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iPod touch Looking for estimate of size convert dvd movie to touch format

S

Shivetya

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Does anyone have any sample sizes, basically how much each minute takes up in a standard feature film when converted to the touch.

I am trying to determine if its too space consuming. I was looking at ripping some of my DvDs using my iMac to Touch format. Also, expected time to complete a single movie?
 
It really depends on the quality of the source on the DVD as well as the length of the feature. I can't give you an estimate for how much space each minute takes up, but I have some examples that will hopefully help:

I initially encode using Handbrake, and for most movies I get a file that's somewhere around 1GB in size. I then run it through iSquint with it set on quality set to 'high' and it usually cuts it down to the 500/600MB mark (or if it's just set to 'standard' quality usually 400/500MB).

The initial Handbrake encode for Transformers (almost 2 and a half hours long) was around 1.2GB, then running it through iSquint got it to around 850MB.

Compare that with A Hard Day's Night, which is fully black-and-white, standard definition and 80 minutes long. Initially after putting it through Handbrake it was approximately 800MB, then re-encoding it in iSquint cut it down to 400MB.

I know it isn't exactly what you were asking for, but I hope in offering a view of the sizes for a high definition movie that's incredibly long compared to a standard definition, low-quality film, that this has been able to help you.
 
I just started doing this as I just got my first Touch last week. I've been using DVDDecryptor to decrypt, then Handbrake with the preset iPhone/iPod Touch setting and agree with the above posters estimates.

What is iSquint? Does it cut down the quality noticably?
 
Ok I checked iSquint out and I can only find it for Mac 🙁 Anything like it for PC?

Also, will these programs work for downloads off iTunes or digital copies? They seem to be MUCH bigger files that when I convert a dvd.

For example:
Digital Download that came with "Juno" (96 minutes) = 1.1 GB
Converted and Handbraked "The Departed" (155 minutes) = 1.1 GB

I just got digital copies of the Blu-Rays of "Sex And The City:The Movie" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and I was hoping to shrink those as well.

Thanks.
 
It depends whether you want DVD quality as well. I've lowered the bit-rate in Handbrake to give me a filesize of about 350-400MB for a movie.

Now you can see the difference in quality a mile off but it's still very watchable- plus it takes a third of the space. I tested the first Matrix film on my own settings, Handbrake's Touch preset and the same preset but with two-pass enabled.

A) couldn't tell the difference between two-pass and one-pass.

B) my preset came out at 358MB, while the others were a smidgin under 1GB

Play around with the bit-rate setting in Handbrake, you'd be surprised how low you can get the filesize.
 
Actually Ivan those were the types of figures I was looking for.

I was under the impression I needed to get MacTheRipper and combine that with Handbrake.

Are there better ripping options? I will be using an iMac 2.16CD 3gb machine to rip/process.
 
Jim01 said:
Ok I checked iSquint out and I can only find it for Mac 🙁 Anything like it for PC?)
Click to expand...

I use a program called FairUse Wizard. It allows you to easily control the size of the output file. The free version lets you produce files up to 700 mb in size. The best part is that it takes it directly from the DVD to use on your portable device with no intermediate step.
 
I used Handbrake to encode a DVD that was an hour and half long. It is just under 700 MB. I used Handbrake's iPod Touch setting.
 
Jim01 said:
Ok I checked iSquint out and I can only find it for Mac 🙁 Anything like it for PC?

Also, will these programs work for downloads off iTunes or digital copies? They seem to be MUCH bigger files that when I convert a dvd.

For example:
Digital Download that came with "Juno" (96 minutes) = 1.1 GB
Converted and Handbraked "The Departed" (155 minutes) = 1.1 GB

I just got digital copies of the Blu-Rays of "Sex And The City:The Movie" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and I was hoping to shrink those as well.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You don't want to convert a file in a lossy format to another mossy format including it's original format. Doing so reduces quality by introducing artifacts. I believe iSquint is only for mac.
 
Jim01 said:
Ok I checked iSquint out and I can only find it for Mac 🙁 Anything like it for PC?
Click to expand...

I have to say that the best program I've come across for this is DVD Catalyst Free.
http://www.pocketdvd.ca/products/dvd%20catalyst%20free.html


It works brilliantly, normally converts at approximatly 1.25x, so expect a 2 hour film to take about 1h 35m, which is not quick, but it's not too much of a pain.

It lets you set the bitrate easily and I have found that for iPod touch 300kbps is easily enough. I coverted Anchorman at this bitrate and it was superb quality, and the final file size was only ~300mb, excellent for a full length film. It is especially helpful for when you only have a small capacity touch, as I can now get 3/4 films on my 8gb touch aside from my music.
 
Thanks yorkshire, maybe I'll give that a try. So it also does the decryption for you? You don't have to use something like DVDDecryptor beforehand?
 
Jim01 said:
Thanks yorkshire, maybe I'll give that a try. So it also does the decryption for you? You don't have to use something like DVDDecryptor beforehand?
Click to expand...

Yup, does everything, you simply put in the DVD, set the bitrate, wait a couple of hours and out pops your video file, ready to be dragged into itunes. It says it may not work with every DVD, but with every one I've tried so far it works.
 
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