My question is that I used HB to encode a movie for me (it now is on my desktop) and I want to burn it to a dvd. Are there any programs (free) that I can use to do this. The file on my desktop is 1.77GB but when I use iDVD to burn the movie, it says that it is between 4.81-8.31GB. How can that be? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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m4v to DVD
- Thread starter mac88
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It likely won't look very good. It is already in mp4, a lossy format. When put onto DVD it will essentially be in mp2, yet another lossy format. But here is how you can do it for free.
MPEG Streamclip is free. Download it and covert your video into DV. You may have to change the file extension to mp4 for MPEG Streamclip to recognize it as a compatible format. The conversion to DV should result in no loss from the mp4 it is in now. Once in DV, you should be able to use iDVD to put it on disk. This is where you will loose more quality.
MPEG Streamclip is free. Download it and covert your video into DV. You may have to change the file extension to mp4 for MPEG Streamclip to recognize it as a compatible format. The conversion to DV should result in no loss from the mp4 it is in now. Once in DV, you should be able to use iDVD to put it on disk. This is where you will loose more quality.
Any new developments on this?
Hello all -
First, I want to say, I am (like many these days it seems) brand new to the Mac world after decades in the Windows world... Vista finally pushed me over the cliff...
But am now very pleased with my new Mac and love how (most) everything works with such ease! And fast!
That said, I also want to "thank you" for this forum... Seems most every topic I Google leads me to MacRumors... and so after reading if for several weeks now... will make my first post... albeit, in an older thread...
Here's my situation - I am starting to realize that Apple vs "the world" in regards to video - is a complex subject, to say the least... After I got the "basics" down (email, Photoshop, Apps, loading things, etc.) within the Mac world... I then started taking on more complex tasks (complex for me at least LOL)
So, here's where I'm at: Have a new MBPro ('09) and see that QT kinda has the lock on media here... As everyone snubs .avi (and after reading "why".... it makes sense) - however, I'm learning more about HandBrake, VLC, QT, Transmission - and some other apps that all you Mac folks know in your sleep... but are totally new to me as a new Mac user -
Anyway - to cut to the chase, just like the original poster in this thread stated - my situation is similar - I have a 1GB concert video file, that is recorded in .MKV format... It's already pretty crappy quality - but plays "OK" in VLP - but start stretching it out any (15") and the pixelation is pretty bad...
Anyway - so I started searching the 'net - and reading about certain (older) divx type files and peeps not being able to get both Audio and Video when they rip things - etc etc etc - And most "answers" end up pointing to QT Pro with some perisan (sp?) add-on to deal with certain codecs and such -
But I think I'm past all that - or that doesn't apply to me in this case... So anyway, I have this 1GB+ .MKV file, and base on what I read elsewhere, the only way to copy this to a standard DVD, was to rip it with HandBrake... So, I did just that.. I read the HB forum as well as some 900xyz.xxx video forum (and several others) and while most ani and subtitle people prefer .MKV files, it seems there are few tools that work with it... But back to HandBrake... So I basically had 2 options (within setup) and that confused me a bit (FYI, I don't have AppleTV - just want to copy this to a DVD to play on the road) - but several of the "default" settings within HB, showed it was just gonna get ripped back into yet another MKV file (???) which makes no sense for what I wish to do... so I finally found one HQ setting that would save it as a M4V file - which is supposed to be "Apple friendly" (right?) as well as maintain the quality (or at least, when reading other boards, peeps are saying this...) and kinda shredding .avi saying MV4 is "the way to go"...
So now, I stumble across this thread - and start reading about the double losses I'll experience... and am wondering if indeed that is what has happened? - OR - are there any new developments within the Mac world that better address this type of task??
Lastly (sorry so long, but really, I have put some effort into trying to figure out "what is best" to do here) - So, I've ripped it with HB - and after about 2 hours.... came out sounding lousy (can tell I lost the D5.1 to stereo - so that sucks right off the bat) - and then ran it thru my iTunes folder (defaulted there) but played it... and is not looking so hot..
So back to the internet I came - and found this post - about the double loss by doing this process - which makes sense I suppose... but flies in the face of what other "Apple/Video Experts" have stated (everyones an "expert" on the 'net, no? LOL) Sorry - I gotta laugh a little as I try to sort this one out...
