languages of the folks in their email list.

I expect better treatment from GOTD.

Engelmann means untrustworthy.

I just reported a problem using my mother tongue - French - but the answer I have received says: "Sorry, I don't speak French".

I don't mind whether they speak French or not. But a software vendor who specifically invites users to complain in English, German or French should be able to read French. Period.

As I have upgraded from Win 7 to Win 8, I've lost some Engelmann software setup files for which I already had a valid activation key. This key does not work with the new setup files which I have downloaded for the same programs.

Engelmann says I have to use the old setup files, which I have lost. I wanted them to send an activation key which would activate a program I already owns without being able to have it running.

Their answer: too bad.

My reaction to their answer: never again will I run a software from Engelmann. They just don't care about the user.

I was wondering why there were so many thumbs down for sounded like a great product... until I tried it.

I almost never comment on the software here, so it has to be very good or very disappointing for me to bother commenting.

No support for Windows media center recordings is a big thumbs down. But even worse are the results. I tested a short 254MB Beyonwiz TS file recorded from a PAL HD channel. I chose Dvix/Xvid PAL as the output and quickly created a small 26MB avi file.

The problem was that the video is now postage stamped with black borders all around. And the sound is terrible! There is a constant high speed stuttering making the video unwatchable (if I could put up the black borders).

The lack of settings, or options, would make it ideal for the inexperienced, but also prevents the user choosing Xvid over Dvix or forcing the resolution to prevent the black borders.

For the price I'd want to at least be able to cut the ends off the recording and better yet cut out the ads from the recording. For a program that's sole purpose is to convert DVR recordings it is let down by no editing. Any good DVR convertor must be able to edit unwanted parts from the recording

Also, any good DVR convertor should ideally be able ideally to retain any subtitles. If the chosen output does not support subtitles within the file then demux them into a separate subtitle file.

But regardless of any missing "must have" features the fact that the output file was unwatchable makes this software, in it's current version, useless for me.

I'll stick with ProjectX when I want subtitles, and VideoRedo when I don't.

I record (and sometimes edit) broadcast TV video clips on a DVR using DVD-RAM disks. This is the first utility I've come across that allows me to convert the vro files from those DVD-RAM disks so I can further edit and save the files on my PC. A BIG thank you to Engelmann Media for offering this program on GAOTD!!

Despite clicking on the unsubscribe link in numerous emails that I've had from Engelmann, they continue to bombard me with mail. I'm not a happy bunny!!

To everyone who replied to my initial comment--thanks for your suggestions, but it wasn't a catastrophic failure. I just added the short cuts again. Losing them may have been a coincidence, but I wanted to mention it. I was running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, BTW.

And I understand that programs sometimes require a reboot after installation. There was just something about watching the install that seemed funny and made me want to wait and see what folks here had to say. Pretty scientific, huh? As opinion here seems to be mixed on the products value, and I was only downloading it because it worked with a couple of obscure (to me) formats that I wasn't sure if my other converters worked with, I think I'll pass on reinstalling it.

Thanks for the constructive comments.

BrianS., I am aware of the Diskinternals program but if I get a file to the computer, then what do I do with it? I am new to this sort of thing. Have you been successful converting a file and storing on DVD/BD?

My previous experience was the file could be seen on Win7 but not opened in any program I had.

With a name like DVR Converter, I am very surprised that it doesn't convert DVR files (Tivo, at least). Like selling a bread maker that makes baked goods, but not bread. So unless I missed something, it seems to be just one of a thousand video converters on the market, many of which are free. Format Factory is one excellent free alternative (www.pcfreetime.com).

So does this convert files from a Digital Video Recorder to something I can play on my computer or not?

When you drive a car you wear a seat belt. When you install software you set a restore point BEFORE doing so. That way if ANYTHING goes wrong or any unexpected side effects arise, or you simply find that you don't want to keep the software, you can quickly and easily restore your computer to the pre-install state.

This basic warning should be posted on every download page and be part of all software installation instructions. Anyone who doesn't already know enough to set a restore point before doing anything that could alter the registry really has no business operating a computer, but, as we all know ... there are a few people who STILL DON'T KNOW!

I suppose, after reading hundreds of comments from GAOTD users to the effect that an installation did something to their computers they didn't like, it finally crossed my mind today that there must still be people who DON'T KNOW that you NEVER install anything without setting a restore point first -- just IN CASE.

