1. How does VideoDrive import my videos in iTunes?
VideoDrive provides nine video import methods. VideoDrive can import your videos in iTunes in eight ways. Specify the right method in function of where you want to watch your video collection. The import methods are ordered from fast to slow. Click the image below to look at a PDF document with all options, or read the text box below.
Click the image to download a PDF file with an overview of all import options
2. Where can I watch videos imported with VideoDrive?
As iTunes is the central hub for your digital content, it is easy to watch videos imported in iTunes everywhere you want. With VideoDrive, you have several options to import videos and they affect where you can watch your videos. The options are listed in the following table. Note that some video formats are not readily compatible with iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone and AppleTV. In that case, you have the option to convert them with VideoDrive (using import methods 6, 7, 8) or to convert them in iTunes by CTRL-clicking a video in iTunes and choosing to reconvert to a compatible format. (Those reconverted videos will also appear in any Shared iTunes and Shared Front Row libraries.) Note, that if you have installed additional codecs on AppleTV (referred to as an AppleTV Plus), it is possible to sync and stream videos to this device as explained in question 8.
3. What can I do with my videos when adding them to iTunes using VideoDrive?
As listed in the following table, depending on the import method (see question 3) you can manage your videos by putting them in an iTunes category, add metadata (including description, name, release year, genre, etc), add artwork (manual or automatically from the Internet), rename them (optionally by removing unwanted text fragments automatically), add chapters and display and toggle subtitles (if provided separately as SRT files and when Perian is installed). Video parts can also be merged (see question 5).
4. Which kind of videos can I import in iTunes using VideoDrive?
The rule of thumb is: “if the videos plays in QuickTime, you can add it to iTunes!”. Therefore, make sure you have the appropriate codecs installed on your Mac. VideoDrive supports mov, mpg, mpeg, mp4, m4v, avi, wmv, m2v, flv, wma, divx, mkv, asf, dv, 3gp, ogg, ogv, gif, xvid and omg video formats. For this, we recommend installing the Perian and Flip4Mac codecs. Note that importing Matroeska files (MKV) takes a longer time as these files are loaded into memory first. If the video cannot be saved due to DRM restrictions, most likely only import method 1 will work.
5. Can I merge multiple videos with VideoDrive?
Yes. When you check the option “Merge video files belonging to the title” in the Import Preference Pane, videos consisting of multiple files will be merged. A video is considered to have multiple files, if two files with exactly the same name are encountered, with CDx in their name.
6. Can I remove my videos again from iTunes?
Yes, select the videos you want to delete and click delete or backspace on the keyboard. A confirmation window will popup.
7. Can I use VideoDrive to add my DVD’s to iTunes?
No. As iTunes and QuickTime do not support DVD playback, VideoDrive cannot not add DVD’s to iTunes. They would not be playable anyway.
8. I have installed additional codecs on my AppleTV. Can I use VideoDrive to sync my videos without reconverting them?
Yes. Install VideoDrive version 1.8 or higher and use import method 4. More information on installing codecs on AppleTV can be found here. If you do not want to follow technical instructions, there are also commercial solutions available that will create a special USB-stick for you. Plug this stick into the USB-port of the AppleTV and reboot (by unplugging the power cord) to install additional software and codecs on your AppleTV.
Important warning for users of AppeTV 2.4 and higher: if you do not have any sound when playing videos imported with method 4, please change the audio language setting on your AppleTV from ‘Default’ to ‘English’. This option is available under then ‘Setup’ menu.
9. Why does QuickTime open my videos briefly while importing?
VideoDrive uses QuickTime to create reference movies or self contained movies (see Question 1) of your videos. For this purpose, it must open the videos in QuickTime. Do not interfere with this process or the video import will fail. Do not touch Quicktime or iTunes while VideoDrive is processing. If you want to cancel the import process, click ‘cancel’ in the process window of VideoDrive. It may take a while before the process is canceled. While importing videos as self contained movies, the QuickTime icon keeps bouncing in the dock. Giving focus to QuickTime stops the bouncing.
10. Why do my movies appear twice in Front Row on Max OS X Tiger ?
Videos added to iTunes also appear in the appropriate category in Front Row (Movies, TV Shows or Music Videos). However, if you store your original video files in the ‘Movies’ folder of your user account and add them also to iTunes through VideoDrive, they will appear twice in Front Row (once in ‘Movies’ and once in the category assigned to them in iTunes). This behaviour is caused by Front Row automatically scanning the ‘Movies’ folder for any videos. To avoid this, do not store your videos in the ‘Movies’ folder. Instead, keep them in another folder, or move them entirely into your iTunes library (in VideoDrive, go to the ‘Import’ tab in the Preferences pane and select the ‘Copy the video files into the iTunes library folder’ option).
11. Can I have Dolby Digital surround 5.1 sound when playing videos in iTunes or Front Row?
Yes you can. When you have a digital receiver connected to our mac you can have surround sound! For this, you need to install the Perian plugin and follow the five steps described here.
12. How do Hot Folders work?
If a videos is added to a hot folder, VideoDrive automatically detects this (even when VideoDrive is not running) and will import the video in iTunes. Hot Folders uses the Folder Actions framework of Mac OS X. You can make any folder a hot folder by going to the ‘Hot Folders’ tab in VideoDrive Preferences and clicking the ‘Select Folders’ button. The frist time, required files will be installed (if you do not have enough privileges, an administrator password will be asked). Next, you will be able to select one or more folders to turn into Hot Folders. Keep in mind that subfolders of Hot Folders are NOT Hot Folders themselves. Note that if VideoDrive is busy (importing other videos) when a new video is added, this video will be added to an import queue (as indicated on the main window).
It is also possible to create Hot Folders in Finder: CTRL-clicking a folder in Finder and go to the “More -> Folder Actions” menu. Attach the ‘add - VideoDrive import video’ script to any folder you want to turn into a Hot Folder. Tiger users should always enable or disable Hot Folders from Finder. However, they should click ‘Select Folders’ in VideoDrive Preferences once to install the required script files as described above.
13. Nothing happens when a video is added to a Hot Folder. What should I do?
Try the following steps: 1) Make sure Folder Actions are enabled in Finder. 2) Check if the VideoDrive add action is correctly attached to your hot folders. 3) Make sure no other actions interfere with the VideoDrive action. 4) Check if a simple default script of Mac OS X like 'add - new item -alert' does work properly. If everything should work, but it doesn't, you may try restarting Mac OS X.