So as the original question goes... What now (2009) is the "best" way to take a M4V file - and burn it to DVD to watch in a DVD player later??
Any and all suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated as I've been up all night trying to burn a single DVD!! Look, I DESPISE Windows... but really, it was never this hard... (and don't get me started on mini-DVI to DVI to HDMI) - and no Blu-Ray support... and I know there's competition going on there - but come on (sigh) ... Digressing... I'm very much on an anti-Windows/Vista campaign right now... but there's just gotta be a better way to make all this work? (and I'd prefer to use GUI over command pls - as I'm not much of a Unix guy to start with)
Thanks!
KB
Hello all -
First, I want to say, I am (like many these days it seems) brand new to the Mac world after decades in the Windows world... Vista finally pushed me over the cliff...
But am now very pleased with my new Mac and love how (most) everything works with such ease! And fast! That said, I also want to "thank you" for this forum... Seems most every topic I Google leads me to MacRumors... and so after reading if for several weeks now... will make my first post... albeit, in an older thread...
Here's my situation - I am starting to realize that Apple vs "the world" in regards to video - is a complex subject, to say the least... After I got the "basics" down (email, Photoshop, Apps, loading things, etc.) within the Mac world... I then started taking on more complex tasks (complex for me at least LOL)
So, here's where I'm at: Have a new MBPro ('09) and see that QT kinda has the lock on media here... As everyone snubs .avi (and after reading "why".... it makes sense) - however, I'm learning more about HandBrake, VLC, QT, Transmission - and some other apps that all you Mac folks know in your sleep... but are totally new to me as a new Mac user -
Anyway - to cut to the chase, just like the original poster in this thread stated - my situation is similar - I have a 1GB concert video file, that is recorded in .MKV format... It's already pretty crappy quality - but plays "OK" in VLP - but start stretching it out any (15") and the pixelation is pretty bad...
Anyway - so I started searching the 'net - and reading about certain (older) divx type files and peeps not being able to get both Audio and Video when they rip things - etc etc etc - And most "answers" end up pointing to QT Pro with some perisan (sp?) add-on to deal with certain codecs and such -
But I think I'm past all that - or that doesn't apply to me in this case... So anyway, I have this 1GB+ .MKV file, and base on what I read elsewhere, the only way to copy this to a standard DVD, was to rip it with HandBrake... So, I did just that.. I read the HB forum as well as some 900xyz.xxx video forum (and several others) and while most ani and subtitle people prefer .MKV files, it seems there are few tools that work with it... But back to HandBrake... So I basically had 2 options (within setup) and that confused me a bit (FYI, I don't have AppleTV - just want to copy this to a DVD to play on the road) - but several of the "default" settings within HB, showed it was just gonna get ripped back into yet another MKV file (???) which makes no sense for what I wish to do... so I finally found one HQ setting that would save it as a M4V file - which is supposed to be "Apple friendly" (right?) as well as maintain the quality (or at least, when reading other boards, peeps are saying this...) and kinda shredding .avi saying MV4 is "the way to go"...
So now, I stumble across this thread - and start reading about the double losses I'll experience... and am wondering if indeed that is what has happened? - OR - are there any new developments within the Mac world that better address this type of task??
Lastly (sorry so long, but really, I have put some effort into trying to figure out "what is best" to do here) - So, I've ripped it with HB - and after about 2 hours.... came out sounding lousy (can tell I lost the D5.1 to stereo - so that sucks right off the bat) - and then ran it thru my iTunes folder (defaulted there) but played it... and is not looking so hot..
So back to the internet I came - and found this post - about the double loss by doing this process - which makes sense I suppose... but flies in the face of what other "Apple/Video Experts" have stated (everyones an "expert" on the 'net, no? LOL) Sorry - I gotta laugh a little as I try to sort this one out...
So as the original question goes... What now (2009) is the "best" way to take a M4V file - and burn it to DVD to watch in a DVD player later??
Any and all suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated as I've been up all night trying to burn a single DVD!!
Look, I DESPISE Windows... but really, it was never this hard... (and don't get me started on mini-DVI to DVI to HDMI) - and no Blu-Ray support... and I know there's competition going on there - but come on (sigh) ... Digressing... I'm very much on an anti-Windows/Vista campaign right now... but there's just gotta be a better way to make all this work? (and I'd prefer to use GUI over command pls - as I'm not much of a Unix guy to start with)Thanks!
