Blackberry video conversion, how to make best settings and convert step by step
August 4, 2010 · 1 Comment
I have got a Blackberry Storm as my birthday present and I was deeply in love with the gorgeous screen. I can’t move to fill the 8gb card with videos to show off to all my friends. Before that I have tried watching a motion picture on my blackberry that I had already ripped with iPhone/iPod touch settings, The video works but the file size is unnecessarily massive and the audio didn’t match up with the video well when playing on the Blackberry. I collect information here and there and at last get the problem solves. So below is the details shared here.
Output video format: mp4
Output audio format: mp3
Video:
Video Size/resolution: 480×320
Video Bitrate: 1200kbps
Audio:
Audio Bitrate: 64kbps
Channels: 2 channels
Now if you have no intent what to do with that, then here are some simple instructions for you.
First you need a third-part software. I use Nidesoft program, probably the ideal Blackberry converter available. I download from its official website: Nidesoft.
Note: the program you downloaded on nidesoft is free trial version, you are limited to creating video files that are a maximum of 2 minutes long.
In order to convert videos longer than that, you will need to buy the software with 25 dollars, or download the full version somewhere on google.com
Then if you convert videos from DVD, you should use Nidesoft DVD to Blackberry Converter and follow the step-by-step ways.
Step 1: Launch the program; Insert the DVD disc into the DVD Drive. Click the “Open DVD” button, browse your computer, find the DVD folder of the movie, open it, choose some titles and chapters you want or you might choose the whole video to convert.
Step 2: make settings: click “profile” drop-down list to choose “BlackBerry MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4)” format, click “Settings” to set video size and bitrate. If you want to combine two or several titles into one, you might choose titles and click blank box before “Merge into one file” to merge them together.
Step 3: click “convert” button to convert videos. Then it will be finished in few minutes.
However, if you convert from other videos, you should use Nidesoft Blackberry video converter with the following ways.
Step 1: Launch the program and Click “Add” button to load source video files to be converted:
Step 2: make settings: click “format” drop list to choose “Blackberry MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4)” as output video format. Set your video size and calibre under the preview window.
Step 3: Click “Convert” button to begin to convert video format.
After the file is converted, just transfer the file to the videos folder on your BlackBerry through the Desktop Manager and enjoy your newly created video. By the way, the file converted can not only used on Blackberry Storm, but also other Blackberry phones such as Blackberry Pearl, Bold, curve.
Ok, until now you have got the whole intent of how to do with it. But you might encounter some other problems when doing it. Below are my problems and solutions I have collected after long time practice, list here to share with you.
I think there’s a virus in this Program!!??
There’s no virus in Nidesoft. One mortal reported being infected by Backdoor.Graybird, but if you got it from the site I linked to in my post it did not come with the download. If you downloaded it from somewhere else on the web then I am not sure. Probably malware/spamers have uploaded it to phishing sites to snag people. Always make sure you download things from their original website, or from a trusted location like download.com, and always run antivirus and scan stuff you are installing.
The higher the resolution, the superior the video quality?
Not necessarily at all. If you’re converting a video that is 640×480 and convert it to the same 640×480 resolution then all you’re leaving is more work for your phone. I comprehend the login behind it, the pixels get compressed and shop up more clear and sharper. But if you compress these pixels in the conversion process wouldn’t the same thing happen? So why not just convert straight to a 480×320 and save your Storm the trouble?
The higher the bitrate, the superior the quality?
Yes, that is true. However, the higher the bitrate, the larger your video files. So it is not necessary to raise your bitrate very high when you feel your video calibre is fine. I have spent hours working different settings and the ideal results have hovered around 1200 kbps.
Where do I find the files? You might change the output directory by press “browse” button, or the destination will be set automatically at C:\temp, you might press “open” to find the files.
Can I get ringtones into my Blackberry with the above idea?
Yes, you can. You might get ringtones in that way both from DVD and video. But you need to make a tiny different settings. As Blackberry audio support .mp3 format, you need to choose “Blackberry MP3 Music (*.mp3)” as the output file format. Then drag the converted file into ringtones folder in your memory card.
I’m trying to convert a motion picture bought from itunes but the Nidesoft software gives me an error. When I view the details of the error it tells me not enough space on my drive. I have plenty of space. Now when I tried it with a motion picture (same extension .m4v) that was ripped in the past, it works. Any suggestions??
Meet DRM.
