How to convert video files to play on an iPod Touch using OS X

November 20th, 2007 by Ross McKillop |  Print This Post

This tutorial will guide you through converting video files to watch on your iPod Touch, using free (fully functional shareware) software in OS X. The steps are likely identical if you have an iPod Video or iPhone (I don’t, so I can’t be 100% certain).

1. OK first up - download and install ffmpegX. The installation is slightly more involved than typical OS X software, but the instructions on the download page are very detailed (and really, it’s not that hard at all, it’s just not quite as easy as dragging the program to your Applications folder).
2. Now that ffmpegX is installed - launch it.


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3. Find the video file you want to convert so you can watch it on your iPod and drag it to the Drop file here section. In the example screenshot below you’ll note that I’m converting a flv (Flash) file.


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4. The Target format section will probably have AVI DivX as the default. Click the small ‘drop-down’ arrow next to AVI DivX and select iPod h.264 640w from the list.


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5. Now select the Video tab. Here you can adjust the video bitrate or size for the file that you’re going to add to your iPod. Unless you’re converting a rather large file (a 1-2 hour video) you can leave the defaults selected. It’s probably a good idea to test out settings on smaller video files, because they take less time to convert/encode to an iPod friendly format.


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6. Now select the Audio tab. I opted to increase the Audio bitrate to 128 (the default was 96). Feel free to explore the other options - but again - if you’re going to experiment, it’s a good idea to practice with smaller files. When you’re ready to convert your video, click the Encode button.


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7. And now sit back and watch. Or, grab a coffee.



8. Don’t be at all surprised if your Mac seems a bit slower while the video is being processed. ffmpegX and its components can take up quite a few system resources (especially CPU).



9. When it’s done you’ll be notified by a ‘ding’ sound, and the ffmpegX Progress window will indicate it’s finished.



10. Unless you changed the default save location, your newly created video will be in the same folder as the ’source’ video.


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11. Import the video to iTunes (or whatever software you use to update your iPod) and feel free to modify its properties (by using the Get Info feature while your video is selected in iTunes).


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12. Now drag that video to your iPod and give it a watch!