Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, Video, Tips and tricks
Compressing iPod Video: Finding the Perfect Fit
As Scott's previous post notes, there are a lot of different pieces of software popping up to help you get good quality video on your iPod. I've been looking at several of these and sampling several files I've found online via bittorrent to see what kind of settings result in good quality.I've used Handbrake, Forty-TwoDVD-VXPlus, QuickTime, iPSP (PSP-formatted MPEG4 files play nicely on the iPod), DigiGami MovieToGo, Apple's Compressor, DiVa, DivX Doctor II, and ffmpegX to try to find that perfect iPod video format. More and more, however, I'm starting to think that the solution lies in higher resolution MPEG4 files, rather than in h.264, simply because the h.264 support on the iPod is limited to 320x240 and the MPEG4 support says it's up to 480, although people have reported success with files in the 740 range. This MacOSXHint would seem to agree, and in the comments to that hint, you'll find instructions for building your own custom version of Handbrake specifically for converting straight to iPod capable video. Even better, somebody over at Accelerate Your Macintosh! did all the legwork for you and is offering that specially compiled version of Handbrake for you via his .Mac space [link].
I just watched a copy of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children with English Subtitles that I grabbed off of bittorrent. I plugged my iPod into the TV and watched the entire thing without noticing any artifacts. It was encoded in MPEG4, 128kbps bit rate, 44.1khz sample rate, and weighed in at 480.5MBs for an hour and forty minutes worth of video.
What's your magic encoding incantation of choice?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric said 2:40PM on 11-02-2005
Give iSquint a shot.
http://homepage.mac.com/tylerl82/
It uses ffmpeg so it will also do avi and mpeg. I successfully converted a HR HDTV XVid avi and it worked great. And it is FREE.
It only does MPEG4 for now.
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adam said 3:37PM on 11-02-2005
Nothing so far, whatever I try ends up with audio/video sync problems. I know I'm not the only one with these problems, but don't understand how so many people don't have this issue.
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BD said 4:10PM on 11-02-2005
Another vote for iSquint. It's speedy, handles way more video types than Quicktime, and is simpler than ffmpegx. And so far, the developer seems (with a certain degree of complaint) to be updating it in response to user requests. The big thing missing, for all non-quicktime based encoders (ie, ffmpeg-based), is a H.264 option that actually works (though the Handbrake hackers seems to have gotten it going).
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Nic Olinsky said 4:28PM on 11-02-2005
I was hoping this would be the article that would clear the fog of confusion, but I again disappointed. First, you say "I'm starting to think that the solution lies in higher resolution MPEG4 files, rather than in h.264, simply because the h.264 support on the iPod is limited to 320x240 and the MPEG4 support says it's up to 480, although people have reported success with files in the 740 range."
That's great that is my conclusion too. The difference in resolution with MPEG4 has to do with total amount of pixels.
That;s is where the confusion starts, the modified version of Handbrake, along with all the "one-click" iPod video converters make h.264 files which can be 320 pixels wide. So, while playing with MPEG math, you can get great looking movies which are bigger than 320x240, everyone who comes out with short cuts to make iPod capaable files are creating the smaller resolution files.
I want to the "one-click" method applied to the MPEG4s, so I can convert painlessly and without terminal delay of using QT7 Pro.
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Enric said 5:02PM on 11-02-2005
I was using 3ivx dual pass encoding from Final Cut Pro (can also do it from Quicktime Pro) on Quicktime 6.52. To my surprise the movies work also on the iPod and I find the quality and size produced optimal.
-- Enric
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Enric said 5:04PM on 11-02-2005
I was using 3ivx dual pass encoding from Final Cut Pro (can also do it from Quicktime Pro) on Quicktime 6.52. To my surprise the movies work also on the iPod and I find the quality and size produced optimal.
