Converting Video to PSP Format

The PSP supports only one video format: MPEG-4 (with the MP4 extension). But many videos come in other formats, such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and AVI. One option is to use MAX Media Manager for PSP (see Chapter 14) to convert video files for your PSP. Another option is the popular freeware program PSP Video 9.

This freeware application, written by Videora Holdings, is available at www.pspvideo9.com. It not only converts video from several formats (including AVI, MPEG, WMV, and MOV) to MP4, but also sends them directly to your PSP in the proper folders when it's done. To run it, you'll have to have your PSP connected to the computer with a USB cable or a Memory Stick Duo in a card reader.

PSP Video 9 is easy to use. Download and install the program, connect your PSP, and then start the program. You may see the screen shown in Figure B.1. If for some reason, PSP Video doesn't find your PSP, you can point it to the proper drive letter manually.

Figure B.1. PSP Video 9 tries to find your PSP automatically.

Next, the main interface window appears (Figure B.2). The bar on the left side has several options. To convert video, click Convert (Figure B.3).

Figure B.2. PSP Video 9's main interface.

Figure B.3. The Convert interface.

To convert (or transcode) a video, click either One-Click Transcode or Transcode New Video. The One-Click Transcode option will offer up a file browser that lets you choose a video file, and after you select the file, PSP Video 9 immediately converts it to an MP4 file and drops it in a folder (the default being C:\Program Files\PSPVideo9\MP_ROOT\100MNV01\).

If you click Transcode New Video, you can choose a quality profile in the New Transcoding Job area of the interface. The drop-down menu has a dozen or so options, and you can learn all about them at the PSP Video 9 forum, in this thread:

www.pspvideo9.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=850

When you've converted a file, you can copy it over to the PSP. Click Copy in the bar on the left side of the main PSP Video 9 interface to see the Copy interface (Figure B.4). On the left side of the screen is the program's output folder (configurable through the Setup dialog box); on the right side should be your PSP. Click the Copy Video to PSP button near the bottom of the window, and with a nearly audible zoom!, the video will fly on over to your PSP, in the proper folder.

Figure B.4. PSP Video 9's Copy interface.

PSP Video 9 has all sorts of additional functionality. It's not well documented, but you can learn more about it in the forums (www.pspvideo9.com/forums/index.php). Check out the help forum for lots of tutorials, FAQs, and other assistance. Register and post a question, if you like, but do use the search feature first; otherwise, you may annoy the regulars.

Although I am recommending a Web forum, I can't be responsible for the content of the posts, which may contain bad words or other objectionable things. Surf at your own risk.