Anyone use handbrake?

Reality Bites · 24 Feb 2013 at 15:31

I'm new to the ripping scene, but I've started to rip my collection using make mkv. I've since read that I need to encode the mkv using something like handbrake?

What I want is to have as close to the original disk quality wise but I'm not understanding all the settings in handbrake.

Could someone advise the best settings to use to ensure I'm close to lossless?

elroberto · 24 Feb 2013 at 16:09

Are you ripping 1080p? I tend to do my Blurays in handbrake on the H.264 video codec using 2 pass encoding at around 9500kbs. Compresses the file without impacting on quality.

Reality Bites · 24 Feb 2013 at 19:44

yeah, as far as I know i'm ripping them at 1080p. the two files i've encoded only come out at around 4-5GB though and thats. from a 35GB MKV ?!

champ222 · 24 Feb 2013 at 20:50

Handbrake has presets built in.

I tend to use normal or high profile, both will give good results.

These are the settings i use:

MVK container.

Picture

Anamorphic: Loose (tick keep aspect ratio)
Cropping: Automatic works fine most of the time

Video

Video Codec: H.264 (x264)
Framerate (fps): Same as source

Select Variable frame rate button
Quality: standard is RF:20, between 19 and 21 for me. the higher the number the smaller the file size.
Avg bitrate: You can use this to choose the file size, but the encode takes longer.

Audio

I always use either DTS passthrough, or DTSHD passthrough. There are other options tho, pretty self explanatory.

other than the occasional subtitles, thats about it. I play back all the files with XBMC on my HTPC. It works perfect every time.

Hope this helps

Reality Bites · 24 Feb 2013 at 21:26

thanks for that. I noticed when i made the quality lossless it gave a warning. Is it not worth keeping it lossless then?

ArchAnGeL · 25 Feb 2013 at 19:53

Makemkv rips without and transcoding/conversion so you get a digitally identical copy but in a different container (mkv). The only reason to further convert using handbrake or similar is if you wish to reduce file size. This will result in quality loss which you may or may not notice based on you settings, display and perception

Reality Bites · 25 Feb 2013 at 21:44

Right, so effectively the makemkv file is my lossless copy?

ArchAnGeL · 26 Feb 2013 at 06:13

kidloco · 26 Feb 2013 at 14:12

I would recommend taking the mkv MakeMKV gives you and putting it through ripbot264. It will take a 25-30gb mkv and drop it down to around 8-10gb with very little noticeable loss in quality. Thats with having the sound using lossless passthrough so its 100% untouched.

Reality Bites · 26 Feb 2013 at 15:27

kidloco said:
I would recommend taking the mkv MakeMKV gives you and putting it through ripbot264. It will take a 25-30gb mkv and drop it down to around 8-10gb with very little noticeable loss in quality. Thats with having the sound using lossless passthrough so its 100% untouched.

thanks....will give that a go!

I've had my dune for 2 months now and still not powered it on....! need to have a play with it all.