iPod H.264 640X480 3gp_converter hack

[ssj2_goha]

OK here it is, a FREE simple one step video converter to convert files to the new iPod format. i have tested it on my G5.5 iPod. and thus far it works. right now it only has 2 profiles (hi-res TV, hi-res Movie). I will be adding more profiles shortly. i also included a poll to see what profiles people want me to add. oh yeah here is the file.
oh yeah i'm also working on getting chapter points working. i will write a guide about how to make the chapters once i get it working......

[FulciLives]

What is the difference between the 2 profiles?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[ssj2_goha]

well part of what i changed was putting atomicparsley as part of the encodeing so it taggs the files as a movie or tv show so in iTunes and on the iPod they are shown correctly.

the current version of the interface is gonna change alot with the next release. with the next version you can enter in most information that will tag the file.

I encoded the movie UHF and it came out a little over 650MB and it was great quality on both the comp and on the iPod.

[FulciLives]

I don't have an iPOD but the thought of having one is kinda kewl I mean the idea that you can take a movie or two or three whatever with you is nice. I tend to spend a lot of time at one of my friend's house so the idea of hooking up an iPOD so we can watch a movie is neato.

I tried it though and I was not all that impressed with the quality. I used a MPEG-2 file (with muxed AC-3 audio) that I created on my Pioneer DVD recorder (model DVR-531H-s). The recording looks good ... SP 2 hour mode recording from an HDTV episode of CSI. This was a sample clip only that I made for something else so it was short (like 1 1/2 minutes or so).

I just dragged it into the 3GP Converter window and used your Hi-Res TV profile from your hacked version.

I then played it back on the computer using VLC player. There were odd "interlaced" artifacts and while the resolution and image quality looked OK when there was no movement even the slightest of movements caused what looked like massive compression artifacts.

I'm guessing that I somehow did something wrong?

If you feel like it ... here is my original clip: CLICK HERE

I'd be curious if you can download it and convert it then upload it somewhere so I can download it and see how it looks after you have done the conversion.

This way I know for sure if it was just me doing something wrong or ... that's just the way it looks LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
That link is to my MPEG file that came from the Pioneer DVD recording and was my source that I used to create the lackluster M4V I ended up with (yuck).

[ssj2_goha]

I will take a look at it once i get home from work.

[guns1inger]

your site seems to have exceeded it's allocation for the time being. Geocities isn't a great home for downloads.

/edit : apologies - it seems to be back up now

Initial test with a quicktime 480p HD trailer as source produced a an immediate crash. SUPER processes the same file without any issues. I then tested it with a short flv, and although it processed it, it seemed to be going very slowly. Will do more testing when I get some time.

[ssj2_goha]

right now the back end of my hack is an old version of ffmpeg as i do more updates the newer version of ffmpeg will be used that might be why it's causing problems.

[ssj2_goha]

I don't have an iPOD but the thought of having one is kinda kewl I mean the idea that you can take a movie or two or three whatever with you is nice. I tend to spend a lot of time at one of my friend's house so the idea of hooking up an iPOD so we can watch a movie is neato.

I tried it though and I was not all that impressed with the quality. I used a MPEG-2 file (with muxed AC-3 audio) that I created on my Pioneer DVD recorder (model DVR-531H-s). The recording looks good ... SP 2 hour mode recording from an HDTV episode of CSI. This was a sample clip only that I made for something else so it was short (like 1 1/2 minutes or so).

I just dragged it into the 3GP Converter window and used your Hi-Res TV profile from your hacked version.

I then played it back on the computer using VLC player. There were odd "interlaced" artifacts and while the resolution and image quality looked OK when there was no movement even the slightest of movements caused what looked like massive compression artifacts.

I'm guessing that I somehow did something wrong?

If you feel like it ... here is my original clip: CLICK HERE

I'd be curious if you can download it and convert it then upload it somewhere so I can download it and see how it looks after you have done the conversion.

This way I know for sure if it was just me doing something wrong or ... that's just the way it looks LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
That link is to my MPEG file that came from the Pioneer DVD recording and was my source that I used to create the lackluster M4V I ended up with (yuck).

WOW that is weird I see what you mean. i will look into it to see if if i can get it to produce good quality.