Some software is simply not well tested and not well mannered and will do "bad things" to many computers. Sometimes the problem is a conflict with other software running on your machine, but not on the developer's test machines. Sometimes the software maliciously infects your system. Whatever the CAUSE, restoring the machine to the pre-installation state and deleting the problem download will almost always fix the problem quickly and easily.

Of course having an "image" of your hard disk is a good idea BUT it actually takes A) some effort and B) large removable storage. Setting a restore point takes what, one minute? Anyone can do it on any machine. It gives you what is essentially an "undo" command in that restoring to an earlier point "undoes" any changes to installed software and the windows registry since that restore point, but it doesn't change any of your data files, documents, pictures, etc.

Any software installation MIGHT have undesirable effects on your computer and un-installing the software doesn't always cure such problems or undo all registry changes. System Restore DOES generally cure all such problems quickly, easily, with no risk.

Secondly, even if the software doesn't cause any unexpected problems, it still usually involves registry entries and a slight degradation in overall system performance. How many times have we all installed software that looked like it might be useful and then, for whatever reason, we find we never use it or don't wish to keep it? "Uninstall" doesn't always (or even usually) completely remove the installation. RESTORE DOES!

#16 Update

Now install was successful on both XP and Vista. I need it for DVD-RW from Opera DVD-recorder which other programs can't handle.

#28, whoopi, there are lots of options for Wimdows Media Center recordings, but there's a big catch. In the US, the cable companies are about to encrypt all channels, so no more cable analog, no clear-QAM, everything will be DRM'd. Over-the-air ATSC channels will be the only ones that you'll be able to do anything with. That's why analog and clear-QAM PC tuner cards and devices are being dumped, they're about to become paperweights. It also means that you'll have to deal with all of the endless restrictions on DRM'd recordings--they're not just tied to your current PC, but to the current installation of Windows. Thank the politicians, judges, and the FCC.

Seriously? No wtv or ms-dvr support? For those who are considering installing THIS MEANS IT WILL NOT WORK WITH WINDOWS XP, WINDOWS 7 or WINDOWS VISTA MEDIA CENTER.

This is by far the most widely distributed dvr program (even if most do not use it or even know they have it).

I got all excited, thinking I had a good christmas present - but alas, a lump of coal was awaiting me under the GAOTD tree. . .so sad.

The only conversion software you'll ever need:
Format Factory - http://www.pcfreetime.com/
Works with all video formats. Also converts audio files & pictures.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All at Give Away of the Day... We appreciate all of you and hope that through the New Year You and your Families are Blessed with Joy, Great Health and Peace...
Thanks you for all the neat toys we get each and everyday... :)

Awsome! Look good should work great hollyday present! Thanc

#13: Yes there is: kmttg

Will/does this app support WTV files??

@#3 Matt Sweeney. You need a professional uninstaller program like VS Revo Uninstaller. It will warn you when other programs are using a file in the program being uninstalled so you can keep it. My recommendation is to do a System Restore to gain back your shortcuts. Usually Restore works but sometimes gives problems. That's why I have Roll Back" that takes a "snapshot" of drive "C" on startup. This is like the old "Go Back" that indows took over for their Restore function but cut it sown in size and function which is why it doesn't work all the time.

Installed on a Windows 7 Professional System, 64 bit, with no problems. Converted one file and had an error message at the end (I wasn't watching it) but conversion okay. Did a second conversion and watched it. No problem. I did turn off the virus program while installing. I see nothing wrong with this procedure and many programs suggest this method of installation. Restarted computer after installation to have al the program pieces set correctly into the registry as required by many programs.

@Joe Salerno:

By USB HDD DVR files do you mean files on a Linux formatted disk?
If so you can use DiskInternals free Linux reader to copy them to your PC ~ http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

Just tried to install.
Registration link was delivered by my castrated InternetExplorer as http://promo.engelmann.com/setup-promo1/promo-de.html
and in Firefox it only offered a 50% discount for TuneUpUtilities 2013.
Deinstalled by monitoring Deinstaller. Thank you, Engelmann!

Or could anybody post a functionate registration link?

Thanks in advance.

@Joe Salerno:
And therein lies the problem.
The name of this giveaway makes you think it will convert USB HDD DVR files to be usable on the computer. It is misleading at best.
Unless someone comes out with something that will do this, I have no use for video converters, as I already have Aiseesoft Total Video Converter, which was given away here, and covers all the bases.
As Giovanni said "this is a damn SATURATED field"!

