iPod video tutorial for Mac

[blick2000]

This is a tutorial explaining how to convert your mov mpeg ect. files to ipod compatiably h.264 on a mac. I discovered that quicktime pro cuts out the sound track of some of my movies. This method is free and does not have that problem.

theory why some videos wont work: Perhaps ffmpegX will not convert framerates from 25 to 29.97 fps. I'm just leaving the framerates the same and hoping they will work.

http://www.3ivx.com/download/macos.html

The software to use is ffmpegX which is pretty amazing.

Download it here:
http://homepage.mac.com/major4/

The software instructs you to download 3 other files. Uncompress them and place them in a good spot (documents ect). Then use the locate button to select each of them.

Fire up ffmpegX and select your movie in the top box. Select your destination in the box below it. I like to add an = sign next to ipod encoded movies.

Select mp4 h.264 in the to field.


Click video and make the dimensions 320 x 240



You can change the sound bitrate to a higher level or try a diffrent encoding, but what I think I used here is fine.

Click encode and start waiting!

After it encodes in FF you need to encode it again using qt pro. Open up the ffed file and export it to ipod. This seems really roundabout, but it will work until someone makes a just for ipod conversion software.

(I dont have my pod yet to make sure this works but the settings match apple's requirements)

Another way to convert movies is to use quicktime pro. Use a program like Audio Hijack by rouge amoeba to record the sound to the video clip. Open up the sound recording in quicktime and do "select all" "Copy" then click on the video clip. Select add to movie. You may have to move and trim the sound clip untill it is in sych with the video. It may sound a little echoy because you have the original sound track and the added soundtrack, but that will go away when you export because the original soundtrack goes away. Then use the export to ipod. For some reason quicktime does not convert and detect muxed audio, so this method adds a audio track for qt to detect and convert.

Post comments or question and I will try to improve this!


Edit: fixed picture links.

[B. W.]

Alternatively, you could use a program called HandBrake. EDIT: I stand corrected. Thanks morganw. Handbrake will not work, without some compiling.

Either application should get the job done.

It's times like this I really wish I had a Mac.. *Sigh*

[Maxman]

I know honestly... So mac users only have to use one program and we have to use 4 or so different programs. And ours can take a few hours.

BTW, correct me if I'm wrong. I didn't read the stuff in much detail.

[blick2000]

It takes about twice as long as the video clip itself.

[Moht]

Using OSX 10.4.2 I've had no success with either ffmpegx (it just says it's complete instantly but never makes the new video file) nor HandBrake (it's never able to detect a valid title from dvd's, dvd images or dvd folders on the hard drive).

It's driving me mad!!!!

[blick2000]

whoops! The second picture is inncorrect! Underr framerate it should show "NTSC 29.95" not 30.


Another way to convert movies is to use quicktime pro. Use a program like Audio Hijack by rouge amoeba to record the sound to the video clip. Open up the sound recording in quicktime and do "select all" "Copy" then click on the video clip. Select add to movie. You may have to move and trim the sound clip untill it is in sych with the video. It may sound a little echoy because you have the original sound track and the added soundtrack, but that will go away when you export because the original soundtrack goes away. Then use the export to ipod. For some reason quicktime does not convert and detect muxed audio, so this method adds a audio track for qt to detect and convert.

[andy206uk]

strange... i downloaded handbrake and it works a charm (as does ffmpeg). Handbrake lets you crop films to fit rather than stretching them and messing up the ratio which I think is great.

Perhaps you guys are doing something wrong.

[Moht]

Obviously.... but what! The forums for both programs are almost never updated- the general vibe seems to be that OSX 10.4 may be the problem?

[andy206uk]

I doubt its related to 10.4 as that's what I use on my computer here and it's working fine. I'm not sure how to troubleshoot the problem as I'm not a video expert. Are you using a normal out of the box mac setup or do you have any custom dvd drives in the machine?

(I've done my ripping on a 1.2ghz 12" iBook and a 1.4ghz Mac mini).

In handbrake I do the following:

+ launch handbrake
+ select 'detected volume' from the menu that appears when it loads (shows /dev/rdisk1)
+ click open (it scans the disk)
+ select the longest title from the drop down (the longest is usually the movie)
+ select mp4 as file type (top right)
+ from codecs select 'mpeg-4 video / AAC Audio '
+ click picture settings (bottom right)
+ untick 'keep aspect ratio'
+ select width & height to 320 x 240 (ipod resolution)
+ (if you prefer a nonsquished view you can use the crop feature & leave aspect ratio ticked)
+ hit 'close'
+ hit 'rip'
+ wait for ages while handbrake rips the movie.

That should be it...

[Moht]

Thanks Andy- I was doing all that but now you've put it in writing it's decided to start working!

Maybe installing the extra components with FFMPEG helped? I dunno, it's got me confused but seems to work now (handbrake, that is).

[Moht]

Nope, it was just the Young Ones disc I was trying to compress.

[andy206uk]

The Young Ones? (as in the bbc comedy staring ade edmunson and rik mayal?) That kicks ###! (but not as much as Bottom!). I'm a big fan of Rik, in fact I live in the same town as his parents. Strangely I was ripping Drop Dead Fred just yesterday

[Moht]

That's the one... but it won't be on my iPod unless handbrake release some bug fixes soon!!!

[blick2000]

DAMNIT All this conversion and none of the videos work on my ipod.

[andy206uk]

Is that a subtle way of saying 'my 5G iPod just arrived' ?