Friday 8 April 2011

How to copy DXpedition DVD to your iPOD

I already have several radio pod casts going to my ipod along with a number of small programs (I'll create a list shortly). The new job has me commuting by train 90 mins each way so plenty of time on my hands and I have a number of videos and dvd with films from old radio trips, DXpeditions and howto's and I had been pondering how to get them onto the iPOD (mp4 format) and ran across this site: http://www.ipodlegends.com/link.php?go=cucusofttrial

It is a trial download so you get a watermark that says TRIAL SOFTWARE on the video, £20 to register and you don't get the watermark ... your choice really.

The steps are dead easy...
Install the program on your PC (I found works with Ubuntu 10.10 & WINE so you can run it under Linux as well as the iTunes software), and then follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on “Open DVD” on the bottom left corner (Look at the screenshot below). A window will popup. Select the DVD (if running under WINE select the root folder containing the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directory) that you inserted into your computer. The program will fast forward to the menu and your film will start playing. Next, click on the round “Convert” button on the right. A window will popup. Name your DVD and click “Yes”

At this point, Cucusoft will start converting your film. When it is finished, a prompt will popup if you have iTunes installed you will get two options one to look at the folder where you put the converted files and another to....
Step 2: Select “Open iTunes and output folder to upload the output file(s)” and then Click “Next.” All you need to do now is put it on your iPod.

Not 100% amateur radio but I found it incredibly easy to use and now have those DVD of the big DXpeditions in MP4 format for my ipod (no before asked I will not share them!). Not tried but the software is also said to work with normal movies.

Friday 4 March 2011