What is the best way to convert videos you capture to an iPad format?
Would appreciate any tips or suggestions.
Would appreciate any tips or suggestions.
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All iPads Best Way to Convert Videos for iPad
- Thread starter thomamon
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I don't know what file format your videos are in, but Handbrake will convert most DVD / CD based moved to ATV / iPad formats...It even has built in pre-sets to make the job easy:
http://handbrake.fr
http://handbrake.fr
It's free, but don't be fooled...I've been using it for years, just search these boards and you'll find that many here use it all the time.
Awesome! I see the Adobe Media Encoder CC but you can't get that without getting Premiere... And then Apple has their version in the App store.
I've been using Handbrake for years and it has been the most dependable encoding tool I've used. I recommend being selective in which profile you use. Bigger isn't always better.
If you are doing this on a Mac, I highly recommend subler to add the relevant metadata tags to the video. The nice thing about this extra step is that videos that you encode will have all of the info and cover art similar to movies purchased from iTunes.
I use Handbrake all the time, but another convenient option is Air Video which is an app you put on your device and a helper service you install on your computer. You point the helper at any folders you want on your computer and then the app has access to all of those videos. From there you have a bunch of options - you can play videos on the fly without permanent conversion, you convert the files and download them to your device, etc. It's a little more straightforward and flexible than Handbrake and it's what I use for the many videos where I don't want to end up keeping two versions of the video on my big hard drive.
I use clone DVDMobile by SlySoft. Been using their stuff for years and it's never failed me. It partners with their AnyDVD solution to allow you to make backups of your movies. Perfect for traveling.
Avoid the pains of coverting and get VLC. You can sync any file format video file and play it there.
I use Smart Convertor, you just drag the file into the program, select device you want to put it on. It then converts and drops it into iTunes for you. Can be found for free on the Mac App Store, definitely worth checking out!
Even if you are putting on the iPad?
Thanks! I will google it, that sounds great!
See question above.
Thanks, loving this thread so far!
If you are converting videos just to save space that's one thing.
If you are converting solely because the iPad won't natively play your file format, you are likely wasting your time.
Snag VLC, or I use AVPlayer (HD for iPad) and it works like a charm. You will find you miss the swipe forward and back to advance/rewind ten seconds when you go back to any other app.
I use it to load/reload a mutli-TB collection of videos in assorted formats. I haven't had it fail me yet.
If you are converting solely because the iPad won't natively play your file format, you are likely wasting your time.
Snag VLC, or I use AVPlayer (HD for iPad) and it works like a charm. You will find you miss the swipe forward and back to advance/rewind ten seconds when you go back to any other app.
I use it to load/reload a mutli-TB collection of videos in assorted formats. I haven't had it fail me yet.
I don't get the value of doing that. If I'm home then I'll watch video on my TV rather than an iPad screen. And that approach won't work if one takes their iPad out on the road and wants to watch videos.
Over the years I've found that encoding to a widely popular format, like .m4v/mp4 is very useful. I can play those videos on any iOS, Android, or WinMobile device. They're also playable on smartTVs that support USB drives. I have a 2TB Passport USB HD loaded up with TV shows, movies, video clips, etc. and turns my TV into a video jukebox. Playback off the harddrive always works, no funky network issues, and portable.
But then again, I'm a technological caveman because I prefer media files to be locally stored on the device I'll be using them on.
I don't get the value of doing that. If I'm home then I'll watch video on my TV rather than an iPad screen. And that approach won't work if one takes their iPad out on the road and wants to watch videos.
Over the years I've found that encoding to a widely popular format, like .m4v/mp4 is very useful. I can play those videos on any iOS, Android, or WinMobile device. They're also playable on smartTVs that support USB drives. I have a 2TB Passport USB HD loaded up with TV shows, movies, video clips, etc. and turns my TV into a video jukebox. Playback off the harddrive always works, no funky network issues, and portable.
But then again, I'm a technological caveman because I prefer media files to be locally stored on the device I'll be using them on.
Agree with this totally. Some of us are not connected to the internet 24/7 with terabytes of band width.
That's all fine but the original statement in his quote had nothing to do with network streaming. He was saying, don't bother converting just use a better video player app on your iPad. For example nplayer can play nearly everything aside from DTS audio, streaming or locally.
I don't get the value of doing that. If I'm home then I'll watch video on my TV rather than an iPad screen. And that approach won't work if one takes their iPad out on the road and wants to watch videos.
Over the years I've found that encoding to a widely popular format, like .m4v/mp4 is very useful. I can play those videos on any iOS, Android, or WinMobile device. They're also playable on smartTVs that support USB drives. I have a 2TB Passport USB HD loaded up with TV shows, movies, video clips, etc. and turns my TV into a video jukebox. Playback off the harddrive always works, no funky network issues, and portable.
But then again, I'm a technological caveman because I prefer media files to be locally stored on the device I'll be using them on.
Yeah . . . You are conflating two separate issues. The conversion issue was what I was referencing. I didn't say anything about streaming.
Again, there is no need to convert if you are just trying to get it into a format that will play on your iPad.
We just have different approaches. I have enough videos that I refuse to spend a chunk of my life converting them. I use devices and apps/programs that remove that need.
A WDTV with attached USB drive will remove the need to convert virtually ANYTHING. No networking needed. If you are converting the contents of a 2TB drive so you can play it via some "smart tv" then you are wasting ungodly amounts of time.
And the apps above will remove the need to convert for mobile devices as will VLC and other video players for Mac/PC.
Unfortunately, apple is not inherently conversion friendly. They are happy to sell you their content in their format, but there are plenty of ways around that.
Just sounds like you weren't aware of some of the recent advances in conversion techs/devices. We all gotta learn sometime.
It'll process actual Bluray discs too, if you have something like AnyDVD to strip the copy protection on the fly.
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File size can be an issue though, especially if you're dealing with large 1080p MKV files - transcoding them not only makes them compatible with the iPad's in-built media player but also offers the opportunity to significantly reduce the file size.
