iPod Ripping DVDs to 5G iPod (iPod Video): Steps That Work!

[milo]

iTunes can convert virtually any video file into an iPod compatible video. Go ahead and rip the DVD at any resolution and quality you want. Set up a place to store you "originals" so you ahve the high-res version someplace (I have a second hard drive for just this very type of occurence). Then just drag the file into iTunes, right click, and chose "Convert Selection for iPod".

Good idea, but many movies can't be dragged into iTunes. Looks like 7 only allows adding some movies, and not all that QT can play. For those, you might have to use QT pro to do the same conversion.

Also, iTunes and QT won't convert files correctly if audio and video are combined in one Mpeg2 muxed track. iSquint will convert, but only to the old 320x240 format, I don't know of any free apps that do the new one yet.

Anyone have a good/simple recommendation for a full DVD rez ripping solution/settings that QT can open and convert?

 

[GFLPraxis]

Good idea, but many movies can't be dragged into iTunes. Looks like 7 only allows adding some movies, and not all that QT can play. For those, you might have to use QT pro to do the same conversion.

Also, iTunes and QT won't convert files correctly if audio and video are combined in one Mpeg2 muxed track. iSquint will convert, but only to the old 320x240 format, I don't know of any free apps that do the new one yet.

Anyone have a good/simple recommendation for a full DVD rez ripping solution/settings that QT can open and convert?

I'm pretty sure the advanced settings for iSquint let you specify 640x480 and a higher bitrate.

 

[milo]

I'm pretty sure the advanced settings for iSquint let you specify 640x480 and a higher bitrate.

Nope, at least not unless they released a new version in the last day.

The advanced settings have a warning saying you can't set h.264 beyond 320x240. Haven't actually tried it though.
UPDATE: Just tried it, and the movie turned out all garbled. Looks like they need to update.

 

[Nikhil72]

I have been ripping DVDs into high quality H.264 and then using the export to iPod option. It works well and has significantly fewer artifacts than ripping to MP4 and then converting.

 

[weldon]

I have been ripping DVDs into high quality H.264 and then using the export to iPod option. It works well and has significantly fewer artifacts than ripping to MP4 and then converting.

What program do you use to rip and encode to H.264? And what program do you use to export to iPod? Do you use the iTunes "convert selection" tool or something else?

 

[amin]

I look forward to the day that I can do a one step to DVD res H.264. I'm sure that will be coming soon. Until then, I am satisified with my current process, which works well.

I use Handbrake with the following options:

- Framerate: Same as source
- Encoder: FFmpeg
- Quality: Average bitrate: 2200 kbps
- 2-pass encoding
- File format: MP4 file
- Codecs: MPEG-4 Video / AAC Audio
- Audio settings all at default
- Picture settings also at default (640 wide for "full frame" video, 720 wide for widescreen video, aspect ratio fixed)

Simple and effective.

 

[Nermal]

I've been doing 100% quality MPEG-4 rips in Handbrake at 640xwhatever

I've done some "100%" rips and they've been noticeably worse quality than the originals

 

[milo]

I look forward to the day that I can do a one step to DVD res H.264. I'm sure that will be coming soon. Until then, I am satisified with my current process, which works well.

I use Handbrake with the following options:

- Framerate: Same as source
- Encoder: FFmpeg
- Quality: Average bitrate: 2200 kbps
- 2-pass encoding
- File format: MP4 file
- Codecs: MPEG-4 Video / AAC Audio
- Audio settings all at default
- Picture settings also at default (640 wide for "full frame" video, 720 wide for widescreen video, aspect ratio fixed)

Simple and effective.

And those files play on an iPod? Looks like that is a one step process.

 

[balamw]

And those files play on an iPod? Looks like that is a one step process.

But it's MPEG-4 not H.264...

Given that Apple seems to be messing with H.264 and their baseline LC profile, it might be better to stick w/MPEG-4 for a while anyhow...

B

 

[MacinJosh]

But it's MPEG-4 not H.264...

Given that Apple seems to be messing with H.264 and their baseline LC profile, it might be better to stick w/MPEG-4 for a while anyhow...

B

VisualHub offers one step DVD-to-iPod in new 640x480 H.264 resolution. I've tried 720x* but iTunes won't transfer them to iPod.

