HandBrake vs QTPRO export vs MPEG Streamclip vs 42DVD-VXPlus

I've been tinkering with the 5G iPod for 24 hours straight now, referring to this discussion board when I needed help. So here's what I've learned that should help people trying to get DVDs and mpegs into the 5G.

FOR DVDs

You need to use handbrake and when it's finished ripping your DVD (be patient and wait for it to finish finalizing until it says "Done" in the handbrake window). You can find out how to adjust the settings elsewhere on this site. I did a post a little earlier somewhere else with specific details. I guess just try and search whatever strider15 has posted (that's me).

DON'T USE 42DVD-VXPlus for anything DVD's or mpegs. It is the easiest to use of the 4 programs in the topic heading, but the quality is attrocious. And especially don't buy the upgrade (although it's tempting b/c of ease of use and user friendliness) b/c if it's anything like the demo (which of course it is) the quality is horrific. It will play, but it's not pleasing. So I would say that on the whole for now, stay away from the 42DVD-VXPlus Program until they up the quality of the conversions.

To convert from mpeg to mpeg4 use MPEG Streamclip and convert the mpeg into an AVI so you can get sound. Then you must open in QTPRO and export to ipod.

Pro:: Quality is Fantastic.

Con: It takes flippin' super long to export to ipod in QTPRO, but as of right now this is the only way that I can find to get high quality mpegs converted to mpeg-4s and then the itunes video file .m4v. I hope they fix this in the very near future with a killer update.

IF YOU TRY TO EXPORT AN MPEG TO THE IPOD IN QTPRO YOU WILL NOT HAVE AUDIO PLAYBACK. YOU NEED TO USE THE MPEG STREAMCLIP AND EXPORT THE MPEG TO AVI THEN EXPORT THE AVI IN QTPRO TO THE IPOD. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET YOUR ORIGINAL MPEG WITH SOUND AS FAR AS I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR AND HAVE HIGH QUALITY VIDEO SIMULTANEOUSLY.

HANDBRAKE ONLY WORKS WITH DVDs or VIDEO_TS Folders. You cannot convert mpeg to mpeg-4 in HandBrake.

And remember you have to change the .mp4 to .m4v to play the file in itunes. Only when the video file has been uploaded in itunes as a .m4v file will it play in itunes6.

JUST REMEMBER .MP4 (QUICKTIME FILE) NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO .M4V (ITUNES FILE) SO IT CAN PLAYED IN ITUNES6. BE PATIENT WHEN AND IT WILL ALL WORK. THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO CATCH UP WITH THE IPOD AND I'M SURE IT WILL SOON.

Good Luck everyone. Thank you for all of your help, and I hope I have helped in return.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU ALL...

NOW I'LL GO EAT SOMETHING...

Posted on Oct 24, 2005 5:18 PM

Reply
9 replies

Oct 25, 2005 6:58 AM in response to strider15

I find the quality to be quite good for 42dvd-vxplus, maybe your not using the best settings. Remember you can use up to 768 kbs, and its best to select widescreen, if you have the time use 2 pass encoding. And for the ipod use h.264 (avc) encoding. I haven't even tried mp4 on 42dvd-vxplus the avc looks so good.

I don't seem to have any of the problems you do. I've been using 42dvd-vxplus for a few days now, I especially like the ability to queue up files. There is one nasty bug, if you try to cancel an encode, exit the program, otherwise it does some weird stuff and never gets to the next file to encode in the queue.

Oct 25, 2005 7:07 AM in response to Walter Cannon

I agree, Walter. Im quite impressed with Forty-TwoDVD-VXPlus. Its easy to use & super fast & I havent noticed any quality issues whatsoever. In fact, the h264 (AVC) setting makes great looking video for me.

Strider, try messing around with the settings a little. In fact, just leave the Desired Output Size window blank & see what that does for you.

Oct 25, 2005 8:08 AM in response to Community User

I'm wondering if he installed the 3ivx codec, In my haste yesterday on the macmini I may of too, I think I might check the library/quicktime folder to see if I did.

I've heard some stuff that that may not be a good codec to use. AND I don't think you need it for avc.

I don't think I installed that on the Imac g5.

I think I just have too many computers.

2 mac mins
1 imac g5
1 ancient powermac
1 powerbook g4

2 windows mce machines one is a hp 545
2 old pcs as servers
1 laptop

I never throw anything out, just use everything I have.

Oct 25, 2005 8:22 PM in response to strider15

I just tried using HandBrake to rip 1 DVD movie but have problem copying it to Itunes 6.1

Question ................
JUST REMEMBER .MP4 (QUICKTIME FILE) NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO .M4V (ITUNES FILE)
SO IT CAN PLAYED IN ITUNES6. BE PATIENT WHEN AND IT WILL ALL WORK. THE
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO CATCH UP WITH THE IPOD AND I'M SURE IT WILL SOON.

Can I simply rename the file eg: xxxx.mp4 to xxxx.m4v and move it to Itunes 6.1? or I need another conversion here? Appreciate anyone's help ....million thanks!

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HandBrake vs QTPRO export vs MPEG Streamclip vs 42DVD-VXPlus

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