Putting DVDs onto your iPod
by Daniel Hollister • 12/31/2005
at 05:08 PM
Now that the holidays are all up ons, and with a good deal of us probably finding iPods with video under the tree, we’re all looking for some content to enjoy, and more imporantly, show off. Problem is, video is much harder to acquire without breaking society’s precious copyright laws. So where can one get content other than the limited and pricey selection of iTunes? Simply from your DVDs. The process of ripping DVDs is easy once you get into to groove of it; just remember a few settings, and it’s almost as easy as ripping CDs.
First, download HandBrake for Mac OS X. HandBrake is a nice little open source app which is pretty straight forward and doesn’t require any installation. So once it’s downloaded, open it up, and a little window will appear:
If you haven’t already, insert your DVD of choice. After doing so, HandBrake should have selected for you (if not, select the DVD manually by choosing “DVD Folder / image) and clicking “Browse"). Hit Enter and the HandBrake window should become available. Give the file the appropriate name and desitnation and applying these settings:
- Destination
- File Format: MP4 file
- Codecs: AVC/H.264 / AAC Audio
- Video
- Framerate (fps): 15
- Encoder: x264 (Baseline profile)
- Quality:
- Average bitrate (kbps): 192
- Audio
- Sample Rate (Hz): 44100
- Bitrate (kbps): 80
192 and 80 kbps for video and audio are what I believe to be the minimum while still looking and sounding very decent. You may make them both higher for higher quality, but that makes for a higher file size. You may raise them until they add up to 768.
Now click the “Picture settings” button. This part is pretty straightforward, just click the down button on one of the dimensions until both dimensions are less than or equal to 320 and 240, respectively. That’s all; close the window.
If you are ripping a film DVD with only one title, you’re done at this point. Go ahead and click the “Rip” button. However, if you’re ripping something with several titles such as episodes of a TV show, you need to take an extra step to rip them all at once.
Check the “Enable queue” checkbox at the bottom left of the window. Then repeat the entire process above (specifically the “Picture settings” one) while each time selecting a different title from the Title menu (in the Source section), excluding the small minute long ones. Instead of clicking the “Rip” button after each one, click the “Add to queue” button. When you’ve done this for all the titles, then you can click the Rip button (but still click the “Add to queue” button after the last one). Voila!
Daniel Hollister is the Editor-in-Chief of Macteens, and has been apart of the Macteens community since 2002. He is a filmmaker, designer, entrepreneur, and Mac enthusiast from Santa Cruz, California. When not arguing in the forums and working 18 hour days, Daniel can be found sleeping. That is it, he has no time for anything else. Daniel currently works and resides in Hollywood, California.
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Good tutorial. All I need now is an iPod…
Yeah, nice job. I did have a diffrent HandBrake, by the way. I noticed the battery life is really not very good.... It barely made it through one hour of video for me.....
Odd, my iPod video easily plays 2 hours.
Problem is there is no x264 (baseline) Encoder selection in the latest version
Just FFmpeg and Xvid
SO NOW WHAT? Oh well I guess I just wing it.
Ok, I missed one of the earlier settings. Got it now.
Warning, Handbrake does make a outgoing internet connection.
Although the purpose of this can be benign, it’s possible it may not be.
Install Little Snitch to prevent this sort of thing from happening and your IP address (and god knows what else) from being exposed over the insecure, Windows infected internet.
Oh, make sure when you rip the next dvd that you reset the Picture settings. Lost a hour having to rip all over agian.
Apple’s stated battery life for the 30 GB iPod is 2 hours with with the backlight off, and 3 hours for the 60 GB. My 60 GB does last the most part of 3 hours.
The internet connection only occurs on launch when HandBrake checks to see if there’s a new version. You can disable this in preferences.
WHAT?? With the backlight off? NO sorry. Pretty sure it’s 10 hours.
That’s with music. Not video.
Thanks Sam for posting this tutorial.
Just wondering if there is a software that is as easy as handbrake for windows.
