Apple users...how to convert Quicktime>MPEG?

[macphan]

need a program to convert a quicktime show I got from limewire to mpeg so i can play it on my home dvd player. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Newbie here just got a dvd player. Thanks.

[Tivo Homer]

There is a guide here on vcdhelp.com that should help you. It will require using TMPGEnc and a MOV "plug-in". I've used it and it works great. fyi... extract the QTReader.vfp file into the same directory as your version of TMPGEnc. That way it will automatically register. Go to: http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgenc.htm for the guide.

Good Luck.

Tivo Homer

[Cornucopia]

Since I notice that you use a Mac, it would make more sense to you if I answered you using mac references. (Maybe this should go on the Mac Forum?)

There are a couple of ways to do it...
If you have QTPro (From Apple-$20 something), you probably can export your movie straight to MPEG1, or if you have the QT MPEG2 codec plugin/component (also Apple-$20 something more), you could export to MPEG2.
If you have Toast 5 Titanium (From Roxio-$90 something?), you could use the VCD encoding plugin.
If you could find an old copy of Astarte's M.Pack (v 3.51), you could encode to MPEG1 or MPEG2. or you might be able to dredge up an old copy of Sparkle (but it sucks compared to newer encoders).
There are also more expensive software encoders-Discreet's (aka Media100's aka Terran's) Cleaner Pro 5.1.1 ($599) with MPEG Charger ($599), or Heuris' MpegPower Professional v2 ($1599).
And then there are hardware encoders (MediaPress, Sonic).
--Prices on the above may vary-- 8)
The Apple DVDStudioPro/iDVD MPEG2 encoder is basically the same thing as Apple's MPEG2 plugin/component.
Quality isn't all that great on any of those until you get to either high bitrates, or pay Big buck for Heuris or the hardware encoders. And, not counting the hardware ones, you'll find the encoding wait interminable.

A cheaper, possibly faster, and most likely higher quality alternative would be to use VPC (Virtual PC), and then use PC-based encoders like TMPGEnc. There are plenty of examples on this site.

Hope that helps,

Scott

[Cornucopia]

Update:

QTPro is required on Mac, if you want to export (unless you use the v2.5.1 MoviePlayer which can do most of the things the more recent versions have put into only the Pro players). This is US$19.95.

The MPEG2 plugin is for Reading/Importing/Decoding/Playing MPEG2 material. Has NOTHING to do with MPEG2 encoding. It is US$29.95.

Apple doesn't supply an MPEG2 Encoder as a separate Add-on. You must get it bundled with either iDVD or DVDStudioPro. Obviously, this narrows down the Hardware (G4 only) and Software (OS 9.x or OSX, I believe) that it can run on.

I mentioned Sparkle. It was freeware. Still good to have as part of your toolbox. Can demux MPEG when QT won't, although there are also other demuxers.

If you do want to do stuff through QT only, not 3rd party, watch out. V3.x was able to export types of MPEG1's that later versions have disabled.

TAFN,
Scott