Itunes store video files are encoded with fairplay digital rights management that means they will only play on Itunes, Ipod, or AppleTV. I have found another thread to solve this problem, go to: http://forums.crackberry.com/f135/howto-put-drm-protected-files-your-storm-pics-118585/
Why are there black bars on my video?
Even though it looks “widescreen” the storm is native 4:3 not 16:9. So unless you want to stretch everybody and make them tall and skinny you will still have the black bars.
Is there a way to make it fullscreen without the black bars?
Yes, you can crop the file when you do the transcode, but I haven’t done it with Nidesoft Blackberry video converter yet. I’ll post it when I figure it out.
Ok, that is my details and I would keep updating my thread when got more solutions.
Blackberry video conversion, how to make ideal settings and convert step by step
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To anyone out there reading this, do not purchase software for this! The above advice is ridiculous and unnecessary. There is PLENTY of FREE software that can make the conversions you’re looking for.
MYTH: purchased software is better than free, open-source (not licensed) software.
Surprisingly often, the opposite is true. There is so much junk-ware out there that neither function properly, nor have friendly interfaces. And most purchased software (but not all) have annoying limitations and poor customer service with poorly informed tech support. They only want your money.
FACT: With a little knowledge and good freeware, you can easily convert videos on your hard drive to Blackberry format.
First of all, you need to know what to convert to. What format can be played by your blackberry? This requires a little research. Many sales reps/retailers know surprisingly little about the products they sell. Don’t bother asking them. Luckily blackberry posts a list of the compatible formats on their website (somewhere).
Supported Audio Formats:
* MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Layer 3 (.mp3)
* AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ (.m4a or .aac)
* MIDI (.mid or .smf)
* AMR-NB (.amr)
* WAVE (.wav)
* Windows Media Audio (.wma)
* WMAPro – 16 bit, stereo output configuration (.wma)
Note: Windows Media Audio and WMAPro are supported in BlackBerry Device Software 4.2.1 only.
Supported Video file formats:
* MPEG-4 Part 2 (Simple Profile and bvop, including DivX/xvid)
o File formats – .avi, .3gp, .mp4, .mov
o Video – Up to 320 x 240, up to 800 kbps, up to 30 frames per second
* H.263 (Profile 0 & Profile 3)
o File formats – .avi, .3gp, .mp4, .mov
o Video – up to 320 x 240, up to 800 kbps, up to 30 frames per second
* Windows Media Video (Simple Profile)
o File formats – .wmv
o Video – Up to 320 x 240, up to 800 kbps, up to 24 frames per second
Note: Windows Media Video is supported in BlackBerry Device Software 4.2.1 only.
The document posted on the blackberry support website is not ENTIRELY accurate. e.g. I think it says somewhere on there that blackberry’s don’t support xvid. This is just silly because xvid is almost the same as divx, but without the license and with less limitations. I’ve gotten xvid to play on my Blackberry Curve 8330 just fine.
That having been said, there are some things you should know about common video files. The sales rep, most likely, knows nothing about digital video, and he/she will probably tell you something like, “blackberry’s will play mp4′s,” which means nothing. Let me explain.
Modern video files are basically made of 3 things: The container, the video codec, and the audio codec.
Many people think the container is the video format. MP4 IS A CONTAINER NOT A VIDEO FORMAT. This is the most important thing to understand. An mp4 contains video and audio. An mp4 can contain many different types of video or audio. The fact that it’s an mp4 tells you very little.
For the Blackberry, I find it best to use the xvid codec for the video and ACC for the audio.
I use Media Coder
Encode xvid video (unrestricted profile) at a constant bitrate of 800 kbps.
Encode LC-ACC audio at an average bitrate of 96 kbps.
I resize the picture to 320×260 because the resolution of my blackberry in 320×260 pixels, which is not 16:9 widescreen, it’s 4:3, so if your movie is widescreen, you’ll have to do some cropping if you don’t want black bars at the top and bottom of your movie. In Media Coder you can simply select crop to fit, and select 4:3 for the aspect ratio. (This is very convenient).
I use mp4′s, so these are muxed together in an mp4 container.
Media Coder is free and can do all of this. and once you figure out how to use it, it’s very fast. You can even save the settings for later use.
Blackberry’s play avi containers as well (once again avi is only a container not a format), but I find them outdated. Mp4 is the future.
That’s it for Blackberry compatibility. Study some more if you need to get fancy. e.g. if you need to add subtitles, etc.