iTunes to DVD
September 6, 2006 8:38 PM Subscribe
Is it possible to burn the TV shows I download on the iTunes music store on to a DVD that I can watch on my DVD player?
Yes, but you'll need to go through some hoops.
First, you'll need a screen capture utility, like Snapz Pro. Then you'll need to convert the resulting movie to MPEG2. This could be done with iDVD or Toast. There are also several freeware open-source based conversion utilities, some of which will allow you to make a VIDEO_TS folder or VCD files for burning.
posted by tomierna at 9:35 PM on September 6, 2006
First, you'll need a screen capture utility, like Snapz Pro. Then you'll need to convert the resulting movie to MPEG2. This could be done with iDVD or Toast. There are also several freeware open-source based conversion utilities, some of which will allow you to make a VIDEO_TS folder or VCD files for burning.
posted by tomierna at 9:35 PM on September 6, 2006
An alternate solution that certainly does work: get an iPod video. I have plugged my iPod into the TV on many occasions to playback the video to TV, and it looks remarkably good (despite the low-res nature of the iTunes videos).
If you do decide to go this route, you might want to wait until next week since Apple has an announcement to make. A new video player is rumored...
posted by SciGuy at 9:43 PM on September 6, 2006
If you do decide to go this route, you might want to wait until next week since Apple has an announcement to make. A new video player is rumored...
posted by SciGuy at 9:43 PM on September 6, 2006
I suspect that Apple doesn't build this in because the resolution of their TV shows are intended for iPod screens. Sure, you can play them on your 23" cinema display, but you start to notice the quality difference long before then.
People are suspecting that Apple will announce an iTunes Movie Store on the 12th, so you might see a bump up in resolution and the logical functionality that would come with it.
Fingers crossed.
posted by sixacross at 9:43 PM on September 6, 2006
People are suspecting that Apple will announce an iTunes Movie Store on the 12th, so you might see a bump up in resolution and the logical functionality that would come with it.
Fingers crossed.
posted by sixacross at 9:43 PM on September 6, 2006
If you have a PowerBook or iBook you can connect your computer directly to your TV or VCR to watch video over there. You may need to buy a cable depending on the vintage. If you have a set-top DVD recorder you could then hit record and make a dupe that way.
posted by bcwinters at 5:15 AM on September 7, 2006
posted by bcwinters at 5:15 AM on September 7, 2006
Currently it's not a simple process. Give it a bit of time and someone will produce an open-source conversion tool. Information wants to be free.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:22 AM on September 7, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 7:22 AM on September 7, 2006
This was one reason I bought a creative zen vision: m instead of a video ipod. The ipod outputs at 320x240, while the zen outputs at 640x480 which is the same quality as your regular (not HD) TV.
Of course, I don't know if you can use itunes purchased video on a non-ipod without jumping through the hoops as tomierna explains.
Down with DRM!
posted by utsutsu at 8:25 AM on September 7, 2006
Of course, I don't know if you can use itunes purchased video on a non-ipod without jumping through the hoops as tomierna explains.
Down with DRM!
posted by utsutsu at 8:25 AM on September 7, 2006
Don't know about iTunes TV, but video ripped from a CD (one I already own) to the iPod, then played back on my 32" TV, was remarkably good, I'd guess VHS quality or better. I loves my iPod video...
posted by lhauser at 12:22 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by lhauser at 12:22 PM on September 7, 2006
I regularly attatch my ibook to my TV to watch downloaded videos (what bcwinters said), though I do have a pretty badass new TV that makes it very easy. It's not the solution you're asking for it's damn convenient.
posted by criticalsass at 1:05 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by criticalsass at 1:05 PM on September 7, 2006
Yes. You will likely need two programs. 1. A DVD authoring program, like Adobe Encore, or Sonic DVDit, or various other products by Roxio.2. Possibly, and probably, a video conversion program, like Cleaner, or Total Video Converter, or even the free Windows Media Encoder. Often you will need one of these programs to convert the file into a format accepted by the program. For example, Adobe Encore will only accept files at resolutions 720x480, 720x486, or 704x480, which are digital video standards. doom9.net has a lot of dvd information, among other interesting video tricks.
posted by idledebonair at 2:27 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by idledebonair at 2:27 PM on September 7, 2006
STOIK is also a good freeware tool for video conversion
posted by idledebonair at 1:59 PM on September 8, 2006
posted by idledebonair at 1:59 PM on September 8, 2006
idledebonair: I don't believe any program you listed will convert protected iTunes movie files.
posted by null terminated at 10:14 PM on September 8, 2006
posted by null terminated at 10:14 PM on September 8, 2006
Ah. I didn't realize that was the question. I misread it. I'm not certain how the itunes files are encoded. But some amount of Digital Rights management can be stripped using FairUse4WM.
posted by idledebonair at 2:03 PM on September 10, 2006
posted by idledebonair at 2:03 PM on September 10, 2006
You know, I have been trying to accomplish this very same task. I love to d/load some of the television show's offered on itunes store, but I would like to convert the files to a readable format for my Sony DVD player. I have the following software, and feel that I should be able to do this, but I have not had any success: Current Snapz Pro X, Toast Titanuim, Mac the Ripper, iDVD, QuickTime Pro 7.0 all running an a G4 powermac (twin 1.25 ghz procs) maxed out 2gig ram, and plenty of HD space.
What I have done so far is play the film using iTunes, using Snapz Pro to record it, which saves the film as a .mov file that Quicktime can play. I have been using QTime to 'Export' the film to a MPEG-4 file. Using Toast to burn the DVD-R blank media. But then the DVD player cannot play it. This consumes hours of time for conversion, only to have a coaster as the end product. I have purchased the film. I don't have a problem burning a Back Up for my sole use. Anyone else here in the Hive Mind, have a suggestion? Thanks!
posted by Austinscott at 7:42 AM on October 29, 2006
What I have done so far is play the film using iTunes, using Snapz Pro to record it, which saves the film as a .mov file that Quicktime can play. I have been using QTime to 'Export' the film to a MPEG-4 file. Using Toast to burn the DVD-R blank media. But then the DVD player cannot play it. This consumes hours of time for conversion, only to have a coaster as the end product. I have purchased the film. I don't have a problem burning a Back Up for my sole use. Anyone else here in the Hive Mind, have a suggestion? Thanks!
posted by Austinscott at 7:42 AM on October 29, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by null terminated at 8:58 PM on September 6, 2006