The Video for iPod video thread

[Taphil]

I thought I would make a thread to put in all talk about video for the iPod video. Sorry, but yes I know this is an audio forum

Anyway, for those who have the 5G iPod and want to try some video, here are some samples I made...

Desperate Housewives (rated TV PG), recorded digitally from HDTV at 1280x720 (HD 720p). After cutting commercials (with mpeg2vcr, which doesn't transcode the original recording when cutting), the 42 minute show was 5.4GB in side as an mpeg2 with 48kHz audio (I don't know what compression or bitrate). So what we're talking about here is better quality than DVD. Using Nero Recode 2 (part of Nero 6 Ultra), I encoded the video to two resolutions at 756kbps for video and AAC LC 160kbps 48kHz. The first sample is at 320x176 (since 320 is the width of the iPod screen); the second sample is 480x272 (since 480 is the max supported resolution for mpeg4 video). The height was made to preserve the (wide) aspect ratio of the original video. Below are two 2 minute clips.

PLEASE, SAVE MY BANDWIDTH, ONLY DOWNLOAD THE FILES IF YOU WILL TEST THEM ON YOUR 5G IPOD AND ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS.
Right-mouse click and select save as.

http://www.staind-online.com/video/D...x176_mpeg4.zip (12MB)

http://www.staind-online.com/video/D...x272_mpeg4.zip (12MB)

Keep in mind that the bitrate for both videos is the same (hence the same filesize), but the video size is different. Please tell me what you think of the video quality, and also how the two compare, on both your computer (played using QuickTime 7) and your iPod. I'd also like to know how the videos compare when viewed on a TV with S-video or composite video from the iPod. I don't have the composite cable or a TV with S-vdieo to try it myself, but I'm wondering if the extra resolution of the one file looks better than the smaller file.

Now here is a shorter clip (for a smaller file) of the same scene. This time, it was encoded at 1Mbps and the larger 480x272 size (the iPod supports mpeg4 up to 2.1Mbps)

http://www.staind-online.com/video/Desperate_1mbps.zip (6.6MB)


Since Videora can't make H.264 files that iTunes will transfer to the iPod, I can only test H.264 on my computer. When viewing a H.264 file and mpeg4 both at ~760kbps file simultaneously right next to each other, I can't tell the difference between the two. So my guess is that H.264 will look good at lower bitrates or higher resolutions (that the iPod doesn't support

), but at around 700kbps both will have similar quality.

 

[kugino]

i'll add a couple of files later as well.

but handbrake on the mac also doesn't make h.264 files that are viewable on the ipod. for now, it seems that mpeg4 will work best on the ipod.

 

[bigshot]

I'm in the process of digitizing cartoons for inclusion in a digital archive. I discovered that the compression settings I am using are perfect for the iPod. (...so I've ordered one.)

Here is a classic B&W Fleischer Popeye cartoon...

Popeye In Lil Swee Pea

See ya
Steve

 

[chrisfromalbany]

Now that I have joint the club(60 gig Black), I was interested to see if others have either good links to podcasts to download or other videos that are "ipod video ready". I also want to see what people think is the best format to store files for quality and size.

I couldn't tell the differences between the three files and popeye mov wouldn't work guessing isn't in the right version of mov file. I can view it in itunes just not the player.

BlassingX can you get links to the software needed to convert video files to *.mov files. I got one last night but it was a trial version. I was looking for some open source applications for XP.

I like the idea of having one centralized thread for Ipod Video discussion and links to where we can find free videos for Video ipod.

Good Convertion Thread..
http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread...ighlight=video

PC(XP) convertion Software(FREE)

This is the convertion software I am using. Basically takes anything and converts it into ipod friendly format.
(don't need videora, just the videora Converter)
http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/

 

[blessingx]

Good idea Taphil. One suggestion is if we're trying to centralize all video discussion of the new iPods, we should probably mentioned the OS in use. As opposed to audio where the majority would use the same prog (iTunes, though obviously there are alternatives), on the video front the Windows and OS X people are going to be using very different tools (Videora, Handbrake, etc.), each with their own issues.

 

[bigshot]

I discovered that the H.264 exported by Apple's own Compressor isn't correct for the iPod. That's why the Popeye won't work. I did a little experimentation and found out that with Compressor, you have to export as an MPEG-4. It comes out about double the size of the streaming H.264. Hopefully, Apple will update Compressor soon. Quicktime isn't an option for me, because it won't batch process.

See ya
Steve

 

[SK138]

I am using this product with great success and great speed:
http://kaisakura.com/fortytwovx.php



Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot I discovered that the H.264 exported by Apple's own Compressor isn't correct for the iPod. That's why the Popeye won't work. I did a little experimentation and found out that with Compressor, you have to export as an MPEG-4. It comes out about double the size of the streaming H.264. Hopefully, Apple will update Compressor soon. Quicktime isn't an option for me, because it won't batch process. See ya Steve