Do Your Own Video Conversions With Movie2MemCard

[Brad Adrian]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=101963' target='_blank'>http://www.handango.com/brainstore/...roductId=101963</a><br /><br /></div>Anybody who subscribes to the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7144">"W?BIC!" </a>school of thought and has tried to convert video files and DVDs into a format viewable on the Pocket PC has learned what a cumbersome process it can be. And for me, somebody who doesn't know his bitrate from his backside, it's even more challenging. We've posted about <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23403">one nifty application, DVD to Pocket PC,</a> that speeds the process along, but now here's another one: <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=101963">Movie2Memcard</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/movie2memcard.jpg" /><br /><br />"Movie2MemCard allows you to convert previously converted movie files and other movie files like TV or Camera recordings stored on your computers hard drive, to a size small enough to fit on a SD, CF, Memory Stick or other memory medium. Unlike other applications, there is no fixed quality setting for the movies, and you have the option (Windows Media only) of selecting mono (better quality video) or stereo sound with no limitations other then the file size you select for the resulting movie."<br /><br />One feature that makes Movie2Memcard nifty is a setting designed to make sure your resulting movie will fit on the space remaining on your memory card. Basically, you tell the program how much space you have, and it selects settings that create a converted file that will fit in that space.<br /><br />The full, registered version of Movie2Memcard is $15.00 through <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=101963">Handango</a>. You can also get a free trial version, but it limits the length of the resulting file to 10 minutes.<br /><br />I've tried a few of these "quickie" conversion utilities and I think they generally work well. They're much easier than the painstaking manual, 6-step, process-overnight method, but I'm ambivalent about the quality of the end results. If anybody's got opinions or ideas about how to optimally use programs like Movie2Memcard, though, I'd love to hear them.

[jlp]

2 questions:
1) is it compatible with PPC.02? It's confusing; they say "Two settings for the Windows Media Encoder application for Windows Mobile 2003 and Pocket PC 2002 devices" and then say "Movie2MemCard acts as a front-end for Windows Media Encoder 9, and the DiVX encoder application included in the package." But there are some bugs/restrictions using DiVX and WME 9 is PPC.03 only. That would imply those of us still with PPC.02 will be stuck with the more limited DiVX format?!
2) What file format does it read to encode? VOB? AVI? MPEG? MOV?

What PPC apps can read DiVX? can PocketTV do it?

OK that's more than 2 :)

[jlp]

ok upon further investigation, I see they say "Any movie... can be converted for portable use, except MPEG2 files" then go on listing file formats but I see no QuickTime MOV files.

Also how can you tell your MPG file is MPEG1 or MPEG2?

[jlp]

When you say We've posted about one nifty application, DVD to Pocket PC, that speeds the process along, but now here's another one: Movie2Memcard (http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=101963).

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/movie2memcard.jpg
That implies that Movie2MemCard can also speed up the process.

But the more I study it, the more I see it's NOT the case.

Looks like it's just a recompressor/image resizer. It doesn't rip nor compresses a DVD, you still need a few other tools to do this; plus a DiVX player on PPC.02.

So I don't see how this program can be compared to DVD to Pocket PC.

[Pat Logsdon]

That would imply those of us still with PPC.02 will be stuck with the more limited DiVX format?!
In my opinion, DivX is the better format. :wink:

What PPC apps can read DiVX? can PocketTV do it?
Nope. Pocket MVP will play DivX files - PocketTV is MPEG only.

You can tell the difference between MPEG1 and MPEG2 by whether it'll play on your PPC or not. :mrgreen: MPEG2 is the same format that's used on DVD's, and the PPC can't handle it. Any MPEG that will play on the PPC has been converted to MPEG1, which is an older format.

DivX, on the other hand, is based on an MPEG4 codec, and is very efficient.

[Mitchybums]

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Main Features

Calculate Video Bitrate automaticaly based on selected filesize to get a sure fit.

