.mov to iPod -- how long to convert?

Question

.mov to iPod -- how long to convert?

I imported a short movie into Quicktime Pro v7, then saved it as a .mov file.

When I exported it to "iPod" format, it took 3 hours. The original file is 150MB and 11 minutes long. Is this export time correct?

If not, what are some of the things I can do to make it export faster.

Thanks,
~CB

Various G5s, G4s & iMacs Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Dec 25, 2005 5:39 PM

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Answer 1

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,597 points

Dec 25, 2005 5:57 PM in response to Community User

Depending on the speed of the computer you're doing it on, that could be right. The coded used for the smallest best looking file takes a LOT of time to encode. There are other tools out there (some free, like iSquint) that are supposed to compress at the same quality but up to 5 times faster, so you may want to try those to see if it's any faster. Then compare the file size and the output quality and if everything's ok, then you've got another option! 🙂

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Answer 2

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Dec 25, 2005 7:21 PM in response to Community User

That time seems oddly long. On a dual G5 2.5 I convert MPEG-2 to H264 in real time at 1/2 size , 30 FPS and a 2000 kbps bitrate at 20 FPS.

On a Dual G4, 2X real time. So 11 to 22 minutes.

What settings are you using? Just the stock (preset iPod) ones? What codec is the original in?

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Answer 3

Dec 26, 2005 6:54 AM in response to Ricktoronto

Thanks for the responses. Here's more details:

• The computer is a very stable 1.25GHz iBook with 1.5GB RAM running OS 10.4.3
• The video is 11:30 minutes in length and the original files are a total of 740MB in size.
• The original files on the DVD were in .bup, .ifo, and .vob formats.
• I used HandBrake to convert these files to MPEG-4 format. See http://handbrake.m0k.org/ for more details.
• Time to convert original DVD files to .mp4 format was about 1 hour.
• Then used Quicktime Pro to open the .mp4 and saved it as a "stand alone" .mov file. This took only a few seconds. This file is 11:30 minutes in length and is 150MB in size (same as the .mp4 file).
• Then used Quicktime to "export" the file to "iPod format". There are no option settings for this export.
• Time to convert .mov file to iPod format: 3 hours

The .mov file actually looks much better on the computer than the DVD, and the converted clip looks great on the iPod. Sound quality appears to be the same. Overall I'm pleased with the results, I just think the time to convert the .mov file to iPod format can be improved.

I think the Handbrake conversion is where my problem arises. There are a myriad of settings, and I followed the tutorial for merely converting to an .mp4 of the same screen size. It's here that things like "bit rate" can be changed and, according to the HandBrake tutorial, this can affect a video's playback drastically. Obviously, this needs to be played with more by me.

I just thought that a 3-hour conversion to iPod format was too long for a 11:30 minute clip.

Any more help or advice is apprciated.
~CB

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Answer 4

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,597 points

Dec 26, 2005 10:18 AM in response to Ricktoronto

Rick,

QuickTime's "Export to iPod" wouldn't give you a 2000kbps file because those wouldn't play on an iPod, would it? I was under the impression that for H.264, the limit is 768kbps.

I agree, other manual settings are faster, but I've got a Dual G5 2.0 and "Export to iPod isn't real time there either.

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Answer 5

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Dec 26, 2005 10:41 AM in response to Kyn Drake

The bitrate affects quality and should not affect time a whole lot frankly unless it is so low it is trying to figure out for hours how to compress to something so small.

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Answer 6

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Dec 26, 2005 10:45 AM in response to Community User

I woudl skip handbrake entirely (and have) in favour of Mac the Ripper to get the VOB's and MPEG Streamclip 1.5.1 to make iPod clips. It does a fine job and doesn't take 3 hours for 11 minutes of MPEG . You can resize easily and while I don't encode to iPod format it does have an iPod preset, no need to fuss over the settings, though they are easy as pie to set manually. BTW H264 is overkill for iPod and can take 10-20X longer than MP4 which looks as good, it is just bigger as it has a higher bitrate than H264. But I can encode to iPod size MP4 at maybe 20X real time.

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Answer 7

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,597 points

Dec 26, 2005 11:26 AM in response to Ricktoronto

That's exactly what I think is going on. Apple's isn't geared towards speed at all, so manual settings won't even come close to taking as long as "Export to iPod". I believe in addition to the dual pass that there's some intelligent filtering going on as well.

Have you tried "Exporting to iPod" instead of using your manual settings to see if a 2.5 can achieve realtime speeds?

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Answer 8

Dec 26, 2005 12:23 PM in response to Ricktoronto

Rick,

You misunderstand. My concern is about the length of time it takes for Quicktime to convert a simple file from .mov format to "iPod" format using Quicktime Pro. The "export" command for this has no variables or other settings, it's a one-shot deal. What's a normal amount of time for QT to convert an 11 minute video to iPod format?

~CB

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Answer 9

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,597 points

Dec 26, 2005 12:46 PM in response to Community User

Yeah, if you're doing "Export to iPod", that's how long it takes. If you're like me, you may feel like fiddling under the hood with the settings every now and then but for the most part, you'll want something that just works. Export to iPod has always worked for me and you end up with smaller files than you get with MPEG-4 compression so it will play longer in your iPod (smaller files load more into memory, needs to spin up the HD less.

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Answer 10

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Dec 26, 2005 2:55 PM in response to Community User

I would not use QT presets in lieu of the so called expert settings in which you can set the bitrate and size limits, audio codec and turn off 2 pass - if they are doing that talk about overkill for a 2 1/2" screen. MP4 with the limits set by hand is a simple and very fast method with QT.

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Answer 11

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Dec 26, 2005 2:57 PM in response to Kyn Drake

I would not use the preset at all Kyn. I use MPEG Streamclip pretty well all the time and it lets you make your own which allows a library of many for different purposes.

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Answer 12

Dec 26, 2005 3:12 PM in response to Ricktoronto

TUAW posted this article on optimum settings for iPods with Video.

mrtotes

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Answer 13

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,597 points

Dec 26, 2005 7:20 PM in response to Ricktoronto

I understand, but I also just recently compared an MPEG Streamclip converted video with one that I converted with QuickTime by using MPEG Streamclip first to export as Animation and then sending that video through QuickTime. The difference is quite apparent as MPEG Streamclip's scaling filter seems to be a bit more granular than QuickTime's (aliasing seen on animation content, may also appear on thin lines (power lines, etc) for regular content).

Even on a plain television, the difference between the two is readily apparent. In preliminary tests with iSquint, it's output is closer to the quality of QuickTime, but I've yet to try to get the same file size using iSquint, so I can't say for sure if I would replace QuickTime completely yet.

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Answer 14

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,597 points

Dec 26, 2005 7:28 PM in response to Ricktoronto

For a beginner that just wants good quality output and not be concerned about whether or not it's going to go onto the iPod, I'd ding QuickTime for taking so long, but the H.264 dual pass output is very high on desirability in that

The files are smaller so you can watch more video on the go...I wonder how quickly the faster, fatter content runs down the battery since Apple's specifications are for H.264 content (video capacity is based on 4 minutes per H.264 750-Kbps video combined with 128-Kbps audio)

The files look great on the iPod AND scales well for television viewing.

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Answer 15

Dec 27, 2005 7:08 AM in response to Community User

So, consensus shows that "Export to iPod" in QuickTime Pro is a very slow process but effective with good results.

Others bypass QuickTime's export command and use a stand-alone app such as HandBrake, iSquint or Mac the Ripper to rip a DVD's directly to an iPod compatible video file.

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