How To: Convert Movies, TV Episodes, Videos for the Nokia N95

April 10th, 2007 • Mark Guim • Filed Under •

I will show you how you can convert your favorite movies and TV episodes from your computer to watch right on the Nokia N95’s default movie player. The Nokia N95 supports H.264 playback. H.264 in simple words: high quality videos at small file sizes. Enough techno blabber! Find out how right now!

UPDATE: Nokia just released Nokia Video Manager for Windows. Check it out.

UPDATE 2: I found an easier and better way using VisualHub. Read How To: Easy and Best Video Quality Conversion Using VisualHub on Mac

There seems to be a lot of new Nokia N95 owners, so this guide comes in perfect timing. It will make third-party programs like SmartMovie obsolete. This is also quick and pretty simple. Here we go:

Download the latest Quicktime.

Open the movie or TV episode in Quicktime. If the file does not play on your computer, it means you are missing a codec or component. For the purpose of this guide, I will not get into that part of the topic.

Go to File -> Export. Select “Movie to MPEG-4″ then click Options. Copy the settings in the screenshot below.

Thanks ImageShack!

Then click Video Options.. and copy the settings in the screenshot below.

Thanks ImageShack!

That’s it! Just hit OK and save. Depending on your computer and the size of the file, it may take some time. For my sample, I converted a 350MB TV episode to 240MB. Transfer it to your “My Movies” folder in your memory card when it finishes.

Summary of video settings:
File Format: MP4
Video Format H.264
Data Rate: 700 kbits/sec
Optimized for: Download
Image Size: 320 x 240 QVGA
Turn On: Aspect Ratio using Letterbox
Key Frame: Automatic
Restrict Profile(s) to: Main AND Baseline
Encoding Mode: Best Quality (Multi-pass)

You can play around with the settings yourself, but these are the settings for the best quality that the Nokia N95 can playback for you. I also tested these settings in my Nokia N93 and it also worked fine.

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  • B-Dizzle
    Apologies,

    other settigns for mediacoder:

    video codec: Mpeg4
  • B-Dizzle
    I just spent the best part of a week trying out all of the encoders I could get my hands on and testing them with the TV-out on my N95.

    BEST ENCODER BY FAR: Mediacoder (uses cuda)

    Settings Container:mp4
    Constant bitrate: 1400 kbps
    Resolution: Forced 640x480
    Framerate: 25FPS
    Audio: LC- AAC
    Sound: gain +13Db as output from phone is usually
    poor to tv

    When transferring large files I have found that using a microSD -->USB adaptor can transfer a 250MB file in <20secs then put card back into phone.

    Also since recent firmware updates the N95-1 and up can handle 16GB MicroSD cards fine. Spread the news.
  • can you convert satellite tv channels from your pc to the phone.
    http://www.computeruser.com/blogs/entry/satelli...
  • freemovies1
    which software is used as a converter?

    http://downloadmoviesandmovies.blogspot.com
  • Nice post keep the good working
  • Why to waste time & energy in converting videos when you can play them directly on your phone without converting.Core Codec Player supports almost all popular video formats.I play all dvd rip movies directly on my phone without converting.
    To download Core Codec Player follow this link-
    http://www.cellphonemessagesender.com/blog/cate...
  • thanks for the info
    kenny
  • what software do you guys use to convert videos for N95 ?
  • manny
    for you linux users :)

    to encode an avi to to an nokia e71 recognized mp4 format:

    ffmpeg -y -i inputFILE.avi -acodec aac -ab 72k -s 320x176 -aspect 16:9 -vcodec h264 -b 300k -qcomp 0.6 -qmin 16 -qmax 51 -qdiff 4 -flags +loop -cmp +chroma -subq 7 -refs 6 -g 250 -keyint_min 25 -rc_eq 'blurCplx^(1-qComp)' -sc_threshold 40 -me_range 12 -i_qfactor 0.71 -directpred 3 outputFILE.mp4


    original file was 700MB, resulting mp4 encoded file slightly less then half @300MB...quality is excellent :)

    even though I don't foresee watching many video's on this amazing phone, I thought I would share my findings...

    hh,
    manny
  • Hi, I have a Nokia 5700 and a MacBook. I tried to convert movie but the phone gaves an error and only plays the sound...how can i convert videos to them?
  • frustrated n95 owner
    right guys, i got an n95 8gb, got a pc with vista, got no movies on hard drive, dont have quicktime or itunes, but i got loads of dvds that i want to try n convert 1 of them to be able to watch it on my n95!

    what do i do?
  • Imran
    NOKIA N95 8GB

    Hi all.

    This is how to convert your quicktime movies to play on your nokia n95 8gb.

    “Open movie with Quicktime Pro,
    File > Export
    Movie to 3G > Options

    Video Settings:
    Video Format: MPEG-4
    Data Rate: 512kbits/s
    Image Size: 320×240 (Tick preserve aspect ratio and use letterbox, you can use crop if you don’t mind a cropped image for movies)
    Frame Rate: Custom - 30frames/sec
    Keyframe: Every - 24 frames

    This should work as it does work with my Quicktime files.
  • Why worrying with the price of those apps. if you can use a free, powerfull and open source one like Avidemux?
    It is like Virtualdub, for Windows, Linux and Mac and here you have a how-to to produce High Quality videos for the N95 (in spanish; translate it with the google applet at right-top):

    http://miqueridopinwino.blogspot.com/2008/08/co...