KB
1. So I basically had 2 options (within setup) and that confused me a bit (FYI, I don't have AppleTV - just want to copy this to a DVD to play on the road) - but several of the "default" settings within HB, showed it was just gonna get ripped back into yet another MKV file (???) which makes no sense for what I wish to do... so I finally found one HQ setting that would save it as a M4V file - which is supposed to be "Apple friendly" (right?) as well as maintain the quality (or at least, when reading other boards, peeps are saying this...) and kinda shredding .avi saying MV4 is "the way to go"...
2. Lastly (sorry so long, but really, I have put some effort into trying to figure out "what is best" to do here) - So, I've ripped it with HB - and after about 2 hours.... came out sounding lousy (can tell I lost the D5.1 to stereo - so that sucks right off the bat) - and then ran it thru my iTunes folder (defaulted there) but played it... and is not looking so hot..
Welcome to MacRumors
1. Use the Apple Universal preset within HandBrake, and it'll convert the MKV file into an MPEG4 one (.m4v or .mp4 extensions). You can play around with the settings - but generally the Constant Quality @ 59% plays good for quality and file size. You probably won't notice much difference, if any at all, between the original MKV and encoded MPEG4 files.
2. Click on the audio tab in HandBrake, and you can choose your audio settings there to get your 5.1 surround sound, as well as your stereo audio.
If you have bad quality for the video compared to the original - post what settings you are using here.
HandBrake is not what you want. HandBrake is primarly designed to rip from a DVD for playback an a Computer or some other device that 'understands' MPEG-4.
I have to admit I never tried to do what you want to do (my goals are the opposite, getting stuff off the DVD) but I have some Ideas that you might wanna look into:
(All this is assuming you want a standard compliant DVD Video, if you're DVD player understands DivX or even H.264 then you have better options, if you're playback device is a PC then you can just use the file as it is)
1. Find an App that make a DV file out of your mkv and and burn it on a DVD with iDVD.
2. Look into Burn (http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net)
3. Look into Roxios Toast
I have to admit I never tried to do what you want to do (my goals are the opposite, getting stuff off the DVD) but I have some Ideas that you might wanna look into:
(All this is assuming you want a standard compliant DVD Video, if you're DVD player understands DivX or even H.264 then you have better options, if you're playback device is a PC then you can just use the file as it is)
1. Find an App that make a DV file out of your mkv and and burn it on a DVD with iDVD.
2. Look into Burn (http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net)
3. Look into Roxios Toast
Ok guys - thanks for the quick response and suggestions...
Will try to keep it short...
Your opposing views, are actually what I've seen on other boards regarding how best to do, what it is I wish to do (and yes King, eventually I'll want to build a media server and start ripping DVD's to it... Jury is still out on AppleTV as I hear the HD quality is not quite there yet) but that aside, it would be nice, now that "all things are Mac" in my world, to be able to ping, store, stream, access all from one source and be cross-compatible in the end... so that's kinda the long-term goal.
But back to the two points you all made... @Kilamite - So, are you saying, and in essence disagreeing with the previous posts from DEC08 that if I use the Apple Universal, and CQ setting within handbrake, plus teak the audio stuff to Dolby too, that in the end I'll get a quasi-decent MP4 file? (you also say, maybe a MKV file - and sorry for my stupidity - but I started with a MKV file - so why would I want to rip it back to the same format? or am I missing something there within HB?)
Assuming that works better (I'll try it now) - Then how to I properly transfer that to DVD? I've been toying with iDVD - but seems that is more of a "project maker"... Didn't see any "direct burn" or copy options... but will play with that some more and see if I can sort it out...
@RealityKing - FWIW, I did buy a "standard" copy of Toast 9.0 with my MBPro - and I opened it once when I first loaded my new system... but it had so many "grayed-out" features, I haven't opened it since ... but may be worth looking into...
Either way - I saw mention of other products out there besides HB, most open source - but in visiting their sites, many had abandoned development - or were having issues with Leopard etc... So, that's how I ended up in HandBrake-land... (Again, new to all this - so - am trying whats been recommended) -But to your point, I'll look at the link you sent... and see if there's any other options... I'm open to anything at this point... And as just said, look more at Roxio too since I already have that -
You mentioned the iDVD burn option - may I ask how I can do a direct write using it?