-- Enric
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Eddie said 7:13PM on 11-02-2005
Number 4 Post - Adam
"Nothing so far, whatever I try ends up with audio/video sync problems. I know I'm not the only one with these problems, but don't understand how so many people don't have this issue."
I am having problems like this but only with downloaded torrents that have variable bit rate audio (VBR) that is something other than the regular. (ie: 126, 131, 133) They work fine as an avi, but losses it's sync when transcoded. That's the only difference I can find in my working videos and out-of-sync ones.
I personally use ffmpegx and it's great. I will try that handbrake (custom) version. I did try isquint and it does work really well, I just wish it had batch encoding. So I can set them all up before I go to bed.
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Mikataur said 7:15PM on 11-02-2005
Before anyone goes dissing H.264, it has to be understood that at the same given bit rate, H.264 will result in a superior image.
If compressing solely for viewing on the iPod, H.264 is ideal as it creates razor sharp pictures with far less of the banding and blocks that can be seen with MPEG-4, particularly at low bit rates (384 kbps).
Another factor: do not make comparisons based on scaled video. Many people have been playing various formats with the widescreen setting off "because it lets me see it closer." That's wrong. Scaling by any amount will inherently reduce the sharpness. If you want 4:3 full frame, CROP the source first, don't scale it.
As for slowness of encoding, using the patched Handbrake which creates compatible H.264 for the iPod, my dual G5 2.5 can encode a full-length DVD movie in less than an hour. Both processors kick in for some major encoding action!
The trick is to first rip the DVD to hard disk using MacTheRipper (about 20 mins depending on the speed of your drive). Then use Handbrake and follow the following tips:
- choose a destination file, name it with a .m4v extension
- select H.264/AVC (Handbreake will often default back to MPEG-4)
- for a cinematic movie in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, go to Picture Settings > Custom Crop and crop the picture horizontally by 158 pixels each side for 4:3 fullframe, or 90 pixels each side for 16:9 widescreen (either is a better experience than a tiny 2.35:1 on the iPod screen)
- adjust the average bit rate to around 384-400 kbps. That is quite low, but it can still produce good results because H.264 is a fantastic codec.
- for anything other than an "archive quality, pristine rip" you can just use the 1-pass setting. Many tutorials say "you must use 2-pass" but that's mostly purists talking. Yes, it's better, but it will slow the encoding down substantially. For most material, 1-pass is good enough, unless it must be as good as it can be and you can leave it processing for a few hours.
- Rip the file, then drop the .m4v directly onto the iTunes icon in the Dock. It will go straight into your Videos list ready for synching with the iPod.
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Mikataur said 7:24PM on 11-02-2005
I should just add for clarity in case you're unfamiliar with Handbrake's Picture Settings:
- click the up/down arrows to change the numbers
- FIRST adjust the Custom Crop: the vertical crop is usually automatically detected, but increase the horizontal crop from 0 to 158 pixels each side for 4:3 fullscreen on the iPod, or 90 pixels each side for 16:9 widescreen.
- THEN adjust the width to 320. The height should adjust automatically to either 240 (4:3) or 176 (16:9). (If it's 128, then you've left it at 2.35:1 and you'll be squinting.)
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Adam said 8:48PM on 11-02-2005
Eddie - I've been using DVD decrypter or torrent files, into Videora for Windows or Quicktime Pro. (I'm a windows guy) Oh, and Auto GK (Gordian Knot) which takes a DVD and makes it into a nice AVI, that of course won't convert properly either.
I think it does have to do with the VBR audio, but have tried solutions based on that, like using VirtualDub or QT to export the audio track as a separate file then join them back up, but it still doesn't work.
Hopefully someone will come up with a solution that will fix this.
Need to keep experimenting till I find something that works.
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Adam said 9:34AM on 11-03-2005
ok, DVD devcrypter to single VOB file and then into Videora iPod converter works for me. And I'm a very happy camper right now! :-) And it works pretty quickly too (comparitively speaking)
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