I wonder why mpeg2 files fine but has big problems with that one.... might be the old version of ffmpeg

[FulciLives]

So it did the same thing for you then, huh?

Well at least I know it wasn't me LOL

Let me know what you find out.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[GMaq]

FulciLives,
While the 3gp thing is getting ironed out, it's not like XviD or DivX looks so terrible on an iPod either, Something that has been overlooked by a lot of people is that the new iPod resolution specs were also increased for Regular MP4 not just H.264, So DivX, XVid and Nero Digital at 640x??? (or any resolution that doesn't exceed 307200 pixels in total ie 704x320 etc.) with a minimum of 1000kbps look pretty good as well, even Satellite Caps. Since there are no stupid disk size limitations crank up the bitrate as high as you need (2500kbps is the limit though). And yes it is kewl to carry around a couple dozen movies in yer pocket!! You could probably fit your entire Fulci collection on there. The only caveat is iPod's don't like B-Frames but still the quality is good IMHO.

[FulciLives]

FulciLives,
While the 3gp thing is getting ironed out, it's not like XviD or DivX looks so terrible on an iPod either, Something that has been overlooked by a lot of people is that the new iPod resolution specs were also increased for Regular MP4 not just H.264, So DivX, XVid and Nero Digital at 640x??? (or any resolution that doesn't exceed 307200 pixels in total ie 704x320 etc.) with a minimum of 1000kbps look pretty good as well, even Satellite Caps. Since there are no stupid disk size limitations crank up the bitrate as high as you need (2500kbps is the limit though). And yes it is kewl to carry around a couple dozen movies in yer pocket!! You could probably fit your entire Fulci collection on there. The only caveat is iPod's don't like B-Frames but still the quality is good IMHO.

Well I can deal with those MPEG-4 limitations I guess. So 640x480 is OK for Full Screen? ... and as long as I don't use B frames and limit the bitrate to just under 2500kbps all should be fine?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[ssj2_goha]

yeah all should be fine
I guess i should add mpeg-4 (xvid) profiles to my hack too.... well thats now on my list
aso i think i'm gonna move to mencoder instead of ffmpeg as the video encoder. See if one of them is faster than the other.

[jagabo]

I tried it though and I was not all that impressed with the quality. I used a MPEG-2 file (with muxed AC-3 audio) that I created on my Pioneer DVD recorder (model DVR-531H-s)... I then played it back on the computer using VLC player. There were odd "interlaced" artifacts and while the resolution and image quality looked OK when there was no movement even the slightest of movements caused what looked like massive compression artifacts.

I'm guessing that I somehow did something wrong?

Your MPEG file is hard telecined. The encoder needs to inverse telecine or deinterlace. Just about any SDTV recorded off air in an NTSC country will have this issue.

[ssj2_goha]

how do you tell ffmpeg to deinterlace?

[GMaq]

@FulciLives,
For your consideration http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html has all the video specs for the iPod.

[FulciLives]

I tried it though and I was not all that impressed with the quality. I used a MPEG-2 file (with muxed AC-3 audio) that I created on my Pioneer DVD recorder (model DVR-531H-s)... I then played it back on the computer using VLC player. There were odd "interlaced" artifacts and while the resolution and image quality looked OK when there was no movement even the slightest of movements caused what looked like massive compression artifacts.

I'm guessing that I somehow did something wrong?

Your MPEG file is hard telecined. The encoder needs to inverse telecine or deinterlace. Just about any SDTV recorded off air in an NTSC country will have this issue.

I've seen 29.970fps MPEG-4 files that looked OK so I think something else is going on other than the source was 29.970fps.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[ssj2_goha]

well i got alot of the problem ironed out now.... i also have setting for widescreen (16X9) and fullscreen (4X3) videos, chapters still don't work that is my next step. Once i get home and get a chance i will upload my newer version and post a link here. (would it be against forum rules to post a .torrent to download the program????) i will also put the new version up where i have the old one. also i think i have the interlace problem solved and the videos are now done with 2 pass encodeing.

