Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod

Subject: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: bobad
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 02:56 PM

I have been entertaining the idea of making a gift of an IPod loaded with audio/video messages from a variety of people. Not owning an mp3 device I have no idea of how involved this would be. I presume that IPod uses Apple's programs so I would have to convert the a/v's, which would undoubtedly come in a variety of different formats, to Apple's format. Is this feasible and, if so, within the ability of the average non computer geek?

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 03:01 PM

Bobad
I am not that up on video's but I think you have to have an MP4 for music video's. MP3 is for music without video.
Of course I stand to be corrected.

This is what I got my daughters http://www.mchmedia.co.uk/media-box-touch-45-c.asp

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Beer
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:34 AM

Just in from a gig in Montreal. Great thread Bobad. Hope some folks get into this with some answers as I have wondered about the same thing.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: bobad
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 04:53 PM

There must be someone here who has experience doing this.......anyone?

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 05:23 PM

Well I have transferred MP3 songs and MP4 videos successfully.

I have a legal piece of software that converts any video, into the format required for the MP3/MP4 player.

Do you have an MP3/MP4 player or MP3 player Bobad?

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Andrez
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 05:30 PM

Also Bobad are you planning to do this work using a Mac or a PC running some form of Windows or Linux?. Next do you have any specialised software or are you looking at using just "what came with the box"?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: bobad
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 06:37 PM

I am using Windows XP on a PC. I don't have an IPod or any special software because I don't even know what is involved yet, that is the information I was hoping to get here.

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 01:20 AM

iPod comes with iTunes software, which imports, stores, and plays audio, video, games, photos, and the other things and uploads everything to iPod. You can set iTunes so that it automatically imports the appropriate files from any device you connect to your computer, from a cd or dvd, or you can import it manually, then you can use the program to select the things you want added to the iPod.

To a fair degree, when you import a file to iTunes, it will convert audio and video files both for playing and for uploading to the iPod, but, invariably, there is always something in a format that iTunes doesn't recognize, and you have to convert it to a format that iTunes does recognize--but if you create cds and dvds, this is a familiar situation--

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 01:37 AM

PS-it is pretty easy, though fairly time consuming, to convert video files for iPod--I've got two iPods that I save to give the kids when we travel, and I've converted cartoons, movies, home videos, and episodes of TV shows that have been downloaded from network sites--and even when they are in a useable format, they are usually so big that they'd eat up most of the memory on a Nano-incidentally, the nano is the iPod to get--it is about the size of the stick of gum that used to come with baseball cards and can hold enough tunes, games, and videos to keep a kid busy from NY to LA-just remember to keep it charged!

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: bobad
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 07:52 AM

Thank you M.Ted, you have provided the kind of information I was looking for.

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Bo
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 02:30 PM

The IPod I bought for a freind last year came with NOTHING! not even an instruction manual. I had to work out what all the button functions were.
I was told that they all came like that. Strange.
I was rather embarrased to give it as a gift to someone who is even less computer literate than I am. She managed as she is brighter than I am.

As I am a "Mac man" I was able to load lots of stuff straight into it but what other people do I can't imagine. I didn't try video.
Good luck.
Bo

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: irishenglish
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 02:43 PM

Bo, that is frustrating...if not for my wife I would have thought the same thing. When it comes to a lot of software and tech stuff these days, I think a lot of the companies assume that if you are buying it, you have some basic understanding of what to do. Wouldn't hurt Apple to put a single page sheet with the box saying, insert USB to computer, hook up your ipod, and itunes will provide you all the info you need! That would be too easy I guess.

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 03:41 PM

The buttons are supposed to be "intuitive", meaning that if you poke at them, you'll figure it all out. Most of the "other people" who get these things are young, and they hit the ground running. For the rest of us, you can actually call Apple and ask for help.

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 03:46 PM

You should never as a company make an assumption like that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Andrez
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 06:45 PM

Hi folks, just for your info all the ipod support manuals are available from the Apple website at the link below.

http://support.apple.com/manuals/#ipod

There is also a page on the Apple site designed to assist people coming from a Windows background to work in the Mac environment. There are some useful tip sheets on things like standard key combinations, terminology as well as basic how to's. Here are a couple of these links:

Windows Mac Navigation and "On Windows I used to ....: http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/switcher/

Get started with Mac software: http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/work/

How to set up my Mac: http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/customize/

Hope thats of some use to folks out there.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: Andrez
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 09:12 PM

Another useful link to a pdf document that lists a whole lot of useful Mac shortcut keys. I came across this a few minutes ago while looking for something else so I thought I'd add it to the list above. http://davespicks.com/writing/programming/mackeys.pdf

Oh yes, then there is the Apple New Users Guide to the iPod link here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1345

and also: How to set up your iPod if you have a PC.

This is a little video movie that goes thru the process at this link: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-setup-your-ipod-if-you-have-a-pc

OK back to work now.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Loading Audio/Video Onto IPod
From: GUEST,Sirje
Date: 05 May 09 - 09:46 AM

It can be done with Video Mobile Converter (http://www.videomobileconverter.com/Video_Mobile_Converter). Simply convert all your videos to mp4!
Good luck!)