Converting Video files to use on an iPod

[WTSHNN]

Ok guys, so I bought a new iPod, with the video feature, the only problem is that it will only play QuickTime and MPEG-4 movie files that end in ".mov", ".m4v", or ".mp4" and are playable in QuickTime Player.

Here is what they say about converting stuff to use with an iPod...

Videos that were not purchased from the iTunes Music Store are typically not in a format that is playable on the iPod, but in many cases, they can be converted to the correct format using QuickTime 7 Pro. To find out how to convert a movie to one of these formats, see the Creating Video for iPod tutorial, then add the converted video to your iTunes Library. If you're using a Mac with QuickTime 7.0.3 or later installed, you can use iMovie and other applications to export a movie to a format supported by the iPod and then add it your iTunes Library. Click here for an iMovie HD tutorial.


So does anyone have a suggestion on how to get these to work without spending the money to upgrade to the Quicktime Pro? Just looking to save the $30.

Thanks in advance
-Tim

[ffooky]

Assuming you're on a Mac ffmpegx (http://homepage.mac.com/major4/), Video2Pod (http://http://www.onlymac.de/html/video2pod_en.html) , podner (http://http://www.splasm.com/products/productpodner.html) will all do the job for free or around a third of the price of QT Pro. Be warned..H264 encoding is insanely slow.

[WTSHNN]

Damn, sorry, forgot to mention, on a PC, with XP.

[ffooky]

OK then, try this (http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1401591&highlight=ipod#1401591) or maybe this (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=AutoAC).

[WTSHNN]

I have gotten the Videora program to convert some files, but so far it's only properly converted about 3/4 of the videos I've had it do, so I'm going to screw around with it some more.
Thanks for the help!
-Tim

[hesterthe13th]

I've had a lot of luck using Handbrake & Forty-two DVDVX-Plus. Both are mac programs, though. Check the discussion forums over at apple.com. They've had a ton of posts with suggestions for people on PC's.

http://discussions.info.apple.com/[email protected]@.68bba16e

Also check out this thread at the ilounge

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?threadid=123067

FYI, quicktime pro will do it the best, but it's super slow. Also, mpeg 4 is faster but H264 is much better quality imo.

[hesterthe13th]

FYI, re: speed of encoding.

Using handbrake on my 1ghz Powerbook G4 I can encode mp4 in just about realtime and h.264 takes about realtime x 3.

[u2rulesmyworldisanasshole]

Hey Time did any of the mp4 clips you shot with my sony play on the ipod?

[WTSHNN]

Hey Tim did any of the mp4 clips you shot with my sony play on the ipod?

Nope, I can get them to play in iTunes, but they won't synch with the iPod.

[hesterthe13th]

Those digicam clips could be viewed on the ipod if you scaled the resolution down to 320 x 240.