mobile version
MethodShop.com LLC

rssnews,
reviews and
how to's

halloween
 
facebook
itunes
flickr
myspace
amazon
apple
technorati
twitter
  home | gadgets | games | music | video | picts | reviews | tutorials | about SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
  corner



iTunes





methodshop MAILING LIST
Email:

Convert Flash Videos
for Your iPod with iSquint
Created: 04/08/2006 Updated: 10/04/2008 Authors: Jon Accarrino & Matt Carrell

Thanks to services like YouTube, short-form videos are all over the web now. Everything from TV shows to rare CEO presentations can be found online.

But most web sites that offer free video don't allow you to download the clips. Why should they? These sites make money from advertising and want you to visit their site each time you want to watch the video. As a result, they don't give you an option to download the file. But what if you want to download these video clips and watch them on your iPod Video?

Here's a tutorial that explains how to convert Flash video files into iPod Video compatible MPEG-4 video files.

Requirements:

    • An iPod Video
    • iTunes 6.0.1 or later
    • A Macintosh computer with OS X installed
    • An Internet connection
    • A flv flash video file
    • iSquint (free download)

1) Find and convert a FLV file off the web

Go to a web site featuring Flash video content like YouTube.com or HowardStern.com and find something you want to watch on your iPod Video.

Here are a few sites you can grab FLV files from:

Once you find a good clip you want to convert, you need to download it. However sites like YouTube prevent you from downloading videos so you will need to "rip" it off the site first. Here's a tutorial on how to save video files off of YouTube. Once you have downloaded the flv file you are then ready to convert it with iSquint.

NERD NOTE: FLV (aka Flash Video) is a file format used to deliver video over the Internet to the Macromedia Flash Player version 6, 7 or 8. FLV content may also be embedded within SWF files. Notable users of the FLV format include Google Video and YouTube. Flash Video is viewable on most operating systems, via the Macromedia flash player or one of several third-party programs such as MPlayer.

2) Make iSquint the default flv file handler

[Handbrake title selection menu]If you plan on using iSquint on a regular basis, then do yourself a favor and train OS X to automatically recognize iSquint as the default application for handling ".flv" files.

Take a flv video you downloaded off of YouTube and select it in the Finder by single clicking on the file. Then select Get Info from the File menu (File > Get Info).

Open the "Open with:" disclosure triangle if it isn't already and select "Other..." for the application name and select iSquint. Then click on the button that says "Change All..." It will take a brief moment to process. That's it. Close the File window.

Now every time you open a file ending with the ".flv" extension (ie. whatever.flv) it will automatically load it into iSquint for conversion. This helps automate the conversion process a little bit.


3) iSquint options

VIDEO SETTINGS: Do you have a video dock for your iPod Video and plan on watching some of these movies on a TV? iSquint gives you two encoding options: Optimize for iPod and Optimize for TV. If you select the TV option, iSquint will make your videos slightly larger in pixel size so they will look decent when played on a TV. If a lower file size is more important to you than quality, and you only want to watch videos on your iPod not on a TV, then select the iPod option.

ADD TO iTUNES: Want these flv video files added to iTunes as soon as iSquint is done converting them? Then turn on this checkbox.

H.264 ENCODING: If you select H.264 encoding, your final encoded video will look better and have a lower file size. The only problem is it will take a lot longer to encode. If you are in a rush for time, don't select this option. However, if you find yourself running into encoding errors because of "odd numbers of frames", try turning this option on.

SAVE LOCATION: Where do you want these videos saved to? Click on the "Change..." button and select somewhere on your computer.


4) Troubleshooting iSquint Errors

ERROR #1: iSquint gives an error complaining that a video has odd instead of even numbers of frames and will not encode it.

THE FIX: The simple way to fix the objection and force it to encode is to check the box for H264 encoding. It's pretty rare for a file to not be able to reencode into a form of mpeg4 with iSquint.

ERROR #2: For all other errors (particularly those complaining a video is corrupt) and iSquint refuses to encode:

THE FIX: The problem is that the video was not completely finished downloading before you hastily imported the FLV into iSquint. This has been the cause of errors every time I got one that wasn't the 'even or odd number of frames' objection. Simply go back to the webpage you want to rip the file from and let the video completely download. If you are ripping the video from YouTube, make sure the dark gray progress bar is complete filled. You do not have to wait for the video to finish playing, just for it to completely download.


5) Manual Import Into iTunes

There's an option to automatically add any video files iSquint converts to iTunes. If you don't have that checked, here's how to do it manually:

  • Connect your iPod Video to your computer using the cable it came with and open iTunes (Applications > iTunes).
  • Drag and drop the video file into your iTunes library, or select Add to Library... from the File menu.
  • Make sure the video file you just added to iTunes is in a Playlist that will get synced to your iPod.
  • Select "Update iPod" from the File menu (File > Update iPod).
  • The sync may take a few minutes. Once completed, the file should now be on your iPod.

6) Get Just an Audio File

If you just want the audio of the FLV file, you can open up your converted movie with QuickTime Pro (Mac/PC) and export out an AIFF or WAV file.