#3 Matt Sweeney

Which Windows Version etc.?
Why didn't you use an uninstaller as I usually do with free/GOTD software or Windows system recovery?

I usually use for cutting and converting videos free AVIDEMUX (www.avidemux.org). The zipped variant is portable! It has less formats than DVR Converter 3.0 but it satisfies my needs. I just used AVIDEMUX 2.5.6 for repairing a vlc-stream with wrong length (programs told length some minutes instead of true more than 60 minutes), latest AVIDEMUX 2.6.1 didn't succeed this time. No other program did the trick, no Wondershare and different alias or GOTD Tipard (internally free DVD-author) or even Nero.

Happy Xmas to everybody!

I've been looking for something that can convert files on the USB HDD DVR, which I understand is a proprietary Linux format, to something I can watch on my computer or burn to DVD or BD. It appears that this program will not do this. Or am I wrong? Is there anything at all out there capable of doing this?

"DVR Converter is your video converter for all your digital video recordings"
Not true unless/until .TIVO is included.
Anyone know of a freeware that includes converting the TIVO DVR recordings?
Happy holidays!

Pretty good software which does what it claims very well!
Don't want to make a mess of your system?
No problem...

http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Multimedia/Video/Portable-XMedia-Recode.shtml
http://www.cuda-soft.com/video-converter/index.htm
http://www.videotovideo.org
http://www.hamstersoft.com/free-video-converter
http://download.cnet.com/Free-Audio-Video-Studio/3000-2170_4-75819419.html

Yes, this is a damn SATURATED field...LOL!!

Merry Christmas to everybody!

No, really a lot of software does NOT require you to reboot these days, I'm not sure the last time I installed something was I had to reboot... Usually it's the big things I install the first day I get a PC.

@2 Preston Mitchell
During the last giveaway by Engelmann Media, photomizer, I also received a letter of discount for Videomizer, which I now have. Just wait maybe for a few days, and check you email. Initially, that is also what I wanted, but is not included in the discount, but luckily received the offer on email after 2 days. (19.99 Eu instead of 49.99). Cheers.

Nice software, but I personally use a free video converter, which works really good: http://www.freevideoaudioconverter.com

Merry XMAS!

#3 Mat Sweenney - Merry Xmas everyone. Mat the reason you are being asked to reboot is simply to enable the software to update your system with new files and registry entries. Many programs require this action. You can rest assured that any download from GOTD is clean and safe. I haven't downloaded the program as its not something I need. Other users' comments are worth reading if in any doubt.

# 2 Preston Mitchell. Click on the words in blue that say 75% discount and you will see what is being offered at a discount. Videomizer 2 is not......

Merry Christmas everyone.

@ Preston Mitchell

To see which products are offered on sale, visit this url

http://promo.engelmann.com/giveawayoftheday/

Only selected products are on sale
Hope this helped!

My advice:
leave well alone or at least do not install unless you have an uptodate image of your PC system. Read Matt Sweeney's comment

Engelmann products are either of the kind where freewares offer the same functions or where other products score by miles !

To #2 (Preston Mitchell)
To get the discount on "selected items", just click on "75% Discount:" (in blue) which leads you to http://promo.engelmann.com/giveawayoftheday/. Then click on... "Please click here!!!". There you'll see discounts for freeTunes, MakeMe3D, CDRWIN 9, android converter, today's giveaway DVR Converter 3, and CinemaHD 2.
So this won't be Xmas for everyone-no Videomizer in the selected items. Sorry!

To all
Please note that every discounted item is already included (once) in the basket. So you have to delete those you do not want.
Merry Christmas and a happy new 13 !

I installed this and then uninstalled when it asked me to restart to complete system changes. I decided perhaps I should wait and see what more educated users had to say about the software. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but after I uninstalled it almost every short cut in my start menu and task bar became invalid.

QUESTION for Developer ENGELMANN: How do we take advantage of the 75% discount for Vidomizer?
I tried to buy it via your link on this web page...and the order formed stated full price. It isn't nice to offer a discount...and then make it impossible to obtain.

Sweet considering I received this : "Hauppauge 1200 WinTV HVR850 USB Stick" for christmas xD

Well this program is going to get well used....