The InDesigner on the iPod
Some “technical difficulties” in producing an iPod version of The InDesigner Videocast have cropped up since Apple began its movie download service a few months ago and implemented a change in the specifications for the iPod video format. This has raised a number of questions and comments on the blog that I wanted to address in one easy-to-find post.
The new spec for iPod-compatible video allows large-format (640×480) video to be transferred to an iPod (up from 320×240), but does not allow any customization of the options that make it iPod-compatible.
All iPod video files are saved in stereo — which is unnecessary for a voice-only tutorial — and use quality settings that are inappropriately high for video content that is nothing more than following a cursor around on the screen.
The unfortunate result is that, when exported to iPod format, the files become twice the size of the normal MPEG (”.mp4″) version. In the case of Episode 30, which was 50MB, the iPod version ballooned up to 100MB.
I’ve stopped posting iPod-compatible versions for this reason. The demand, based on comments and request that I receive, is actually quite low. I believe that the usefulness of these tutorials is severely diminished on a tiny iPod screen. In addition, the end-user would be saddled with an unnecessarily large file (which is unfair to them), and files this size will very quickly exceed the bandwidth limitations on my server, costing me money to distribute a free videocast (which is unfair to me).
Until the issue is resolved — or a QuickTime genius out there comes to my rescue with the perfect workaround — here’s how those of you who want to can convert my episodes to iPod format:
- Download the normal version.
- Add it to your iTunes Library (if you downloaded using iTunes, you can skip this step…it’s already there).
- In iTunes 7 (you must be using that version for this to work), select the episode in your library.
- From the Advanced menu, select Convert Selection for iPod.
Please note: This will take some time to convert, depending on the length of the video. When the conversion is completed, your new file will be about 50% larger than the one you originally downloaded. For some reason I have yet to figure out, conversion via iTunes does a better job than conversion from a master file right out of QuickTime.
Again, it’s not perfect, and it’s slow…but at least those of you who simply must take me on the go with you will be able to transfer it to your iPod.
An easier alternative (for those on the Mac)…
Download a free copy of iSquint.
http://www.isquint.org/
Michael,
I agree with your decision not to make the videos iPod compatible. It’s almost impossible to see any details and your comments about high-quality video audio make perfect sense.
like mordy said - skip QT and use isquint - or a PC equivalent - they offer way more versatility regarding video quality/size/Mon V Stereo etc.
In the meantime i’ll keep my eyes open for new casts and watch them on the mac instead.
Keep up the good work.
Agree with your decision, Michael.
Your help with InDesign is invaluable.
disappointed but very grateful for excellent podcasts, michael. appreciate your dilema. mine is it’s 3:30am & wish i had known before starting to download last night for upcoming trip.
I find the podcast to be quite watchable on the iPod. This is due in large part to your narration style, which is so visual that I could almost follow it just with headphones.
As others have said before, go with iSquint. It’s free and flexible. Do use the Advanced button and use 2-pass encoding, and use h.264, at iPod/TV screen resolution, with a compression level one point below ‘medium’. Files should be nice and small.
Alex — I have, in fact, solved this problem, and uploaded episodes 38 and 39 in an iPod compatible format. All episodes from this point forward should sync successfully to an iPod.