Blu-Ray to Apple TV

[Cave Man]

Any thoughts or suggestions for external blu-ray readers?

Readers are about US$60-70 right now. Just get one with a SATA interface and put it in a 5.25" USB2 enclosure with a SATA interface (I have a ByTecc Super Drive enclosure).

it takes a long time to rip a Blu-Ray with an internal drive, I reckon an external drive will take a bit more time...

The bottleneck is the read speed of the drives. The fastest are at 10x or so, thus USB2 will read just as fast as an internal SATA connection in most instances.

 

[jamerican]

BluRay Reader

I am looking to start ripping blu-ray movies and I have read a lot on this forum / thread about software, but not much about the hardware. I have no immediate need for a blu-ray burner, so I am wondering if I could save the money and just buy an external (I have an iMac, needs to be external) blu-ray reader (readers are about $200 cheaper than burner right now). Any thoughts or suggestions for external blu-ray readers? What do you guys use who post here? Fastmac? OWC? LG? ASUS? Will any external blu-ray drive work even if it is advertised as compatible with Windows (and Mac is not mentioned)? How much does the speed of the drive matter for ripping (the basic Fastmac external drive runs at only a 2x speed). Any good reason to consider a burner instead if all I want to do now (and in the immediate future) is rip, not burn? Thanks in advance.

Below is what I use on my 24" iMac. Works great with Mac BluRay Ripper Pro.
OWC Mercury Pro Blu-Ray Reader+SuperDrive Burner FireWire 800/400/USB2/eSATA
OWC Mercury Pro FireWire 800/400+USB2+eSATA 'Quad Interface' Blu-ray Reader + SuperDrive DVD DL/CDRW Reader/Writer. Read Blu-Ray at up to 8X; Burn DVD ... more Same Day $187.99
Brand: Other World Computing OWC Item # OWCMRF8USD5BD[/B]
[/U]

 

[tbayrgs]

Depends if the srt is only the forced subs (only when the navi speak) and if not if the srt has flagged forced for just forced. In short for srt's in hb as long as the srt only has the forced subs just select it and leave it alone.

Also realize this: the atv does not respect the "default" checkbox in hb. This means that on first playback you will NOT see the navi subs. You will have to hold down play/pause to bring up the sub menu then pick the subs. After that the atv will always show the subs.

Please understand that this is not the same as the traditional "burned in subs" you are used to seeing from dvd sources with HB where they are always on with no options. Having said that much better because imo they render much nicer and in the case of optional subs can be turned on or off.

Quick Edit: note that with Jubler you can actually view the subs in a text format to see if they look like just the forced navi subs before doing a long encode.

Just wanted to thank you again Dynaflash--was able to get subtitles added via HB (though I inadvertently selected a track that was out of sync ) and then added a better track via Subler.

I also took your advice, downloaded Jubler to preview/edit the subtitles. Unfortunately, looks like I'm going to have to play with it a bit more as I manually edited the font, size, and color of the text to approximate the actual style used in the movie, saved it and added using Subler but none of the changes took. Well, at least I have the subtitles there.

Thanks again.

 

[Microsaft]

AppleTV will play Anamorphic HD content. I loaded a 1080p MKV into Handbrake. Under the picture setting, I changed the Anamorphic setting to "Custom". That made the window bigger, exposing more options. I made the width 1280 and the height 720, with "keep aspect ratio" checked. With the Dark Knight, the display width was set at 1723. I encoded one scene with this setting. The resulting file was 1280x720, Anamorphic 1723x720 Custom. I synced the file onto my AppleTV and the file played fine. Looked good too. I have not made any critical analysis, but this setting may give use better use of the limited pixels afforded to us by AppleTV.

Tried your settings today with 2 movies.
When i try to play it on my Apple TV, Apple TV freezes (so that i have to reboot it). Tried to play the stuff with xbmc as well: One file is playing fine, the other one doesnt run smooth.

