On BNET:
IE users envy Firefox no more
Get more done with Windows Mobile
Music Center: CNET's guide to digital audio
How to convert video for the iPod
By Jasmine France
(November 9, 2005)
While the Apple iPod isn't the first portable device to support digital video playback, it's probably the one device that will push portable video into the mainstream. Of course, a key draw of the iPod as a portable video player (PVP) is the fact that its complementing software, iTunes, offers a cheap, easy, and legal way to get content that will play on the device. But what if you already own the video files you'd like to watch but don't play back on the iPod? You could use Apple's simple QuickTime Pro tutorial (you'll need the $29.99 QuickTime Pro 7), but then you'd be limited to the file types that QuickTime supports. If you want the ability to convert from the full gamut of video file types, check out the tutorial below.
Required attention span: 5 to 10 minutes for the initial setup; time varies for conversion based on the length of each video Ingredients
Before you start, you'll need to gather these elements:
Follow these simple steps
More resources
Required attention span: 5 to 10 minutes for the initial setup; time varies for conversion based on the length of each video Ingredients
Before you start, you'll need to gather these elements:
AVS Video Converter (free to try, $29.95 to buy; Windows only)
Video files, almost any size, shape, or format
Video-capable iPod
Follow these simple steps
1
Download AVS Video Converter.
You can try out the Windows-only Video Converter for free, but a watermark will appear throughout your video. If you're serious about converting video, purchase the program for $29.95; the variety of supported file formats makes it worth it.
You can try out the Windows-only Video Converter for free, but a watermark will appear throughout your video. If you're serious about converting video, purchase the program for $29.95; the variety of supported file formats makes it worth it.
2
3
Select output file type.
Click the To MOV button along the top of the interface. When creating a video for the iPod, always select the QuickTime file format (MOV).
Click the To MOV button along the top of the interface. When creating a video for the iPod, always select the QuickTime file format (MOV).
4
Choose video file.
Click the uppermost Browse button on the right. Navigate to the location where you keep your video files, and select the video that you would like to convert. Click Open.
Click the uppermost Browse button on the right. Navigate to the location where you keep your video files, and select the video that you would like to convert. Click Open.
5
Select the output location.
Click the bottom Browse button on the right. Choose the location where you would like to save your converted video file. Click Save.
Click the bottom Browse button on the right. Choose the location where you would like to save your converted video file. Click Save.
6
Adjust the settings.
Click the Edit Profile button on the right and fill in the following information:
Click the Edit Profile button on the right and fill in the following information:
- Name: QuickTime--for iPod
- Description: Video: MPEG-4, FrameRate: 30 fps, Frame Size: 320x240, Audio: AAC LC - 128, 44100, Stereo
- Comment: (optional)
- Video Format: MPEG-4--high quality
- Frame size: 320x240
- Audio Format: MP2/4(AAC LC) 128Kbps
- File Type: MOV
- Framerate: 30fps
- Width: 320
- Height: 240
- Frequency: 44,100Hz
- Channels: Stereo
7
Convert video.
Click Convert Now and step away from the computer (processor performance will be seriously affected during conversion). If you want to watch the progress while you convert, click the Advanced button until the viewing screen pops out of the bottom.
Note: AVS converted our original 22-minute MPEG-4 file at a rate slightly faster than real time on an Intel 2.8GHz P4 system with 1GB of RAM. Our source file was 224MB, and our resulting iPod-compatible file was 199MB.
Click Convert Now and step away from the computer (processor performance will be seriously affected during conversion). If you want to watch the progress while you convert, click the Advanced button until the viewing screen pops out of the bottom.
Note: AVS converted our original 22-minute MPEG-4 file at a rate slightly faster than real time on an Intel 2.8GHz P4 system with 1GB of RAM. Our source file was 224MB, and our resulting iPod-compatible file was 199MB.
8
Transfer video to the iPod.
Open Apple iTunes 6 and drag the newly converted video file to the library window. If you have selected "Automatically update all videos" for the video preferences for your iPod, the new video will automatically transfer when you connect the player. If you have selected "Automatically update the selected playlists only," make sure that you drag the new video to one of the selected playlists.
Note: You'll probably want to update the information of the video when you move it to the iTunes library. To do this, select Videos from the left-hand column and go to list view. Then, click the file for which you want to edit info and select Get Info from the File menu (or simply right-click). You can edit the boxes found under the Info tab.
CNET's resident iPod plays back the newly converted video.
Open Apple iTunes 6 and drag the newly converted video file to the library window. If you have selected "Automatically update all videos" for the video preferences for your iPod, the new video will automatically transfer when you connect the player. If you have selected "Automatically update the selected playlists only," make sure that you drag the new video to one of the selected playlists.
Note: You'll probably want to update the information of the video when you move it to the iTunes library. To do this, select Videos from the left-hand column and go to list view. Then, click the file for which you want to edit info and select Get Info from the File menu (or simply right-click). You can edit the boxes found under the Info tab.
CNET's resident iPod plays back the newly converted video.
More resources
Play music from your CD collection on your iPod by ripping CDs into MP3s.
Make sure all your song info is up to date by editing ID3 tags.
TalkBack
22 messages
Article discussion: How to convert video for the iPod
Latest post:
" How to convert DVD and video to iPod touch, iPod"
http://www.dvdtoipodtouch.org (Read more).
by heshiliaote (See profile) - March 4, 2008 2:52 AM PST
I like this guide here, it works well for me:http://www.dvdtoipodtouch.org (Read more).
SUPER is free and much better than AVS
Nice guide, but SUPER is a totally free video converter that can convert any vid... (Read more)by honghui_2006 (See profile) - January 21, 2008 12:32 AM PST
ITunes sucks nuts for converting video
It takes FOREVER to convert video and ITunes cannot convert many file formats to... (Read more)by DuoBartonBA (See profile) - September 30, 2007 7:00 PM PDT
iTunes does the same job
iTunes provided by Apple does the same job free of cost therefore I think we nee... (Read more)by kulandy (See profile) - February 15, 2007 9:55 PM PST
Free software recommendation?
Why don't you guys post a freeware that does the same thing? There are a few pro... (Read more)by LiK (See profile) - October 16, 2006 8:54 AM PDT
10 out of 10 users found this comment helpful
|
1
comment
(NT) i like cnet cause can get the software as what i w
by Kenneth Tan (See profile) - July 8, 2006 2:44 AM PDT
(NT) i would like to download the convert video to my i
by Kenneth Tan (See profile) - July 8, 2006 1:45 AM PDT
As if... the recommended program isn't good at all
Try this: http://www.ipod-video-converter.org/It's great, has all the co... (Read more)
by lbut (See profile) - June 5, 2006 9:27 AM PDT
0 out of 5 users found this comment helpful
The easiest way.....
Sell the silly IPOD and get an Archos AV 420 or 500. These units let you record... (Read more)by Chris131 (See profile) - November 12, 2005 5:32 PM PST
Yes...
If the DVDs don't have Macrovision protection, then you should be able to rip th... (Read more)
by Jasmineflower 
(See profile) - November 10, 2005 10:10 AM PST
Popular on CNET Networks: Akon|Free Music Downloads|Game Cheats|Heroes|Parenting|PC Games|Prison Break|PS3|Recipes|Wii|Xbox 360
Copyright ©2008 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy policy|Terms of use
