Annemarie Reitsma
Level 1 (5 points)
Video

Q: Convert mov to MPEG4

What will you recommend to convert to MPEG 4 files? Want to make old "dvd" available on stick/hard drives with USB port for TV/Projectors/PC.

Thank you

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), Mac Book Pro, IPad, IPhone

Posted on Feb 13, 2015 3:10 AM

by Russ H,Solvedanswer
Russ H Russ H
Level 7 (21,905 points)
Quicktime
A:

First you need to rip the movie from the DVD. Most people I know use either MPEG Streamclip or Handbrake. Both are free, but MPEG Streamclip will also require the purchase of the MPEG@ Quicktime Playback Component from Apple @ $20; installation of that component is a little bit of a chore. While I believe the quality of the ripped movie is better from MPEG Streamclip, Handbrake is  easier.

 

As to the best settings, I would change as little as possible in the format (resolution, frame rate). Since you're dealing with SD, I would imagine that a bit rate of about 1 to 1.5  Mb per second will be about right. Handbrake outputs a type of MP4 with x.264 codec, which may not play on your set. Because there are no universal standards for TV playback of video files, you will need to test. If it doesn't play, you should download the x.264 decoder and convert it to h.264 in either Compressor or Streamclip.

 

Good luck with the project.

 

Russ

Posted on Feb 13, 2015 4:50 AM

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Annemarie Reitsma

Q: Convert mov to MPEG4

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Russ H,Solvedanswer

    Russ H Russ H Feb 13, 2015 4:50 AM in response to Annemarie Reitsma
    Level 7 (21,905 points)
    Quicktime
    Feb 13, 2015 4:50 AM in response to Annemarie Reitsma

    First you need to rip the movie from the DVD. Most people I know use either MPEG Streamclip or Handbrake. Both are free, but MPEG Streamclip will also require the purchase of the MPEG@ Quicktime Playback Component from Apple @ $20; installation of that component is a little bit of a chore. While I believe the quality of the ripped movie is better from MPEG Streamclip, Handbrake is  easier.

     

    As to the best settings, I would change as little as possible in the format (resolution, frame rate). Since you're dealing with SD, I would imagine that a bit rate of about 1 to 1.5  Mb per second will be about right. Handbrake outputs a type of MP4 with x.264 codec, which may not play on your set. Because there are no universal standards for TV playback of video files, you will need to test. If it doesn't play, you should download the x.264 decoder and convert it to h.264 in either Compressor or Streamclip.

     

    Good luck with the project.

     

    Russ

  • by Echo Smith,

    Echo Smith Echo Smith Sep 18, 2015 2:19 AM in response to Annemarie Reitsma
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 2:19 AM in response to Annemarie Reitsma

    The first thing you need to do is to rip the videos from the DVD. I've used MacX DVD Ripper, Riplt before. Both of them are all powerful tools. After ripping the files, you need to use some comprehensive programs like Streaming Audio Recorder, Clip Converter, etc. to convert the videos to MPEG-4.