Converting Video for HTC Evo

[mp0510]

Tunebite

Tunebite is another potential solution for converting videos. ESPECIALLY Digital Copies that are DRMed.

Tunebite requires 2 thinbgs to be a successfull solution.
1. Good processor
2. Good video card.

Tunebite plays thec video in the native player, thus avoiding the DRM issues you see in other programs. It then captured the video signal sent to the monitor and the audio signal sent to the speakers.

This is NOT an analog capture. This is a LEGAL method of converting copyright protected media (music too). It plays the media within the legally approved player. It then has a digital "filter" between the decoded signal, (which is still digital) and the screen/speakers. This digital copy is then encoded into whatever format you desire. The good video card is required to capture the video at the same framerate and quality as the original, and the good processor is required to keep the encoding realtime without dropped frames or freezing.

I use this to convert all my iTunes Videos to non-DRMed mp4s. Just use the iTouch preset, or copy the itouch preset to a new profile and tweak as necessary. (Just don't use the Apple TV setting, as it is not compatible with the EVO).

DVDFab is great also. I use that on all my DVDs and BluRays I want to put on my PC.

 

[Dariuas]

Does anyone know of a good tutorial for converting DRM video's

 

[EVO Navian]

man, i just copied a regular DVD w/ DVDFab all i can say is wow, that looks great.. holy crap forget the digital media, i'll just rent the regular dvd and do it that way. i didn't change any settings, i just selected iphone and put the volume at stereo and raised it up to 200%...

This is my first rip the movie was Super Bad, for some reason it has subtibles, but hey i don't care it looks amazing and it only took 26 minutes to make into an mp4 and pass it to the phone. size was about 1.2gb though but hey w/e i don't care

Sorry you didn't get the digital ones working I got my Alice in Wonderland working just fine. As for subs uncheck everything in subpicture, that is all your subtitles on that disc. above that is different language audios, some with director's, uncheck those and keep the default it gives you.

 

[EVO Navian]

When using DVDFab and the iPhone settings provided on page 3, does the video quality look like the Transformers 1&2 on the HD2 (that came preloaded), and does it fill the whole screen w/o any cropping?

I never had a HD2, sorry. For me the videos came out full screen by default played with the video stock app. Zoomed out, the borders were little like;

This is sample of how it looks like zoomed out:

Zoomed in full:

It doesn't crop the video at all in full either, me likey

 

[05 TypeS DC5]

Sorry you didn't get the digital ones working I got my Alice in Wonderland working just fine. As for subs uncheck everything in subpicture, that is all your subtitles on that disc. above that is different language audios, some with director's, uncheck those and keep the default it gives you.

thanks i figured it out last night, i guess i was in such a hurry to get it to work lol

 

[spyderekz]

I looked around for a while and i found the info i needed to convert video for the HTC EVO screen.

there are 2 resolutions you can use. 800x480 for max screen or 480x272. it still holds the 16:3 widescreen ratio but will save some space.

A great program to use when converting video is Handbrake, its a little complicated but gives you complete control over the conversion. if you dont want to fuzz with all that you can use 3GP_Converter. its a old program i been using for my iPod, but i edited the settings best i could for it to work for the EVO.

Why use it? once you select the HTC_EVO_WS settings you just pick one of 2 options. 480x272 or the larger 800x480 that you could use, i dont see a big difference, but if you want to try the HDMI option it might be the best choice.

either way, give it a try and if you are better at configuring this let us know!

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

 

[spyderekz]

the file is about 6mb, so i couldnt attach it to the forums

 

[gksmithlcw]

Thanks for the post regarding HandBrake. I found this as well, which walks you through setting HandBrake's settings for the Evo. I'm converting my first DivX now...

 

[thekarens]

Thanks for the post regarding HandBrake. I found this as well, which walks you through setting HandBrake's settings for the Evo. I'm converting my first DivX now...

I used this and it worked well, but it wouldn't let met max it to 800, it stopped me at 720 and I followed the instructions to a "T"

 

[Flip]

I tried my first video on handbrake with avatar but I don't knw if I'm doing something wrong cause it formatted to mp4 but when I try to look at it it doesn't show it, it plays green on the screen...any ideas anybody

 

[curthibbs]

Forget about futzing around with Handbrake settings, get the free application: "DVD Catalyst Free for Droid Incredible" - Free Stuff | Tools4Movies, the official home of DVD Catalyst (the Incredible has the same size screen as the Evo).

It couldn't be easier to use.There are no options or settings. You just drag and drop the video you want to convert onto it and click the button to start it converting. It works perfectly every time!

 

[gksmithlcw]

I used this and it worked well, but it wouldn't let met max it to 800, it stopped me at 720 and I followed the instructions to a "T"

I think it cuts you off at the size of your source video. I encountered the same problem.

I tried my first video on handbrake with avatar but I don't knw if I'm doing something wrong cause it formatted to mp4 but when I try to look at it it doesn't show it, it plays green on the screen...any ideas anybody

That's better than my first... Mine won't even play on the Evo... It played fine on my PC but was unplayable on my Evo...