Automaticaly resize Video Screen size to fit on screen, while keeping the same aspect ratio.

Cropping Feature allows for cutting off sides, top and bottom parts of the picture to get the best quality. (Windows Media Only)

Selection of different sound settings and quality.

3 output formats : Windows Mobile 2003, PocketPC 2002 and DiVX.


It is a re-encoding application to convert already converted movies or TV recordings to fit on memory cards for Pocket PC usage.

It DOES NOT rip DVD's. There are a lot of people that have already converted their movies to a different format since DiVX first appeared, and thats what this program is used for. To make those movies and home recordings such as TV-Card recordings or digital camera movies on your computer, play on your mobile device.

It's not made to mimic any other video applications, it's just used for one thing, converting movies that will play on your selected screen size that will fit on your selected memorycard.

It also features Batch encoding in the Full version, allowing for encoding multiple movies using different output formats and settings without any additional user input needed. This would allow you to have a bunch of movies convert overnight, and not have to worry about it.

You have total freedom on the resulting screensize, including cropping sides and bars, the resulting file size and it will automaticaly calculate the required bitrates for you based on the selections.

It can not convert Quicktime files, but I am currently working on that.
There is an update in Beta right now that can work with mpg2 files, and has some additional cropping settings for easier use (lock fullscreen for instance will calculate the sides that need to be cut off to make it full screen and still let you adjust the screen size while keeping the right aspect)
The update will also allow the selection of 1pass,2pass, CBR, VBR audio and adjusting the output files framerate for Windows Media Encoder, and these are automaticaly set for the novice user.

The ANY MOVIE basicaly means ANY MOVIE that can be played by Windows Media Player 9.

The program does not speed up the process of encoding the movies, but it does do all the required calculations for you to get the best results possible based on your quality settings.
Instead of being limited by the settings other programs use, and ending up with a filesize that might not fit on your memorycard, Movie2MemCard just encodes based on your filesize, and adjusts the quality to make absolutely sure it will fit on your selected card. This can of course mean very low bitrates if you encode a 3 1/2 hr movie to fit on a 128 mb memorycard, but some people just want to be able to just watch it anyway, regarding if its perfect quality or not.

You have the freedom to decide if it's watchable or not.

Feel free to contact me, or try the trial version availiable on the Handango website to see what it can do for you.

All the features of Movie2MemCard can already be done with Windows Media Encoder itself, but Windows Media Encoder does not calculate any settings for you, That takes the most time, and Movie2MemCard is made for allowing quick and easy conversion of movies.

Movie2MemCard will allow you to access the important features of Windows Media Encoder a lot easier without having to use a calculator.

DiVX is experimental, and please read the manual to get the additional required information on using it.

DiVX is encoded using the 2pass method, and uses settings to encode the movies with the least amount of audio sync problems that occur when re-converting a DiVX movie.
The DiVX part uses the included encoded application, and does not use or require DiVX Pro to be installed. The DiVX encoder application can not convert WMF files to DiVX.

The DiVX files are playable by PocketMVP, but read the manual before you transfer the files to your card.


The update is scheduled for later this week and is free for existing customers.

[maximum360]

Pocket MVP is the way to go IMO. Been using it for at least a year and a half (well before it was known as Pocket Divx). It does the job and has way more options than WMP. The only drawback I see is the music. If they fix up the interface and work out the bugs with the playlist I would never use anything else (although WMA support would be nice too).

[jeffmd]

Hmm, I was hopefull when I clicked the link but after what I read, alot of what I imagined (ie gordianknot for ppc) was quickly laid to rest. ^^

Seems like a restrictive pay version of virtual dub that lacks the features to actually make a quality conversion, and just says it will do its best to make a movie based on your file size restrictions.

Does it support divx 5.x's nth pass?

[redwards12]

I tried downloading DVD to Pocket PC demo and it tells me that it doesn't have the right plug-in to finish. So, I'm not going to spend money for it.