[crash447]

I am very interested in this hack and trying it out right now, but I was wondering if there was a reason there was only profiles for 800kbps. I encode all my iPod files at 640x480 1.5mbps and really don't want any less. I also saw you said there were profiles for 16x9 and 4x3, but as I am trying this out I don't see these options. Where should I be looking? Thanks for the work.
John

[ssj2_goha]

I haven't had a chance to upload the newest version yet when i do i will post it here.

[GMaq]

Oops,
Looks like I've downloaded the wrong one then! I've used pretty much every other iPod soft, I tried 3GP last year and it didn't like the AVI's I was trying to do, but because of your diligence I'd like to give it another whirl. Can you please tell me if it will accept VOB files (in 1gb splits) or do they need to be .d2v's or contiguous MPEG files to drop on 3GP?? Thanks for you hard work!!

[ssj2_goha]

Happy New year. and now on to my gift to you guys. the newest version of my hack:
Download the new transcode.zip file and put the ini file in the iPod_converter folder replacing the old one.[/url]

[crash447]

First of all I want to say thank you very much for your work on this so far. I am pretty pleased and that is a huge compliment considering I have gotten refunds on two converters that had major issues and I paid for them. I do have a few questions. I messed around with the bitrates a little on my own and that has made me happy, but in reading the commands it made me wonder a few things.

1) Is this deinterlacing everything and if so do you know if there is a way to perform an IVTC instead.
2) I am assuming the 64 in the audio bitrate gives 128 kbps since there are two channels or is this actually a 64kbps encode?
3) Out of interest in learning how did you come up with the 2 and 51 for the quantiser numbers? Are these numbers relevant to ipod specs.

Once again I think you have done a great job. Thanks tons for your work.

John

[ssj2_goha]

I can look up if a ivtc is possible. i have to look at the ffmpeg documentation. The reason i did the deinterlacing was because I was making all videos 30 FPS. The reason behind the 64 was because it was the number i found that worked thats it. The 2 and 51 are from the original 3gp_converter code i just didn't mess with that. Thanks again for your compliment.

[GMaq]

Hi,
Nice work!!! It can't get much easier than this!! I tried a few music videos with it and am getting about the same quality at 800kbps as I was at 1750kbps with regular MPEG-4 Codecs including my beloved 3ivX. Also markedly faster than MPEG Streamclip, I'm trying a full length feature with it now, and am going to throw some AviSynth Scripts at it later for fun, Thanks again for your efforts, I'll be recommending this to any Noobs looking to get started!!

[ssj2_goha]

Well i'm finally working on a custom GUI with lots of options. I also now have a name for my program too! here is a preview screen shot of the current alpha of the program. Any option people want please feel free to PM me those options. There will be an advance tab included to customize exactly how you want to encode the file.

[ssj2_goha]

Well I have a small preview of the new Gui. You can get it from here. This is Just the GUI nothing more.... That being said and why i'm previewing it to everyone: I want your input on features you want.

[GMaq]

Hi Again,
Looks really promising, I like the Tagging fields for each Video Type, BTW "rateing" is spelled wrong it should be "Rating" but thats a minor typo, I know you already told me NO FRAMESERVING!! but I really would like to at least have the option to Crop, Adjust Brightness and Contrast and Choose to De-Interlace or not. In the programs I currently use these are the most common pre-processing operations to the source material. I think having to do it via AviSynth is too much of a pain in the butt, I know you want it drag and drop simple but perhaps these could be advanced options? Thanks for Listening!!)

[ssj2_goha]

Yeah i have been planning on adding an advance tab with alot of those options in it. On a second note i"M looking into the frameserving but don't expect it in the first couple versions. Also only movies and tv shows tabs will be active in the first version. All input is greatly appreciated.

oh yeah as i'm sure you can see i'm not that great at spelling...... sorry about that i will try to catch those errors from now on.

ssj2_goha

[crash447]

Bandwidth already exceeded. I would love to take a look if you can put it somewhere else.

[ssj2_goha]

Sorry about that I Just got a new place to host the files and put a website that will ahve guides and stuff on. It's not up yet but it will be soon.... oh for those interested here is the URL http://www.jkintproductions.com/. I will post once the site is done.

{edit}
V1.5 of the GUI is now up (ratings and bitrate setting included)
I'm very happy with hos this is turning out.

Also If anyone is willing to create a new and better icon for the program I would be very happy to have the help, i'm bad with graphics.