video ipod video conversion question

[schunn99]

hey all,
not sure where to post this..so if it is wrong, mods please move it.
I am looking at buying a video ipod, but I know that the video ipod supports h264,mp4, and mp4v. does anyone know of a encoder that will do any of three formats that is freeware? I don't want to have to buy quicktime pro just in order to encode some of my dvd's or say some of my anime episodes into one of the three formats.

thanks for any suggestions,
schunn99,
intermediate encoder

[celtic_druid]

h.264 is a codec/video standard. mp4 is a container and m4v in apples case is just an mp4. m4v is however according to the MPEG4 standards the extension for MPEG4 part 2 elementary video streams. Like m2v for MPEG2, M1V for MPEG-1. I don't know what the hell Apple was thinking and I really can't recommend buying an ipod Video. They really should give you Quicktime Pro with it shouldn't they?

Doesn't it also support SP MPEG-4?

The only free h.264/AVC encoder (not including the reference one) is x264. For free aac encoders you have faac and Winamp. You can mux your aac and AVC mp4 with mp4box/yamb.

I would suggest that you check out MeGUI.

Also if you happen to already own Nero/Nero Digital then you can use recode. Newer versions I would imagine will include profiles for the ipod.