You could always try handbrake lite.
You don’t need to change any settings - just choose the dvd folder and rip. it rips directly into ipod format without need to check for any settings.
here’s the site to get it
http://www.isquint.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=14
HandBrake lite is a poor choice because it encodes the videos at 1000 kbps, giving you enormous file sizes. It’s okay if you are very selective about the content of your iPod, but not for those with many DVDs.
I have a question on how to get episodes onto my ipod.... i cant make it happen so each episode is a seperate title on my ipod, i cant decrypt it that way. HELP!
In response to Sam Rothberg’s commetn about file size, you can change the bitrate uner the ‘Video’ section of the pre-ripping settings, or you can actually set a target filesize.
Vinny - queue up each chapter seperately.
ie. specifiy chapter 1 to 1, click add to queue, then set 2 to 2, add to queue, 3 to 3, etc. etc.
remember to change the filename for each on too!
Hi, I’m really new to this type of thing. I downloaded Handbrake twice and I still cant run it because it’s asking me to use a program. No matter what program I choose nothing works. There’s probably an easy answer and solution for this but since I’m not experienced with this type of stuff I don’t know the answer. Could someone give a bit of help? Also could you put it into easy terms that I could understand? Thanks a bunch
“A program?” Could you be a bit more specific?
I think this question was already asked, but is there a program like Handbrake for windows? I’ve been looking but i haven’t had any luck. Could someone help me?
I cant seem to get my dvd’s to play on my ipod or even show up on the ipod, i downloaded it and it is finished and now what do i do to put the accual dvd onto the ipod? Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i believe what jess’s comment is that when you download handbrake lite, it is a .dmg document. windows xp then asks you which program you would like to use to open it. it would seem that there is NOT a windows version of handbrake or handbrake lite… if you have windows xp try to locate the program for you, their online help says “Windows does not recognize this file type” - kinda sucks since the only similar software for windows is shareware that puts watermarks all over your movie.
if anyone does know where to get a version of handbrake lite for windows, pls. post. thx.
I jsut tried to download napoleon dynamite, i ripped it fine but when it started playing it had english subtitles up, is there a setting on handbake to stop this or can you stop it another way?!please help!!!!!!!
Geez, I just need something that will do all this for windows. *Stupid Windows*
I really want a mac… :_(
all my videos are in black and white??? i followed all the instructions though
When I downloaded handbreak (6/3/06), I didn’t get those options you have listed. I only got to choose what format, under which was iPod 5G. Is this an update, or what?
Could someone please tell me the easiest Mac way to get the music off a concert dvd to make mp3s for itunes.
Thanks!!
Mike and Steel-Froggy:For the program for Windows, its not that simple. Go to (http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2006/03/put_your_dvds_o.html) for complete instructions. It’s kind of a tedious process but I’ve been able to convert many movies with my pc.
some suggestions(it will only make sense when you are using it)-
1.when decrypting make sure you just copy the main movie and remove the audio with director’s commentary if there is any
2. the VOBmerge is in a really wierd language, the button “Poidat soubor” is Browse, “Obedtrat soubor” is remove, and “Spojit” is the button to push when you are ready to merge.
3. in the VOBmerge, it cannot compress really big files you might have to do it in two different parts of the video. thats ok you will just have to put two parts of the video on your iPod.
oh yea, i forgot- don’t ask me how to convert TV episodes so don’t ask me.
DOn’t worry, I know how to convert TV Shows and such, I just didn’t know how to rip the DVD movie itself. Thank-You!
There is a great little app for windows that is FREE and converst to any.most formats. Even VOB to iPod.
try thus URL http://www.topdrawerdownloads.com/download/104143
All these movies are taking up a lot of space on my hard drive. Can I move my entire iTunes library, including movies to an external hard drive? Thanks
I downloaded handbrake and it worked perfect until I tried to put them on my ipod. It says it cant put it on. I have the 3rd generation nano. If anyone knows what to do HELPPP! Thanks