Forget about futzing around with Handbrake settings, get the free application: "DVD Catalyst Free for Droid Incredible" - Free Stuff | Tools4Movies, the official home of DVD Catalyst (the Incredible has the same size screen as the Evo).

It couldn't be easier to use.There are no options or settings. You just drag and drop the video you want to convert onto it and click the button to start it converting. It works perfectly every time!

I'll have to give that a try.

 

[jedisrus]

Forget about futzing around with Handbrake settings, get the free application: "DVD Catalyst Free for Droid Incredible" - Free Stuff | Tools4Movies, the official home of DVD Catalyst (the Incredible has the same size screen as the Evo).

It couldn't be easier to use.There are no options or settings. You just drag and drop the video you want to convert onto it and click the button to start it converting. It works perfectly every time!

Just downloaded it. Converted an avi and it works and fits perfectly on my EVO! Thanks so much!

 

[Bujin#IM]

I just use DoubleTwist - just drag / drop into DT and it automagically converts the vid and transfers it to your phone. Easy Peasy!

 

[pwnst_r]

I think it cuts you off at the size of your source video. I encountered the same problem.

Exactly.

 

[ecaggiani]

I had previously converted my entire DVD collection to MP4 files using Nero Recode. They play great on my Tivos, but when I transfer one to my Evo, it doesn't play video...only audio. Screen remains black.

The sizes of most of these are 720xXXX where XXX varies between 332 and 480. The way Nero encodes it, I'm guessing it removes the black bars, or only encodes the actual aspect ratio, which accounts for the varying heights. In any case, I have yet to find one that plays properly.

My main question here is, why won't these Nero MP4's play video on my Evo?

Copying over one that was actually 720x480 to see if it's the size, and also converting one using DVD Catalyst. Will report back soon...

UPDATE: Well the movie I had previously converted using Nero (in 720x480 size) doesn't play at all. Just gives me an error "Sorry, this movie cannot be played."

Waiting on the DVD Catalyst conversion to finish...

Update #2: DVD Catalyst conversion works great. Movie plays beautifully. Here are the stats of the converted movie:

Size: 800x448
Data rate: 676 kbps
Total bitrate: 786 kbps
Frames per second: 23
Audio bit rate: 109 kbps
File size: 518 MB

Compare that to the same movie encoded by Nero:

Size: 720x472
Data rate: 2264 kbps
Total bitrate: 2342 kbps
Frames per second: 23
Audio bit rate: 77 kbps
File size: 1.5 GB

This all leads me to believe that the Evo can only play specific types of MP4's, but I'm not sure what the requirements are. If I merely rip a movie at exactly 800x448, will those play? Or does the bit rate have to be lowered?

Update #3: Ok, it has to be more than simply size. I tried a movie with these properties and it won't play:

Size: 720x360 (well within the Evo's 800x448 sweet spot)
Data rate: 2145 kbps (too high?)
Total bitrate: 2362 kbps (too high?)
Frames per second: 23
Audio bit rate: 216 kbps
File size: 1.66 GB (too big?)

I guess when I have more time I can try converting at a slower bitrate and see if that's the issue. Just kind of blows that I have my entire DVD collection on my server at home and I can't simply copy them over since I have to convert them.

Update #4: Well, after experimenting some more, I've come to the conclusion that it was silly of me to consider putting my ripped DVDs straight onto my Evo since each movie takes up around 2GB of space the way I ripped them. That's great for watching on my big screen TV at home, but on the Evo, it makes no sense.

Playing with DVD Catalyst showed me that I can get the file down to arround 500MB and it still looks amazing on the Evo, so I'll just do the conversions when I need them. And DVD Catalyst is quite good at what it does. No muss, no fuss.

In any case, it seems like the main issue is probably either the bitrate, or something Nero does to the files it generates that makes them incompatible. As to what, exactly, I don't know. But I think I'm done. Sorry for the long post with no real solid conclusions except conversion is necessary, and DVD Catalyst is a great solution

 

[chotaBK]

thanks i figured it out last night, i guess i was in such a hurry to get it to work lol

hey guys, long time lurker. i got the same problem as you types. how did you fix it?

i downloaded my dark knight digital copy wmv from WB and have both the PC and PORT copies on my HD. i then tried using dvdfab7 to convert using the settings that was suggested. the output mp4 is a garbled mess just like your screens.

the original PC/PORT files can only be played in windows media player. i tried vlc but i assume since it has DRM that vlc cant open.

any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[AndroidAddict]

Different Player

I downloaded DoubleTwist player from the market and it seems to work well. It will pause if you change apps and resume when you come back. the only problem I have with it is that you cant zoom like the default player so I'm stuck with the widescreen black bars.

 

[Flip]

Wooow I just used DVDfab n all I can,say is wooow...my movies look good I'm a happy camper now

 

[jedisrus]

So earlier I converted an avi that I already had with no problems. Today I converted Avatar and Alice in Wonderland straight from their respective DVDs, again with no problem. I do think the quality is better on Alice for some reason but I couldn't be more pleased with this program. Once again thanks for the suggestion of DVD Catalyst free for the HTC Droid Incredible.