transferring Torrents AVI files to Itunes - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

MacDaddy77 · 10-06-2011, 06:15 PM

What does everyone with a Mac use to download torrents? Is there a site that you can download the proper format for use with itunes?

If not what do you use to convert the avi files in itunes?

Thanks,

Burninator · 10-06-2011, 06:41 PM

Handbrake to convert files.

http://handbrake.fr/

silentsim · 10-06-2011, 06:43 PM

Take a look at an app called iflicks. It is a paid app but it is amazing. It will convert and add metadata to any video file then add it to iTunes.

sclitheroe · 10-06-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentsim

Take a look at an app called iflicks. It is a paid app but it is amazing. It will convert and add metadata to any video file then add it to iTunes.

I'd actually recommend using Handbrake to do the conversion, then throw it into iFlicks with the "make iTunes compatible" option to have it properly tagged and artworked and auto-imported into iTunes. (make iTunes compatible doesn't transcode the file a second time)

Handbrake has a superior encoding engine to iFlicks, which relies on Quicktime to do its heavy lifting. The video quality on a Quicktime encode is somewhat lower, and its also single-threaded, so you'll get higher quality, and quicker encodes, using Handbrake.

Russic · 10-06-2011, 09:18 PM

While sclitheroe is correct, I've heard of a program called ivi (available in the app store for about $3). The quality is pretty hard to distinguish and it can monitor a folder for you so you don't even really need to manually convert anything... you just tell it to convert anything that ends up in your downloads folder and the files just show up in your iTunes all properly sorted and tagged. Or so I'm told.

Rathji · 10-07-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

While sclitheroe is correct, I've heard of a program called ivi (available in the app store for about $3). The quality is pretty hard to distinguish and it can monitor a folder for you so you don't even really need to manually convert anything... you just tell it to convert anything that ends up in your downloads folder and the files just show up in your iTunes all properly sorted and tagged. Or so I'm told.

If I was into that kind of thing, this single app would almost make me buy a Mac. Although I guess you could probably script handbrake to do the same thing. Would just need some way to monitor the folder to trigger the script.

Still $3 is way easier.

malcolmk14 · 10-07-2011, 09:47 AM

I have the VLC app on my iPhone but I have no idea if it's still available; it plays avi files.

Russic · 10-07-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

If I was into that kind of thing, this single app would almost make me buy a Mac. Although I guess you could probably script handbrake to do the same thing. Would just need some way to monitor the folder to trigger the script.

Still $3 is way easier.

Ya the guy I talked to said it changed his whole download process. It's a real "set it and forget it" app. If Ron Popeil made a video conversion app it would probably be this one.

Burninator · 10-07-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Ya the guy I talked to said it changed his whole download process. It's a real "set it and forget it" app. If Ron Popeil made a video conversion app it would probably be this one.

I must know more. Does this app do the conversion or merely the scripting of it? Does this work for TV shows? Will it sort them into a season in the correct order and everything?

sclitheroe · 10-07-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

If I was into that kind of thing, this single app would almost make me buy a Mac. Although I guess you could probably script handbrake to do the same thing. Would just need some way to monitor the folder to trigger the script.

Still $3 is way easier.

Lol...Mac can trigger on folder events automatically dude, it's built right in.

Rathji · 10-07-2011, 03:12 PM

I meant in Windows, since I was joking about the alternative to switching to a mac

sclitheroe · 10-07-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

I meant in Windows, since I was joking about the alternative to switching to a mac

Ah..there must be some freeware out there that can watch a folder on Windows.

Regardless, that iVI app on the Mac app store looks interesting - for $4 I'll give it a spin on my next conversion. I'll take a look inside the app bundle too and see if its using x264 under the hood, which is what I'm hoping.

ken0042 · 10-07-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I have the VLC app on my iPhone but I have no idea if it's still available; it plays avi files.

I use that as well; it's slicker than squid poop.

Unfortunately it isn't available any longer. I think I downloaded it right about the time somebody said it was coming off iTunes; I may have had one of the last downloads.

Handbrake does work well to convert to MP4. I'm not sure how much my craptacular video card has to do with it, but the conversion takes real time. So a 2 hour movie takes 2 hours to convert.

Burninator · 10-07-2011, 04:24 PM

/\ Encoding is done by your processor. Mine is usually around 2/3 of the video length for encoding time. But it depends on the quality coming in and going out.

Titan · 10-07-2011, 04:53 PM

I, I mean some guy I know, uses isohunt to find, transmission to download and Ivi to load onto iTunes.

Works quite well for me, I mean the guy I know that does that.

Titan · 10-07-2011, 04:53 PM

Funny a user called MacDaddy is asking the question!

Russic · 10-07-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I must know more. Does this app do the conversion or merely the scripting of it? Does this work for TV shows? Will it sort them into a season in the correct order and everything?

It does the conversion itself and it is a dream for tv shows. Orders them perfectly.

sclitheroe · 10-08-2011, 09:32 AM

iVI looks be be on par with iFlicks for encoding, meaning that it uses QuickTime. I also found the tagging to be inferior to iFlicks. (Willow? You don't know what Willow is?). And it's uglier to boot than iFlicks.

If I had to choose one of iVI or iFlicks, it would be iFlicks - it does the same thing, the tagging in limited testing is better.

Russic · 10-10-2011, 11:49 PM

The way I see it iFlicks wins out on tagging while ivi is about $17 cheaper and can monitor a folder. It depends what features are more important to you.

MacDaddy77 · 10-11-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

Funny a user called MacDaddy is asking the question!

Yes but the Mac in my user name has nothing to do with MacIntosh

I love this forum, As all of you who have been answering all my questions lately can attest