How to create your own video for iPod?

I'm going to make the assumption that you already have the video file. Either some non-compatable video format, such as WMF or on DVD. The DVD can be something that you've recorded on a camcorder, had someone make copies for you, or something that you have purchased (legally, of course, and with the DMCA this is even somewhat questionable). In any case, I have two methods that I use to get legally owned DVD media from DVD to my iPod. They are the CucuSoft DVD converter (http://www.cucusoft.com/) and Nero Transcode, part of the Nero burning suite (http://www.nero.com/enu/index.html). There are other options out there, but the produced iPod file tends to have synching issues between video and audio, and it is not pleasant to watch.

Once you have purchased one of these products and installed it to your Windows computer you will launch the program. The program will ask you for the location of your source DVD and will allow you to browse out and choose that DVD. The application will also allow you to choose the quality of output. Unless you're planning on ripping iPod video to display on a T.V. from your iPod or an Apple TV you probably don't need to mess with these settings. The next thing you can choose is what titles you want to convert. You'll probably want to convert all of them. Finally, you'll press the convert button. Some time later, how long depends on the size of the original video, the program will be complete and you'll have an .mp4 file (the format used for iPod video) on your hard drive. Drop this on to your iPod using what ever method you use to synch your iPod.

These two converters also handle video file conversion so that if you have video in a non-iPod compatable format it is likely convertable to the .mp4 format.

These are very simple ways to take video that you own and make it smaller and portable.

I hope this helps.