As to where I want to play them... I actually just bought a new Blu-Ray player.... and don't know how backward compatible it is, as I've only run Blu-Ray discs in it and a handful of Blockbuster rentals (std. HD-DVD) but I'm somewhat familiar with H.264 having a BlackBerry (moving towards iPhone) and have been shredding vids for that and some sites of mine too... I don't know who ripped this into MKV originally - as like I said, many rave about it... but to me - the quality is poor (or std to a typical iTunes video download) meant just for that screen size -
Anyway- I said I'd keep it short.. LOL - but that didn't happen LOL - So I will try to rip it again - and also look at Toast and another app to do the deed -
Thanks!
KB
Will try to keep it short...
Your opposing views, are actually what I've seen on other boards regarding how best to do, what it is I wish to do (and yes King, eventually I'll want to build a media server and start ripping DVD's to it... Jury is still out on AppleTV as I hear the HD quality is not quite there yet) but that aside, it would be nice, now that "all things are Mac" in my world, to be able to ping, store, stream, access all from one source and be cross-compatible in the end... so that's kinda the long-term goal.
But back to the two points you all made... @Kilamite - So, are you saying, and in essence disagreeing with the previous posts from DEC08 that if I use the Apple Universal, and CQ setting within handbrake, plus teak the audio stuff to Dolby too, that in the end I'll get a quasi-decent MP4 file? (you also say, maybe a MKV file - and sorry for my stupidity - but I started with a MKV file - so why would I want to rip it back to the same format? or am I missing something there within HB?)
Assuming that works better (I'll try it now) - Then how to I properly transfer that to DVD? I've been toying with iDVD - but seems that is more of a "project maker"... Didn't see any "direct burn" or copy options... but will play with that some more and see if I can sort it out...
@RealityKing - FWIW, I did buy a "standard" copy of Toast 9.0 with my MBPro - and I opened it once when I first loaded my new system... but it had so many "grayed-out" features, I haven't opened it since ... but may be worth looking into...
Either way - I saw mention of other products out there besides HB, most open source - but in visiting their sites, many had abandoned development - or were having issues with Leopard etc... So, that's how I ended up in HandBrake-land... (Again, new to all this - so - am trying whats been recommended) -But to your point, I'll look at the link you sent... and see if there's any other options... I'm open to anything at this point... And as just said, look more at Roxio too since I already have that -
You mentioned the iDVD burn option - may I ask how I can do a direct write using it?
As to where I want to play them... I actually just bought a new Blu-Ray player.... and don't know how backward compatible it is, as I've only run Blu-Ray discs in it and a handful of Blockbuster rentals (std. HD-DVD) but I'm somewhat familiar with H.264 having a BlackBerry (moving towards iPhone) and have been shredding vids for that and some sites of mine too... I don't know who ripped this into MKV originally - as like I said, many rave about it... but to me - the quality is poor (or std to a typical iTunes video download) meant just for that screen size -
Anyway- I said I'd keep it short.. LOL - but that didn't happen LOL - So I will try to rip it again - and also look at Toast and another app to do the deed -
Thanks!
KB
I never said encode it to an MKV file again - I said encode it into an MPEG4 file. Then you can use that file within an application like Toast to burn it to a DVD.
Or if you want to use iDVD, the MPEG4 file will be play nice.
My bad - I thought MKV and M4V we're one in the same... I'll have to go thru the HB setup again (been up all nite at this... all the "M's" are starting to blur together)
And FWIW - I just opened Toast 9 BASIC - and it will not let me burn DVD's - I have to upgrade to "Titanium" (as well as get a blu-ray plugin) -
From MacMall:
Roxio Toast 9 Titanium 239000
Get the most from your digital media and Mac OS X. Toast 9 Titanium is the best way to save, share and enjoy a lifetime of digital music, movies and photos on CD and DVD for the Mac.
MacMall Part#: 7405980 Platform: Macintosh
Mfr.Part#: 239000 Manufacturer: Roxio
Price is $79.99... sigh... so think I'll keep trying Open Source stuff for now..
Thanks -
KB
Back 2 square 1
Well, that didn't work LOL
Just as an update... I tried to re-rip it with HB, and after a couple hours, HnadBrake app would fail... (quit/stop) - and ended up with several 500MB half-baked files..
