DVD to h.264 -- with multiple audio and subtitle tracks

Ozo · Member Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Location: Canada

I am trying to compress some DVD (or VOBs) to h.264. At this point, the exact choice of the h.264 encoder and file container (AVI, MKV, MP4, etc.) is not really important to me, ... as far as quality is OK and that it can be read by VLC. I will focus on these details at a later time.

But what IS important (to me) is to be able to keep at least two audio tracks as well as two subtitles tracks (ex: both English and French audio and subtitles tracks). With VLC, I would then be able to select which audio track to hear, and which subtitle track to display, if any.

I looked at the latest versions of DVDFab, FairUse Wizard, AutoGK and HandBrake. Unless I am missing something, none of them support preserving two audio tracks AND two subtitle tracks. DVDFab only supports one audio track; FairUse only supports one subtitle track; AutoGK does not seem to do h.264 at all and HandBrake seems to be limited to a single subtitle track as well. Please note that I just tried these software once and may have skipped over some nices features.

So I am wondering if there is a software (free or not) that can do that? Please note that I am quite new to DVD conversion and would prefer a software that's relatively easy to use, i.e. with simplified options or some sort of pre-validated presets.

Can anyone comment on the right toolset and procedure?

Thanks,

Ozo.

Baldrick · Administrator Joined: 09 Aug 2000 Location: Sweden

I guess it would be easiest to use fairuse wizard or handbrake and convert to mkv or mp4 with h264. Then rip the subtitles you want to keep using vsrip to idx,sub files. Add/Multiplex the subtitle files to the mkv using mkvmerge or mp4 using YAmb.

Ozo · Member Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Location: Canada

Ozo · Member Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Location: Canada

Ok, I tried a lot of different tools and applications to do this, i.e. convert from DVD (VOBs) to h.264 while keeping two audio and subtitle tracks. I found no tool (free or not) that can do it while offering enough control on the conversion to be of any real use. It kills me how someone can design a DVD converter tool and ignore that some people may want to keep all audio and subtitles tracks. Anyway.

The best solution that I found (so far) is:

1. Rip your movie to VOBs (ex: using DVDFab)
2. Use HandBrake to convert your VIDEO_TS folder to a h.264 MKV file
--> Select the two audio tracks you want to keep (2 audio tracks max with HandBrake!)
--> Select no subtitles tracks ("none")
--> Select the .MKV format for the output file (HandBrake defaults to MP4)
--> ** [Edit] : Note that HandBrake fully uses 100% of my four cores! Many other apps were only using one core!
3. Use VSRip to extract all subtitles tracks you want from the VOBs
--> You give the VTS_01_0.IFO as input
--> It creates one pair of sub/idx files containing all subtitle tracks
4. Use mkvmerge GUI to merge the sub/idx and the MKV files together
--> Drag and drop the original MKV file as well as the IDX file into the "Input File" box
--> Mux and save as a new MKV file (with subs included)

End result: a MKV file with h.264 video, two audio tracks and as many subtitles tracks as yoy grabbed with VSRip.

Note: I tried using MP4 (instead of MKV), but had problems with YAmp.

Note2: I also just found out that VLC is not stable when playing MKV files. It can crash when seeking back and forth in the file. Other containers may be a better solution if you intend to play back using VLC.

Note3: There is Nero Recode v3 that still need to be tested, but I am afraid of its bloated installation. I may still try it today.

Regards,

gonzus · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Location: Chile

chirayuw · Member Joined: 10 May 2009 Location: United Kingdom

I wanted to ask How do I sync the subs to the video after it has been coverted, cos the sub's will rip at dvd timing not converted video timing?

buzzqw · Member Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Location: Italy

HDConvertToX allow an arbitrary number of audio ans subs tracks..

BHH

P.S. maybe you will wait tomorrow, since i will publish a full update
_________________
HDConvertToX, AutoMKV, AutoMen AutoFF, AutoX264 Developer

gonzus · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Location: Chile

gonzus · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Location: Chile

Viper_Bravo · Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Location: United States

Using HandBreak, in the Video tab what Constant Quality do u all recommend? At 100% will the MKV be the same size as the VOB?

Also can I use HandBreaks option to have Chapters in the finished KMV or do i have to use the mkvextract/mkvmerge method?