  • Open the video(s) you converted with iSquint in QuickTime Pro (Mac/PC) (Applications > QuickTime Player).
  • Select Export from the File menu.
  • Choose either AIFF or WAV from the drop down menu.

7) Questions?
If you run into any issues, want to thank us or have questions, please drop us a note.
Subscribe to methodshop.com via rssEmail or rssfeed.




iPod Help Articles
 
most popular
 

cashiPod Help

 

iTunes Help

 

General Info

 

 
Copy Music Off Your iPod
Has a virus or hard drive crash wiped out your entire music collection on your computer? No problem. Here's how to copy music off your iPod and back onto your computer.

Erase Your iPod
Is your iPod acting funny? There are a number of things that can be wrong with it, but this super fix solution will cure most problems.

Do Not Disconnect Won't Go Away
Are you trying to eject your iPod from your computer but the "Do Not Disconnect" won't go away? Don't worry, this is a common problem with a fairly easy solution.

VIP iPod Repair & Mod Service
If you need some TLC for your iPod ASAP, contact us for our special VIP repair service. We offer general or complex repair services as well as many customization options.
 
top

tutorials
 
most popular
 

Twitter Related Tutorials

Converting Videos for iPod/iPhone Tutorials

 

Apple TV Tutorials

 

iTunes & iPod/iPhone Tutorials

 

Misc Tutorials

Sony PSP Tutorials

 

Downloading & Hijacking Media Tutorials

 

Hacks, Tips & Tricks

 

Palm Pilot Tutorials

 
Copy Videos Off YouTube
YouTube prevents viewers from downloading files off their site. But there are ways around this. Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to rip video files off YouTube.com and convert them for your Video iPod.

Mac Mini RAM Upgrade Tutorial
mac miniWant to upgrade the RAM in your Mac Mini? You can definitely save a few bucks by buying a stripped down Mac Mini and upgrading the RAM yourself. But before you can install that extra RAM, you'll need to take a walk down to your local hardware store and grab a couple putty knives.

boxeearrowHack Your Apple TV with Boxee
Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center and entertainment hub that can play movies, TV shows, music and photos, as well as streaming content from websites like Hulu, Netflix, CBS, Comedy Central, Last.fm, and flickr. All you need to hack your Apple TV so it can use Boxee is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.

imagearrowHow to Auto Follow People on Twitter
There's a way to auto follow your followers on Twitter. This auto follow Twitter trick can be pretty useful if you find yourself managing a Twitter account for a public figure, company or celebrity.

arrowHow to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma
bed
As Twitter continues to gain in popularity and users, those of us already on Twitter might find ourselves in a position where we have to explain Twitter to a non-techie type person. So what do you say when someone asks you something silly like "What is the Twitter?" or "Are you taking the Twitter?"

iPod Alarm Clock
bedWhether you prefer to be woken by the scream of a rock star or the French horn in a classical symphony, the iPod's Alarm Clock can help you open your eyes every morning with style!

Rip DVD's to iPod Video
Need something to watch on your iPod Video? Here's a tutorial that explains how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's into iPod compatible MPEG-4 video files.

Install Free PSP Games
Think PSP games are overpriced? Us too. Here's a tutorial on how to download free games off the Internet and install them on your PSP.

Copy Videos onto a PSP
Can't get enough of your favorite TV show or movie? Here's a short tutorial that expalins how to add videos to your Sony PSP. 

Format a PSP Memory Stick
When you first purchase a Memory Stick for your PSP, you need to format it before you can use it. Here's how. 

iPod World Clock
iPod owners might have noticed the World Clock. Seemingly trivial but helpful at the same time.

Remove iPod Scratches
Got a scratched up iPod Nano? Me too. After a few failed attempts to get Apple to help me out, I decided to fix the scratches myself. Here's how to remove the scratched from your iPod Nano for only $4.

Search Engine Submit
If you have a web site, then you know how important it is to get listed in the search engines. Here's a collection of direct links to the submission pages of all the best free search engines on the net.

Add GPS Info to Your Blog
You probably know what your zip code or area code is (at least I hope so) but what about the GPS of your house? Here's how to find out and add it to the metadata on your web site

Expose the Exposé Blob
Like using Exposé but hate hot corners and function keys? Why not unleash the hidden Exposé Blob built into Mac OS X? You can even make your blob look like Eric Cartman.

Play Commodore 64 Games Again
RouterWant to play those old Commodore 64 games from the early 1980's? All you need is the game ROM and an emulator. Here's a tutorial to get you started.

Reset iTunes Play Count
Has a crappy song crept its way into your ‘Most Listened To' playlist? This tutorial explains how to reset the Play Count of one or more songs in your iTunes library.
 
top

h="98%" />







[ home ]
[ games ]
[ music ]
[ video ] RSSXML
digg blogpulse Technology Blogs - Blog Top Sites google mobile spain china france japan
cc View blog authority This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Contact Us | About MethodShop.com | Search
MethodShop.com LLC ®1996-2009. All rights reserved.

methodshop.com
prev top