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Convert AVI to IPAD format - What Free Programs

A

absolutic

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 5, 2008
127
1
Guys and girls, I've seen this same issue discussed couple of months ago but I am sure other programs have appeared. So my question is

What are the FREE simple converters to convert various .avi files (i.e., divx, xvid, etc) to a format compatible with IPAD so it could be dropped to IPAD through iTunes and it actually accepted it? Looking for something that converts quickly, realizing that the size of IPAD screen does not necessitate HD quality.
 
I used to do all my video converting on my PC, but now, unless I'm converting from a DVD(Handbrake), I use the AirVideo app exclusively. It's way too easy to click 'convert', and videos are added to the conversion queue. You don't have to stay in the app either, just add files to the queue and let your computer do it's thing. I know it's not free, but some things are just worth a few coins. :)
I use VLC Player on my PC, so it makes sense for me to have all my videos in a format that's compatible with everything.
 
Handbrake is the best. I use the Universal preset and it looks great.

It's free.
 
I have about 300 videos remaining in divx and I've found adding each one in Handbrake individually to the queue really time consuming.

Does Video Monkey let you select several files at once?
 
AVI is a container, so you have to encode an already encoded file all over again... you really want to do that? :confused:
 
Yeah - how else can I play the files on the iPad? (apart from Airvideo, but I still want to sync videos over to the iPad.)

So far the conversions have looked great on anything from iPhone to PS3 on 1080p TV.
 
Thanks everyone, I typically storage my avi files on my PC Desktop so I will check out Handbrake
 
I agree with BergerFan AND Chundles ;)

Air Video is awesome for streaming and conversion (and the iPad version is fantastic), but Handbrake is best as a standalone solution if you don't need the streaming option.
 
OP reporting here.

Thanks I just tried it (handbrake)

and was able to encode an 1:45min movie in apprx 16 minutes (on my quad-core PC) which was great, it immediately went to iTunes with no problems and it works fine on IPAD.

Thanks everyone again, problem solved. It would be easier of course if it played it natively, but hey, 15 minutes is not that bad.
 
If you would like to cut down the 16 minutes to maybe 2 or 3, check this thread where I describe a method to quickly remux Xvid/Divx video files without the need to reencode them. A little further down I also posted a commandline for batch remuxing and batch Handbrake encoding (both for MacOS, though, so you might have to adapt this to whatever OS you are running).

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=9937688&avidemux#post9937688

Enjoy and I would really like to get some feedback.
 
jroeben said:
If you would like to cut down the 16 minutes to maybe 2 or 3, check this thread where I describe a method to quickly remux Xvid/Divx video files without the need to reencode them. A little further down I also posted a commandline for batch remuxing and batch Handbrake encoding (both for MacOS, though, so you might have to adapt this to whatever OS you are running).

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=9937688&avidemux#post9937688

Enjoy and I would really like to get some feedback.
Click to expand...

Very interesting, I will try your solution tonight and see if it works. I guess it does not hurt to try it first, and if it doesn't work, then you just wasted 2-3 minutes which is not bad, and then go back to the old solution
 
absolutic said:
Very interesting, I will try your solution tonight and see if it works. I guess it does not hurt to try it first, and if it doesn't work, then you just wasted 2-3 minutes which is not bad, and then go back to the old solution
Click to expand...

Well, I received my iPad on the 27th and have been using my method ever since. It works ;).
 
What settings do you use on Visual Hub for the best quality without significantly increasing the file size?

Also for Hand Brake? What settings do you recommend for optimal iPad viewing (as clear as possible) and what is the approximate file size (in relation to the original)?

Thanks in advance.
 
You really don't need to convert your files at all. I use AVplayerHD. It plays pretty much every format that I've thrown at it. You don't have to connect to iTunes to add a movie to your iPad...it's nice.
 
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