I used your settings. With the movie that didnt run well via bxmc the display width was set at 1339×720. File size is just 3,4GB with a bitrate of 3191...

 

[Cave Man]

Are you using one of the nightly Handbrake builds? They're a lot better for Blu-rays.

https://build.handbrake.fr/

 

[Microsaft]

I guess so.
Using the "Mac" build GUI x64

(When i use the settings u mentioned in #1 everything works fine on my Apple TV.)


edit:
Will give it another try with The Dark Knight.
When i use this settings - do i not have to set the framerate to 24fps? (That's what I did)

 

[dvdflashbacks]

Would someone mind summing up what our available options are regarding software for converting Blu-rays to Apple TV? I'm currently using MakeMKV and Handbrake, however, when those don't work, I revert to Pavtub Blu-ray Ripper. Are there any other software packages out there? Are there others better than these?

I, like others, have had trouble ripping Sherlock Holmes. MakeMKV worked fine, Handbrake crashed, Pavtub Blu-ray Ripper worked, however the audio synchronization in the output file seems to be off on the later half of the movie. Any suggestions?

Hey NateCook, were you able to successfully get Sherlock ripped through HB? I have been re-visiting some of my troublesome titles that I was never able to get on my aTV like Sherlock and Avatar. Did Pavtub work? Do you know if it also encodes for aTV or do I still need to use HB. It would be nice to have an alternative to HB for problematic rips.

Thanks.

 

[dvdflashbacks]

Just wanted to thank you again Dynaflash--was able to get subtitles added via HB (though I inadvertently selected a track that was out of sync ) and then added a better track via Subler.

I also took your advice, downloaded Jubler to preview/edit the subtitles. Unfortunately, looks like I'm going to have to play with it a bit more as I manually edited the font, size, and color of the text to approximate the actual style used in the movie, saved it and added using Subler but none of the changes took. Well, at least I have the subtitles there.

Thanks again.

Hey tbayrgs,

Can you walk me through how you got Avatar subs working

Thanks.

 

[roidy]

Can you walk me through how you got Avatar subs working

Thanks.

Under Windows it's easy, just follow this tutorial:-

http://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16784

Under OSX you'll need to replace some software with Mac equivalents, basically try the following:-

1. Rip your Blu-Ray with MakeMVK
2. Use MKVtoolnix to extract the video, audio and forced sup subtiltle tracks.
3. Use BDSup2Sub to convert the forced sub track from step 2 into a VOB subtitle track.
4. Use MKVtoolnix to remux the video, audio and VOB subs created in step 3 into a new mkv file.
5. Make sure your using a fairly recent nightly version of Handbrake that supports VOB subs from a mkv.
6. Encode the mkv using Handbrake but under the subtitles tab select the VOB subtitle track you added to the mkv and check burned-in.

I've successfully used this method under Windows on quite a few Blu-rays with no problems, there's no reason why it shouldn't work under OSX as well.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Quick question, when you want us to click on AppleTV the Framerate has it as "Same as Source". But when I click on 24 Frames per minute, the Output setting says: Custom.

Is this normal?

As for Aspect ratio, the Width is 1280 and the Height is 528. Does this translate to 1280x528? Will it be possible to increase the Width, so the Height becomes 720? That way, you get 1728x720, instead of 1280x528. Will this setting work for AppleTV?

Also, if it does work, will the film be able to get played on iPhone, iPod, and iPad? Or will you have to change the settings again and have 2 different versions of the same film? (One for AppleTV, the other for iPhone/iPod/iPad)

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Under Windows it's easy, just follow this tutorial:-

http://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16784

Under OSX you'll need to replace some software with Mac equivalents, basically try the following:-

1. Rip your Blu-Ray with MakeMVK
2. Use MKVtoolnix to extract the video, audio and forced sup subtiltle tracks.
3. Use BDSup2Sub to convert the forced sub track from step 2 into a VOB subtitle track.
4. Use MKVtoolnix to remux the video, audio and VOB subs created in step 3 into a new mkv file.
5. Make sure your using a fairly recent nightly version of Handbrake that supports VOB subs from a mkv.
6. Encode the mkv using Handbrake but under the subtitles tab select the VOB subtitle track you added to the mkv and check burned-in.

