How to Convert AVI Movies to iPod Format

If you have AVI format movies and want to take them with you on your iPod, you need to convert them to a format compatible with iTunes and the iPod. Quicktime Pro can do this, but the program isn't free and tends to convert files slowly. You can convert files quickly and for free using iSquint, a small program that just converts movie files (.avi, .mp4, mov, .mpg among others) to a file your iPod can play.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• iSquint
• Macintosh Computer with Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
• iTunes
• iPod

1. Download and install iSquint. It's free. You can find the link in the Resources section.

2. Launch iSquint.

3. Click "Optimize for iPod" in the "Settings" box.

4. Move the "Quality" slider to "Go Nuts" for high quality video. Higher quality means larger file sizes, so use the slider at your discretion. "Standard" is the default setting and is OK for most videos.

5. Check the "Add to iTunes" check box in the "Settings" area of the iSquint window. This will automatically add your converted movie to iTunes when it's complete.

6. Check the "H.264 Encoding" check box in the "Settings" area.

7. Navigate to the AVI files you'd like to covert for your iPod.

8. Drag the AVI files to the iSquint window, or click on the plus sign just below the "Advanced" button to open up a finder window to add the AVI movies. You can add as many as you want. iSquint handles batch processing just as well as it does individual files.

9. Click "Change" next to the "Saving In" text field to navigate to the place where you want to save the converted files. If you don't, iSquint will save the converted movies wherever the original AVI is located.

10. Click "Choose" when you've selected the directory to save the converted AVI movies.

11. Click "Start". iSquint will count down the time it will take to convert your files at the bottom of the iSquint window.

12. Click "OK" when iSquint notifies you that the movie is complete.

13. Go to iTunes and look in your "Movies" Library. The converted file should be there and ready to move on to your iPod.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not click the "Advanced" button unless you really know what you're doing. Changing the settings may create movies incompatible with the iPod.

Resources

• iSquint download at MacUpdate.com