Joshua.

 

[Chundles]

VisualHub offers one step DVD-to-iPod in new 640x480 H.264 resolution. I've tried 720x* but iTunes won't transfer them to iPod.

Joshua.

Yeah but it costs $$. I'd rather wait for Handbrake to be updated. QTPro exports of 100% quality HB rips is working fine (albeit very slowly on my ancient G4) for me.

 

[MacinJosh]

If one wants to watch videos on both iPod and TV, might I suggest 640x* resolutions as there is the issue of scalability.

The the iPod screen is 320x240 so 640x480 scales perfectly. However, a 720x* file does not and so a 640x* file might (and most likely will) actually look better on the iPod screen than 720x*.

Joshua.

 

[MacinJosh]

Yeah but it costs $$. I'd rather wait for Handbrake to be updated. QTPro exports of 100% quality HB rips is working fine (albeit very slowly on my ancient G4) for me.

True about cost but I find it worth it for my use. However, even if VisualHub were free, I'd rather use Handbrake for DVD rips. But I'm too impatient to wait so I use VisualHub with my DVDs as well

Joshua.

 

[milo]

If one wants to watch videos on both iPod and TV, might I suggest 640x* resolutions as there is the issue of scalability.

The the iPod screen is 320x240 so 640x480 scales perfectly. However, a 720x* file does not and so a 640x* file might (and most likely will) actually look better on the iPod screen than 720x*.

Joshua.

What do you mean, 720 does not? People have already confirmed that they've been able to play 720 movies fine on an iPod.

 

[amin]

And those files play on an iPod? Looks like that is a one step process.

They play well. One step process with a very good quality result!

 

[MacinJosh]

What do you mean, 720 does not? People have already confirmed that they've been able to play 720 movies fine on an iPod.

It's not that the iPod can't play 720x* movies. It can. What I'm talking about is scalability, how iPod displays a movie on it's 320x240 screen. Since 640x480 is 4 times as large as 320x240, it scales perfectly. However, 720x* is not of any "relation" to 320x240 and therefore does not scale as well and ultimately does not display quite as well. But this is extreme nitpicking and probably no one will ever even notice. You can try this if you have a flat screen monitor or laptop. Change the resolution to other than the native one. Notice the blurry text? That's because the display is scaling the picture.

Joshua.

 

[neonart]

It's not that the iPod can't play 720x* movies. It can. What I'm talking about is scalability, how iPod displays a movie on it's 320x240 screen. Since 640x480 is 4 times as large as 320x240, it scales perfectly. However, 720x* is not of any "relation" to 320x240 and therefore does not scale as well and ultimately does not display quite as well. But this is extreme nitpicking and probably no one will ever even notice. You can try this if you have a flat screen monitor or laptop. Change the resolution to other than the native one. Notice the blurry text? That's because the display is scaling the picture.

Joshua.

Yes, but that is scaling down when a higher resolution is native.

Scaling up does not show any issues really. I've been ripping movies at 720 and 700 , etc. for a while and they look beautiful in 320x240. If anything they look better- take a crappy blurry video from you tube for example, and run it smaller- it actually looks better.

 

[amin]

It's not that the iPod can't play 720x* movies. It can. What I'm talking about is scalability, how iPod displays a movie on it's 320x240 screen. Since 640x480 is 4 times as large as 320x240, it scales perfectly. However, 720x* is not of any "relation" to 320x240 and therefore does not scale as well and ultimately does not display quite as well. But this is extreme nitpicking and probably no one will ever even notice. You can try this if you have a flat screen monitor or laptop. Change the resolution to other than the native one. Notice the blurry text? That's because the display is scaling the picture.

Joshua.

True, but I don't see a difference between playing a 720 wide version or a 640 wide version on my iPod. Part of the reason may be that in going from a 720 wide video to 640 and then playing on a 320-wide display requires a resizing followed by scaling, whereas going from 720 to 320 requires just scaling. I imagine that the resizing bit introduces some loss of quality as well.

 

[MacinJosh]

Yes, but that is scaling down when a higher resolution is native.

Scaling up does not show any issues really. I've been ripping movies at 720 and 700 , etc. for a while and they look beautiful in 320x240. If anything they look better- take a crappy blurry video from you tube for example, and run it smaller- it actually looks better.

