Converting Questions

[johnryjr]

Hey. I'm using the below settings to try to start converting my dvd library. I just had a couple questions. Under the picture settings, on the bottom, it says "Source: 720x480" and "Output: 640x480." Does this mean the video is shrinking or something. I don't really understand why the number would be smaller.

Also, about adding the audio thing. Could you explain that more because I don't see where to do that. I don't have a surround system at the moment but I only want to do this once. And when I view the details of the video in itunes, it shows the bitrate (i assume audio) in the 100s while videos i've purchased are in the 200s.

For A4 CPU devices (iPhone/iPad/AppleTV2) the following is OUTSTANDING:

1. High Profile [Best setting in Handbrake, but doesn't work on iPhone 3G or the old Apple TV]
2. RF of 19 for DVD, 20-22 for Bluray. [Smaller numbers are HIGHER quality, but lower than 18 gets no real increase in the quality you can see but will quickly exceed the original size of the DVD or Bluray, don't do it! These values create great transfers with reasonable, in some cases outstandingly small sizes, I use 20 for Bluray as I don't mind using a bit more space, but 21-22 are good too, try it.]
3. Framerate NTSC 29.97 and check the "Peak Framerate Box" [This tells Handbrake to use the NATIVE frame rate of the source unless it exceeds 29.97 in which case it would limit it to 29.97 which makes sure you stay compatible.]
4. Check the "Large File" box. [This helps with compatibility if your file exceeds 4GB, in most cases it won't.]
5. Add second audio track under Audio tab for Passthrough or DTS conversion if you are using the Apple TV connected to a surround system. [Important if you ever intend to use the file with a surround system, otherwise omit this.]
6. Under picture tab select "Anamorphic" and "Strict" for DVD, or "Anamorphic NONE" and set the width to 1280 for Bluray with the keep ratio box checked. [Experts now feels Strict is better than Loose Anamorphic for DVD (that's a change from the past) and there is no Anamorphic for Blurays so turn it off. 1280 for Blurays makes your files 720p for size and compatibility, ATV2 will convert 1080p files but there are hiccups that make it not worth try to push beyond the stated spec.]
7. Add detelcine, decomb filters for DVD, *NO* filters for Bluray. [DVDs can use a bit of help from the filters, which only kick in if they feel they are needed, while Bluray sources are so clean you actually hurt the image and slow encoding if you leave them on.]

Really incredible, small but beautiful files from this much better than the current presets.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1042650/

Thanks,
John

 

[Icculus]

Hey. I'm using the below settings to try to start converting my dvd library. I just had a couple questions. Under the picture settings, on the bottom, it says "Source: 720x480" and "Output: 640x480." Does this mean the video is shrinking or something. I don't really understand why the number would be smaller.

Also, about adding the audio thing. Could you explain that more because I don't see where to do that. I don't have a surround system at the moment but I only want to do this once. And when I view the details of the video in itunes, it shows the bitrate (i assume audio) in the 100s while videos i've purchased are in the 200s.




Thanks,
John

John,

I use the same settings, and I have already done over 600 discs using this preset and I think it kicks ass! So as for the video format, and why its different...I got nothing on that. Are these blu-ray or standard discs? As for the audio once you get everything else set for this preset, click on audio tab and you should see at least 1 audio track, maybe 2. The way I have it setup is the first audio track is AAC (CoreAudio), mixdown is Stereo, Sample is Auto and bitrate is 160. The second track, which you might have to create, needs to be codec of AC3 PASSTHRU and mixdown as AC3 PASSTHRU. Then save the preset and be sure to use picture size custom and make sure picture filters are checked. You can always test your preset to make sure its right by loading a source file once, selecting your preset and then loading it again because it will reload the preset. The reason I say this is because I thought my preset was golden until about ~60 dvd's in and realized it was not saving the picture settings correctly. So always test. Any other questions please ask as I have been in handbrake hell/heaven depending on the day for the past several weeks as I was in your boat of re-encoding all my discs using this new preset.

 

[johnryjr]

Thank you for your help. I have attached screen shots of how I have my settings with a DVD in. I am only doing standard DVDs. I don't see that option in the audio drop down. Perhaps there are different options depending on the DVD? When the audio bitrate is at 160, is that the same as an audio file? I usually encode audio in 256. Hopefully the screenshots will help explain what I should change. (I am using last nights build.

Thank You

 

[Icculus]

Thank you for your help. I have attached screen shots of how I have my settings with a DVD in. I am only doing standard DVDs. I don't see that option in the audio drop down. Perhaps there are different options depending on the DVD? When the audio bitrate is at 160, is that the same as an audio file? I usually encode audio in 256. Hopefully the screenshots will help explain what I should change. (I am using last nights build.

Thank You

Well looking at the Audio settings, it looks like the DVD you are encoding does not offer an AC3 Passthru option, because the codec is set to AC3. I would try a few other discs and see if you can see the option for AC3 Passthru. When do you do make sure you set it correctly and save your preset again. This way all the discs that have Passthru w/AC3 will get it, others it will go to where your setting is currently.

I do all my audio at 256kbps, but I am not sure how that translates into video. I just kind of figured since no other presets I have seen go above 160, I just leave it the way it is.

 

[ftaok]

Hey. I'm using the below settings to try to start converting my dvd library. I just had a couple questions. Under the picture settings, on the bottom, it says "Source: 720x480" and "Output: 640x480." Does this mean the video is shrinking or something. I don't really understand why the number would be smaller.

OK, I'll try to explain ... but keep in mind, I'm not an expert.

The resolution of standard TVs is 720x480 (NTSC). So DVDs are encoded in NTSC, so that's why your DVD is showing up as 720x480. Keep in mind, the pixels are not square with NTSC, they're actually rectangular.

Now, depending on the movie/show on the DVD, the actual display resolution will depend on the aspect ratio. If the movie is 4:3, the player will decode the information and pinch the output to 640x480. If the movie is 16:9, the player will stretch it to 854x480.

All of your devices need to be set-up correctly for this to work. In the old days when people had DVD players and CRT TVs, you needed to make sure the DVD player outputted 4:3. This way, widescreen movies played letterboxed and regular movies played full screen.

There are variations on how DVDs are encoded, some older ones actually encoded the black bars.

ft

 

[mike457]

I do think you're making this hard on yourself. If you just choose the AppleTV2 preset, you will get results that are essentially the same as your custom settings, particularly as you are only doing standard DVDs. It will automatically create the necessary sound tracks both for surround sound and plain stereo. If I am correct about the dates, the person whose advice you have been following wrote his recommendations before Handbrake added the AppleTV2 preset. The only suggestion I would add is that if you are converting DVDs of TV programmes, you sometimes have to look out for interlacing in the original source. Those that are made from HD broadcasts are usually fine, but older TV show disks often have this issue.

The AppleTV2 preset will give you files playable in all current ios devices.

 

[johnryjr]

Thank you everyone for the help and advice. It is very much appreciated.

John