I've successfully used this method under Windows on quite a few Blu-rays with no problems, there's no reason why it shouldn't work under OSX as well.

Is there a walkthrough for Forced Subtitles but on a Mac, instead of Windows?

 

[DoFoT9]

Quick question, when you want us to click on AppleTV the Framerate has it as "Same as Source". But when I click on 24 Frames per minute, the Output setting says: Custom.

that should be fine. Its just because you have clicked on a different output.

As for Aspect ratio, the Width is 1280 and the Height is 528. Does this translate to 1280x528? Will it be possible to increase the Width, so the Height becomes 720? That way, you get 1728x720, instead of 1280x528. Will this setting work for AppleTV?

what apple tv do you have? The latest has been found to playback some 1080p movies. E.g. X x 1080. I see no problem with doing this.

Also, if it does work, will the film be able to get played on iPhone, iPod, and iPad? Or will you have to change the settings again and have 2 different versions of the same film? (One for AppleTV, the other for iPhone/iPod/iPad)

I know the iPad and latest iphone will have no problems doing this, as their CPU is virtually the same as the apple tv and support virtually all the same things. For the older ones you can probably still do it.

 

[roidy]

Is there a walkthrough for Forced Subtitles but on a Mac, instead of Windows?

Not as far as I know, but using the Windows tutorial and what I've posted it should be easy enough to figure out.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

what apple tv do you have? The latest has been found to playback some 1080p movies. E.g. X x 1080. I see no problem with doing this.


I know the iPad and latest iphone will have no problems doing this, as their CPU is virtually the same as the apple tv and support virtually all the same things. For the older ones you can probably still do it.

I don't have an AppleTV, but I plan to get the ATV2 in December. If the ATV2 can handle 1080p movies, does that mean it can handle the Picture setting I mentioned earlier?

Cave Man, what do you think? Will Width 1728 and Height 720 (1728x720p?) work for the Handbrake?

 

[newtonuk]

Up!

Okay, I've tried following these instructions on both Windows and Mac platforms using the Up! blu-ray...

On each platform I get multiple playlists.... How do I know which one I want? They all seems very similar to me.

Also, there is no DD5.1 track, only DTS. Can I convert this to DD5.1 on a Mac?

TIA.

 

[DoFoT9]

I don't have an AppleTV, but I plan to get the ATV2 in December. If the ATV2 can handle 1080p movies, does that mean it can handle the Picture setting I mentioned earlier?

check out this reply from the stutter thread. .

2) I might have gotten a bit greedy at that point, as I then decided to try out the 1080p encode I did early on. That played, but there were noticeable dropped frames fairly frequently. It wasn't "horrible" (I've seen worse), but it would certainly be unwatchable for me. If the Apple TV eventually gets totally jailbroken and they can overclock the A4 chip, perhaps it will be up to the task. They'll obviously also need to hack it to output 1080p instead of 720p.

so there is something kind of official for you.

 

[NightStorm]

Okay, I've tried following these instructions on both Windows and Mac platforms using the Up! blu-ray...

On each platform I get multiple playlists.... How do I know which one I want? They all seems very similar to me.

Also, there is no DD5.1 track, only DTS. Can I convert this to DD5.1 on a Mac?

TIA.

The Pixar Blurays can be a bit of a pain to encode as they feature mutliple playlists that are very similar in length (I believe they do this for alternate language text throughout the movies). Unfortunately, I'm not at my home computer so I cannot tell you for sure, but I think it is the first playlist (I just re-encoded this a few weeks ago) for the English version.