I'm not saying that a 720x* wouldn't look good. I knew I shouldn't have said anything about the matter because no one understands. You'd have to be a HiFi/Video purist to understand me.

Fact is: 640x* scales better to 320x240 than 720x* and no one can deny that. Whether or not one sees a difference, it's up to them to decide. And if one wants to sacrifice a little resolution for better scalability, that's also up to them to decide. I'm just making people aware of the facts. No need to argue about facts.

Joshua.

 

[milo]

You'd have to be a HiFi/Video purist to understand me.

(Aside from the fact that that's not really true...your original post made it sound like 720 doesn't scale at all, should have said that it doesn't scale perfectly like 640...)

Is a HiFi video purist really going to be watching movies on a tiny iPod screen?

 

[MacinJosh]

(Aside from the fact that that's not really true...your original post made it sound like 720 doesn't scale at all, should have said that it doesn't scale perfectly like 640...)

Is a HiFi video purist really going to be watching movies on a tiny iPod screen?

If you speak english and you read my post properly, you would see that I said that 720x* does not scale perfectly, ok?

As for a purist using an iPod. Gosh, you're absolutely right!! A true purist would drag their 50" plasma with them everywhere they go. How silly of me...

Joshua.

 

[milo]

.

 

[wizzerandchips]

did all that but says it cannot be loaded on to this ipod as it will not play???????. yet I have 4 other movies on it.

 

[dwishbone]

again.
for the new iPods.
from handbrake and other such ripper/converters
MPEG4 maximum resolution 640x480 (or the equivalent 307200 pixels)

H.264 Codec 320x240 (or the equivalent 76800 pixels)

only quicktime (and i believe virtual hub) have H.264 encoding that works at the higher 640x480 resolution. any program that uses quicktime as its encoding engine can conceivably work as well, but from what i can see most dont.

there have been work arounds and such posted on how to get H.264 at the higher rez for DVDs through a chain of programs, but for the easy one-stop solution we are just going to have to wait for Handbrake to be updated.

Update:
I just went to the handbrake forums. The new handbrake is available in alpha form only. It is a ppc binary, but will run under intel...all be it slowly.
there is one known bug with this version. supposedly it can't rip directly from a DVD. you have to use something like MactheRipper to rip and decrypt the Video_TS folder and then convert from that. ill try it both ways when i get home. because ive heard people say they cant rip DVDs straight in handbrake anyway, and ive never ever had a problem doing that.
well here it is. enjoy. be aware, early reports say the new H.264 coding is sloooooooow.
http://www.evolutionkakumei.com/HandBrake0.7.1a1PPC.zip

forum posting link here http://handbrake.m0k.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1794

 

[MacinJosh]

again.
for the new iPods.
from handbrake and other such ripper/converters
MPEG4 maximum resolution 640x480 (or the equivalent 307200 pixels)

H.264 Codec 320x240 (or the equivalent 76800 pixels)

only quicktime (and i believe virtual hub) have H.264 encoding that works at the higher 640x480 resolution. any program that uses quicktime as its encoding engine can conceivably work as well, but from what i can see most dont.

there have been work arounds and such posted on how to get H.264 at the higher rez for DVDs through a chain of programs, but for the easy one-stop solution we are just going to have to wait for Handbrake to be updated.

Update:
I just went to the handbrake forums. The new handbrake is available in alpha form only. It is a ppc binary, but will run under intel...all be it slowly.
there is one known bug with this version. supposedly it can't rip directly from a DVD. you have to use something like MactheRipper to rip and decrypt the Video_TS folder and then convert from that. ill try it both ways when i get home. because ive heard people say they cant rip DVDs straight in handbrake anyway, and ive never ever had a problem doing that.
well here it is. enjoy. be aware, early reports say the new H.264 coding is sloooooooow.
http://www.evolutionkakumei.com/HandBrake0.7.1a1PPC.zip

forum posting link here http://handbrake.m0k.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1794

iSquint has been updated to handle 640x480 H.264 for iPod.

The new Handrake that supports 640x480 H.264 for iPod is only slow in intel Macs as it is a PPC binary and runs under Rosetta. I can't say how well it performs in PPC but I suspect same as before.

Joshua.