This looks similar, but it'd be a two step process. First, conversion to unprotected and then trimmed and fitted.

[bigds63]

I have been given the full version of Movie2MemCard software to review, Although I have just barely scratched the surface of this program, I wanted to say a few words about it now...First off this software was made to convert the videos that you already have, to be able to watch on your PPC...The software is simple to use and unlike others where you have to figure out bitrates and other settings or whether your final encode is going to fit on your memory card or not, this program does it for you...You just simply open up the program, choose what format you want to encode, be it wm9, wm8, or Divx...next you open up the video to be encoded...You then choose what size memory card you are using...now click on the calculate button... note if you choose to higher of a bitrate(card size)it will suggest to you what to enter in the box automatically ...Then after that you just click Save and then encode...The end results is a Very, very good quality video for PPC... I highly recommend trying out the demo at least to see for yourself what a great app. this is for all us PPC nuts that are in to this video stuff... Very simple to use and with Great results....Give it a try

[MikPAQ]

Okay, There is actually a very simple way to do all this.

I have an ATI Radeon 8500 DV AIW Video Card in a Dell 4300 P4 1.7. It allows you to actually connect your tv cable right to it. It has TIVO like software for watching TV and recording and other cool stuff. What I found out recently is that you can set it to record video directly to your hard drive in custom formats. I set it to record my favorite 2, 3, and 4 star movies in PPC format. I usually import the finished movie into MovieMaker2 to remove the commercials, this takes about 5-10 mintues. Then re-encode the movies, takes about 30 minutes. The finished 90-120 minute movie takes up about 130-200 MB. You don't have to do the MovieMaker2 or conversion if it will fit on your PPC media(I use a 256MB card). One thing I did find out last week is the SanDisk 256MB CF Card does not operate fast enough to work on PPC. My older generic 256MBCF works fine. I play my movies during travel(airplane). People are very curious how this small "DVD" player works.

This is the simplest and quickest way to get video onto the PPC that I have found.

Mike

[dean_shan]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/movie2memcard.jpg


Is that screen shot from the old Garfield cartoon?

[ctmagnus]

I believe it is. I was wondering where that was from!

[Jeff Rutledge]

Is that screen shot from the old Garfield cartoon?

Thank You!

It was driving me nuts... :silly:

[OneAngryDwarf]

Wanted to try out the trial version and it doesn't seem to do anything... nothing happens when i click encode... nothing

[Wep]

I have the program now for a few days and I love it
Converting to Divx works great only i miss the STEREO option here a lot!

So i tried to convert an Divx movie to WMV
but then the DOS window opens and closes almost immediately..

yes I ve installed the windows media 9 encoder..

If i try to convert in windows media encoder itself it also crashes all the time !! aaahh

I reinstalled all of the windows media components but no luck...

I also have Klite codec pack installed in my compu .... coulld that be a conflict ?.....


Any ideas guys???!!

[Mitchybums]

I have the program now for a few days and I love it
Converting to Divx works great only i miss the STEREO option here a lot!

So i tried to convert an Divx movie to WMV
but then the DOS window opens and closes almost immediately..

yes I ve installed the windows media 9 encoder..

If i try to convert in windows media encoder itself it also crashes all the time !! aaahh

I reinstalled all of the windows media components but no luck...

I also have Klite codec pack installed in my compu .... coulld that be a conflict ?.....


Any ideas guys???!!


DiVX is fully fixed in the 1.2 Version scheduled at the end of this week.
Check on http://www.achilles-site.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=32

This is the Official Movie2MemCard support forum active as of today.

Converting a DiVX movie to WMV should not give any problems.
Please contact me on [email protected] so I can help you troubleshoot the problem.
The codec pack might be causing a problem. The 1.2 feature list is also on the forum, and the whole program has been through a whole rewrite to adress certain issues.

Free update for registered users, and 1.2 is currently in last testing fase