How to Convert a Movie for Windows Phone, Zune, Zune HD

Earlier this week I wrote a post on a very easy way to add a movie to your Windows Phone. All you had to do is purchase it from Amazon and use the software to transfer it.  Rod wrote an article yesterday about how to put movies on your mobile devices using software on a Mac. More people that are technical read our post that want to know how to add a movie they already own to their phone. Let me help you

Let’s Get Started.

A great feature of Windows Phone is that it supports a wide variety of video formats. For this article, I will use Microsoft’s .wmv (Windows Media Video) file format. You can certainly choose a “Profile” (explained later) that converts to .MP4 as it is supported on Windows Mobile, Xbox, Android, Blackberry, Zune, iPhone and a multitude of other devices. It is actually a very easy process to put a movie on your phone as compared to what it was years ago. In addition, the process was made easier by one thing, DVDFab. DVDFab “DVD to DVD” has many options for you to convert DVD’s.

I use the DVD to DVD version of the software as it provides the most options. Specifically, this versions allows me to take the DVD content and put it in a Vidoe_TS format on my hard drive. This may sound technical but essentially it allows me to queue up for bulk conversion. Once I decided I wanted to put movies on my mobile device I purchased the DVD to Mobile component of DVDFab. If you only want to put content on your mobile device, you can bypass the DVD to DVD version and just get  DVDFab “DVD to Mobile” version. DVDFab has different pricing options for both components. 1 year of the mobile version is $50.00 while a lifetime key will cost you 75.60. I have the lifetime and it is worth every penny.

Straight from the DVD

After you install DVDFab you simply need to drop a disc into the DVD tray. Once you close the tray DVDFab will begin to recognize your disc.

1. Once this disc is recognized it is time to set your options. Here you will notice that DVDFab is capable of converting your movie for the iPod, iPhone and the rest of the I’s, Zune, Zune HD, Xbox, Playstation, and much more. For this we will choose the Zune option on the left.

2. In the middle of the screen, the main movie should already be selected for you, if not select it. (It is usually the longest playtime. For multi episode disks you will have to select each one or run the process multiple times.)

3. Next on the right hand side choose the proper audio. (even if you choose 5.1, if the profile you select does not support it then the final result will be a two channel movie not 6. Be patient, Profiles are next!)

4. Under the audio section, choose if you want subtitles (of course not but I had to add it)

5. Browse to the location where you want the final output file saved.

Profiles

Profiles are basically different video conversion settings that have been predetermined based on the device you select. Some of the devices will have multiple “Profiles”, but usually the default one is good enough. And in this case use the zune.wmv Profile.

Now, there is one thing you may want to change in the profile and that is the name of the output file and the title of the movie. This step is optional, but just click the edit button next the the Profile drop down and type in the information at the top. When you are done click “ok”

Now click the big “Start” button at the bottom right hand corner to start the conversion.

Once you click “Start” DVDFab will begin the conversion. Depending on the speed of your computer, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, so go have some coffee or something.

1. After the conversion is complete go to the directory you selected for the output file

2. There will be a Zune folder that was created, and in that folder will be another folder with the name of the disc.

3. Grab the movie and copy it to your phone, Zune, Zune HD or whatever device you are using.

Done!

From the Hard Drive

Earlier I mentioned that you can queue up the movies you are going to convert. To queue up movies instead of entering a disc, you just browse to the folder that contains the VIDEO_TS folder from the DVD located on your hard drive.

To do this just click the folder icon next to the source field.

Browse to the folder and select it.

After the movie is analyzed follow the instructions from Straight from the DVD. DO NOT CLICK START YET!!

Repeat these steps until all the movies are loaded.. ( Hit the “Queue” button in the bottom right corner to see all the movies that are loaded. You can also adjust the video settings on each movie in the queue. )

Now click start.

Done.

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