Onto plan B - I did download Burn OSX - and as you predicted, it did not recognize the .m4v file - However - it did offer then to convert it to DVD for me (no options offered though) - so after the HB meltdowns, opted for that... but after "thinking" for about 30 seconds - it too errored out.... stating "unknown error"... So, I really don't have a clue now...
Back to square one I guess...
I see Toast has a new version out now and will look at Toast 10 Titanium.. Maybe that's the ticket?
Thanks again for the help
KB
Well, that didn't work LOL
Just as an update... I tried to re-rip it with HB, and after a couple hours, HnadBrake app would fail... (quit/stop) - and ended up with several 500MB half-baked files..
Onto plan B - I did download Burn OSX - and as you predicted, it did not recognize the .m4v file - However - it did offer then to convert it to DVD for me (no options offered though) - so after the HB meltdowns, opted for that... but after "thinking" for about 30 seconds - it too errored out.... stating "unknown error"... So, I really don't have a clue now...
Back to square one I guess...
I see Toast has a new version out now and will look at Toast 10 Titanium.. Maybe that's the ticket?
Thanks again for the help
KB
Could you post exactly what model and manufacturer your player is, might help finding a btter playback option for you.
Not sure where to start here... as I've been offline all day...
But to in regards to Kings question about my player... I'm assuming you're asking about by Blu-Ray player on my TV? If so, that's a Sony Blu-Ray... I know it'll play standard DVD's as well as HD-DVD's - but Sony (BMG) is anal about MP3 stuff.... and haven't tried anything in regards to that... Sorry, don't know the model number but is only 8 months old...
For Chase R - I've tried several times to get "Burn" OS to do the conversion to no avail - it says at first, that it doesn't recognize the mkv media - but then asks if I want it to convert it.... and it "tries" for like 15 seconds, but then errors out... so that's not an option -
For Vivianflv - I'll try to Google around some more - and see if I can locate what you're referring to.... I've been researching this all this past weekend... and have tried several apps - all of them bombing out or simply not working...
*** Latest -
I discovered this "option" - again - as I referenced it in my original post... about Quicktime and having the Parian plugin .... I ran across that last night while searching for an answer... Anyway, it says that that will enable QT to read/play mkv files - well - it kinda did... it plays the AUDIO LOL - but no video - and have no clue if it'll allow me to burn it or not... I know from one of my searches, that there's a companion plugin that goes with it - but development has been abandoned.... so - I really didn't pursue it... plus it was command line stuff - and I'd prefer not to have to do that :-/ if possible -
Anyway - thanks to everyone for the feed back... I'll let you know if I find anything new -
Cheers-
KB
But to in regards to Kings question about my player... I'm assuming you're asking about by Blu-Ray player on my TV? If so, that's a Sony Blu-Ray... I know it'll play standard DVD's as well as HD-DVD's - but Sony (BMG) is anal about MP3 stuff.... and haven't tried anything in regards to that... Sorry, don't know the model number but is only 8 months old...
For Chase R - I've tried several times to get "Burn" OS to do the conversion to no avail - it says at first, that it doesn't recognize the mkv media - but then asks if I want it to convert it.... and it "tries" for like 15 seconds, but then errors out... so that's not an option -
For Vivianflv - I'll try to Google around some more - and see if I can locate what you're referring to.... I've been researching this all this past weekend... and have tried several apps - all of them bombing out or simply not working...
*** Latest -
I discovered this "option" - again - as I referenced it in my original post... about Quicktime and having the Parian plugin .... I ran across that last night while searching for an answer... Anyway, it says that that will enable QT to read/play mkv files - well - it kinda did... it plays the AUDIO LOL - but no video - and have no clue if it'll allow me to burn it or not... I know from one of my searches, that there's a companion plugin that goes with it - but development has been abandoned.... so - I really didn't pursue it... plus it was command line stuff - and I'd prefer not to have to do that :-/ if possible -
Anyway - thanks to everyone for the feed back... I'll let you know if I find anything new -
Cheers-
KB
I do M4V -> NTSC DVD with the legendary VisualHub. No longer developed or supported but it is a fantastic tool for all sorts of conversions, and it does M4V -> DVD perfectly. Only issue I occasionally have is 25fps PAL M4V -> DVD as the frame rate differs and sometimes end up with "jerky" DVD output, not VisualHub's fault on that though.