    You can use 320x240 if you don't need to connect it to TV or 640x480 if you need it.
    Very fast, it uses every cicle of your computer's processor and very easy to use.
  • garrowz
    I have a pc and n95 8gb. instead of using nokia video manager try using nokia multimedia player to convert .mov to mp4. Just click on file and open your .mov stop it then save as either 3gp or mp4. i converted a 3 hour .mov but the resolution was too low so now trying it at 320 x 240 mp4.. this is the middle option and it has a higher setting but haven't tried it.. not sure what other formats it is able to convert from will let you know how i get on
  • whits
    Just downloaded Rambo 08 to my N95 8GB plays great sounds great, just converted avi file to mp4 using I'm TOO convertor np's!!! Got full version on a disc with serial number.
  • peter pan
    hi all..

    anyone know any converter than can convert rmvb format files to 3gp or avi or other format that can be played using N95???

    pls help
  • Ben
    Hey guys,

    I found a lot of this quite useful but also perhaps misleading if you are using an N95 8gb with the latest Symbian OS and converting videos on a Mac (I have no idea how Quicktime Pro works on the PC). The problem I found, which seems to be a common one, was that no matter how I jiggered about with the settings, h.264 movies were coming back with either bad sound or no image. Perhaps had I had more patience I might have found the ideal setting, but from what I have read this seems to be difficult and (oddly) seems to vary.

    In a last ditch attempt I tried the default settings, (although I have since bumped up kbps to 512 for better quality and switch on "preserve aspect ratio" so as not to crimp the movies) and the output MP4s play without a hitch.

    This converts .AVI perfectly well (including torrents) that can be played back in the N95 8gb Realplayer app. at fullscreen in either orientation. I have yet to try it on alternative file types supported by Quicktime. The conversion rate changes a 350 meg .AVI into a 195 meg MP4.

    To clarify, the settings I am using are:

    File Format: MP4 (ISMA)
    Video Format: Mpeg-4 (Improved)
    Data Rate: 512 kbits/sec
    Preserve aspect ratio using letterbox
    Framerate: 30
    Key Frame: every 24 frames

    Quicktime Pro version 7.4.5
    Intel Macbook OS 10.5.3
    The Nokia is from O2 UK and is the N95 8GB Black running Symbian 0S S60 3rd Edition

    Hope that helps some people

    Ben
  • Palpal
    Hi again,

    Looking for a converter on the PC. Maybe this will do the trick. I think it user ffmpeg as the engine just like VisualHub for MAc

    http://www.squared5.com/

    Mpeg Streamclip
  • Palpal
    Hi there,

    Why are you guys encoding with 700kbits on a 320x240 video? The old VHS size. h.264 should do great with a lot less.

    After a few tests with VisualHub I have come to the conclusion that a 700mb movie at... maybe 716 x 296 pixels should be less than 250mb converted for the Nokia phone. Your goal should be good quality, small file size. Why overdo the bitrate, when it can be hard to see the difference.

    Check - Mpeg4 and h.264 in VisualHub
    Check - Two pass VBR

    Calculate aspect ratio. Ex. 716 x 296 pixels...
    716/296=2.42 -> 320/2.42=132
    Result: 320x132 pixels

    Set file size within 250mb for a 700mb file.
    Set sound to Auto (good sound is important)

    Encode!

    This should result in a file well under 250mb at a bitrate around 300kbits. Quality above artifacts and with a clear image.

    A finger rule for me encoding movies and TV-series to 320x240 from 600 or 700 pixel files is: File size = 36%.

    That should be enough data. Don't forget the aspect ratio.

    Happy encoding!
  • NEO
    The best software is MeGUI. It has its own N95 video profile. Select HE-AAC v2 for audio.
  • Sifte
    Apologies.
    SUPER worked for me this time, last time I used Vista and could not make it to work (VISTA SUX).

    with SUPER you can even crop your videos to see full screen, you just need to know how much to crop, I had a link before, will post if I can find. I like Super cz I had problems with Audio/Video Sync with other conversions but that can arise from other issues like PC config/Processor usage etc.

    There is another great free software called PS3Video9. A great guy named "btc" provided his tutorial few months ago but the link has changed. the following is the working link -

    http://www.n95users.com/forum/third-party-apps/...

    Hope this helps.

    ¬Sifte
  • Sifte
    Ley_Ho_Mah>>
    I don't think SUPER can give you full screen output but there is a way to crop the video to fit your screen with a different software. Try googling for it!
  • Mark
    Ley_Ho_Mah

    What setting do you use and does it give you a movie at fullscreen..?
  • Ley_Ho_Mah
    Just spent HOURS looking around for a good converter and after everything ive tried, it seems like SUPER seems like the one to go for!

    It does take a long time and also quite hard to actually find!, but i can say it is well worth it and works great(AND looks amazing on my Nokie n95 8gb).
  • CONFUSED GIRL
    I have recently got a new N95 8gb phone. I am trying to transfer movies which are already in 3gp format from my pc to my cell using Lifeblog n nokia video manager. But i get an error saying some required codec is missing. What does that mean? After reading all the above comments I think King n Graham are facing the same problem as me. What are codecs? How do I know which codecs I need n from which site can i download them? Are they free or do u need to pay for them? I need answers to these questions. Someone PLEASE help me! :-(
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