If you use the nightly build of Handbrake, it now has the ability to transcode DTS 5.1 to AC3 5.1 using ffmpeg. It can also properly read the disc structure from an unecrypted Bluray disc, much like it can with a DVD. This will preserve chapters, but not subtitles (yet).

 

[dhy8386]

Okay, I've tried following these instructions on both Windows and Mac platforms using the Up! blu-ray...

On each platform I get multiple playlists.... How do I know which one I want? They all seems very similar to me.

Also, there is no DD5.1 track, only DTS. Can I convert this to DD5.1 on a Mac?

TIA.

I just posted a guide for converting Blu Ray to Mv4 and the main program i use is Another EAC3to GUI Plus. It identifies the playlist in seamless branching disks and consolidates all the M2ts files into one and makes it easy for you to make the MKV which i then convert to Mv4. It requires windows but sounds like that is an option for you. Check it out as it may help.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1034446/

 

[newtonuk]

If you use the nightly build of Handbrake, it now has the ability to transcode DTS 5.1 to AC3 5.1 using ffmpeg. It can also properly read the disc structure from an unecrypted Bluray disc, much like it can with a DVD. This will preserve chapters, but not subtitles (yet).

Would you be able to share how I do this? The only option I can see for DTS conversion is to Discrete 6 Channel.

Cheers.

 

[sk8ah121]

I have a 27 inch iMac and have been very successful using Handbrake to convert my DVD's and other video files for use on my AppleTV.

Lately I've been starting to buy Blu-rays and found this thread. It looks like with some simple steps going from Blu-ray to AppleTV is pretty simple. I just need to buy a external Blu-ray player.

I may end up burning some Blu-rays of home videos so I was planning on buying a Blu-ray burner.

I have bunch of store credit with at jr.com so I was wondering if anyone had experience with some drives they are selling:

Buffalo Technology MediaStation BR-PX68U2 6X Portable Blu-ray Writer
http://www.jr.com/buffalo-technology/pe/BUF_BRPX68U2BK

Buffalo Technology BR-X816U2 MediaStation 8x External Compact Blu-ray Writer
http://www.jr.com/buffalo-technology/pe/BUF_BRX816U2

Buffalo Technology MediaStation BR-PX68U2 6X Portable Blu-ray Writer - Black
http://www.jr.com/buffalo-technology/pe/BUF_BRPX68U2BK

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[kultschar]

Hi

Some of this is a bit techy for me so excuse my questions!

I have successfully ripped some blu rays via:

1) MakeMKV (extract the film only file with all english audio and subtitles)
2) Use Handbrake to convert using Cavemans settings

I am unsure what audio to select (I have a 5.1 surround system)

Ny default Handbrake gives me mixdown of Dolby Pro Logic II, should I be leaving it as this or selecting Dolby Surround???

 

[kultschar]

Well I ripped a few blu ray films, with file size around 3-4GB however I am confused as I did a TV series with episodes only around 50mins and they are coming in at over 5GB with the same settings as the 3-4GB 2 hour approx movies.

I have been keeping the framerate at 24, would this maybe the culprit for TV Shows or am I barking up the wrong tree.

I am using Cavemans recommneded settings on 1st page

 

[appleaddict24]

im using the steps by cave man and the video is outstanding i set my bit rate to 4500 instead of the 2500 auto when selecting atv preset but my sound output is only coming out as 2 channel stereo and i have no idea how to fix this can anyone help?

 

[heliocentric]

Anyone notice that the Inception bluray goes slightly out of sync (audio wise) when you convert it to mkv (as do some other films for that matter)? It's driving me mad....

I'm at the verge of giving up my apple tv 2 because I can't solve this problem

 

[gunthermic]

Anyone notice that the Inception bluray goes slightly out of sync (audio wise) when you convert it to mkv (as do some other films for that matter)? It's driving me mad....

I'm at the verge of giving up my apple tv 2 because I can't solve this problem

Let me try that one. Just picked it last night. Will report back.