Fantastic video converter for Linux!!!

[SKKY]

I've finally found 1, yes 1 program that converts all sorts of videos so I can put them on my iPod. It's called Handbrake. This is what Open Source software should be- easy to use and FREE!

[RoyGBiv]

1. I hadn't heard of that ...

Looks interesting. I'll have to play with it.

I gather it has the advantage of having an easy-to-use GUI?

I use mplayer/mencoder/transcode ... blah, blah, blah ... on a Linux system for conversion duties. It's all very powerful, but it does have a rather high learning curve for anything beyond basic in/out. Using a CLI interface for video/audio editing and conversion seems counter-intuitive, but for the detail work it can actually be easier.

In fact, one of the reasons I first started using Linux was that video conversion in Windows was often such a tremendous chore. I even had a commercial package, but it was constantly crashing. The shareware stuff was generally just abysmal.

Anyways ... good find.

[SKKY]

2. Exactly! One, easy-to-use GUI!!!!!!

Forget all that blah, blah, blah. I converted 4 videos for my iPod today, and they converted and played perfectly. I'll try and get more adventurous later when I convert some home movies for the iPod, but for now, this program is the best I've seen so far, especially since I don't have a great deal of time right now to spend learning and becoming efficient at the CLI method of converting video.

[RoyGBiv]

3. Very cool ...

I just installed it, and this seems more than a little nifty.

Don't bother with the CLI method, unless you're planning on becoming a video engineer and someone has already promised to pay you 6 figures for life. It's only "easier" relative to the craziness I was trying to go through on Windows. I'd already abandoned it for simple DVD creation when I found ManDVD.

This little bugger looks very nice, though.

Thanks again for recommending it.