There are two parts to the process of converting DVD to iPod video. 1) Create a backup image of your DVD or Rip the DVD (politically incorrect) and 2) Convert the backup to an appropriate format (MPEG-4 in this case) to play on an iPod.

DVD Decrypter is free and one of the most popular DVD rippers available. Click here to download DVD Decrypter (Version 3.5.4.0 (final) | Size: 878KiB | Type Windows executable) Once you download and install the software play around with it a little bit to rip the file off the DVD.

Now lets get to the main part of converting DVD to iPod

While searching I found a free open source software which converts DVD’s to iPod without a hitch, it’s called HandBrake.  This software is available for (almost) all Desktop platforms (MAC, Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Linux).

Once HandBrake is installed on you computer, go through the following steps to convert the DVD to iPod

1. Select the source file from the new DVD folder on your computer. (Assuming that a copy of the DVD is made on your computer)
2. In Destination section, set File Format to MP4 file
3. Set Codecs to MPEG-4 Video / AAC Audio
4. In the Video section, Quality = Average bitrate and enter 450 (You can set number upto 750 but remember the higher the number the better the video quality and the better the video quality the bigger the file size.)
5. In the Audio section, select MPEG for Language 1
6. Select any sample rate but remember the higher the sample rate the better the quality and bigger the file size.
7. Bitrate can be anywhere between 128 to 160
8. In the Picture setting tab, reduce the width to 320 and the height will be around 240 which will be set automatically by the software.
9. Click on "Start" the conversion process will take some time depending upon the options selected and also the source file size.

Once the conversion is completed open iTunes and browse and select the file just created by HandBrake. Once you add the new file to iTunes you can easily transfer it to the iPod.

Following are few softwares which club both the process of ripping and converting but they do come for a price. I’d still recommend the free softwares which do the same job with a few extra steps.

• Pd DVD (Size: 6.7MB, Price:$29.95, Download DVD to iPod Converter (Trial Version) )
• Xilisoft (Size: 7.9MB, Price:$29, Download DVD to iPod Converter (Trial Version)

Do you know of better softwares which can do the job? Do let us know by leaving comments.