How best to convert WMV2 to MKV/MP4?

[tigerb]

Format : Windows Media
File size : 452 MiB
Duration : 29mn 43s
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 2 128 Kbps
Maximum Overall bit rate : 2 069 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00.000
MediaFoundationVersion : 2.112

Video
ID : 1
Format : WMV2
Codec ID : WMV2
Codec ID/Info : Windows Media Video 8
Description of the codec : wmv2
Duration : 29mn 43s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 969 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 400 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Bit depth : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.228
Stream size : 419 MiB (93%)

Audio
ID : 2
Format : WMA
Format version : Version 2
Codec ID : 161
Codec ID/Info : Windows Media Audio
Description of the codec : Windows Media Audio V8
Duration : 29mn 43s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 99.3 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 21.1 MiB (5%)

I just realized that WDTV Live Plus, Samsung TV/BD PLayer wouldn't play WMV2 files and out of my 12 TBs video files, I have only about 20 to 30 WMV2 files ranges from 350mb to 500mb each. In view of only a few wmv2 files that I need to convert, I want to convert them to either MKV/MP4.

1) What's the best and easiest method to do this? I was told to try Ripbot264, however the requirements to install AVisynth, ffdshow, and haali media splitter separately is a NO go for me.

I know Avidemux and Freemake Video Converter can do the job from WMV2 to MKV/MP4, but how do I know what settings to use to maintain at least the same or better quality?

What other tools would you recommend?

2) All my WMV2 video files have the exact same video/audio format as posted above except the file size ranges from 350mb to 500mb each.

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

You can also use Xmedia Recode, Handbrake.

Use H264 video and same resolution and bitrate settings(or use constant quality encoding mode) and you will get good quality. You wont get better quality.

[tigerb]

You can also use Xmedia Recode, Handbrake.

Use H264 video and same resolution and bitrate settings(or use constant quality encoding mode) and you will get good quality. You wont get better quality.

Thanks Baldrick, tell me if my selections are correct for both Xmedia Recode, Handbrake per your "bitrate settings(or use constant quality encoding mode)".

I'm using the EXACT video file posted in Post #1 and here are my results for all three using standard defaults (except choosing MKV, H264 and constant Q).

Xmedia Recode (only 72mb, poor quality)
Format : Matroska
File size : 70.8 MiB
Duration : 29mn 43s
Overall bit rate : 333 Kbps
Writing application : Lavf52.102.0
Writing library : Lavf52.102.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 29mn 43s
Nominal bit rate : 200 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 400 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 29.917 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.023
Writing library : x264 core 114 r1900
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x131 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=290 / keyint_min=29 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=abr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=200 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=24000 / vbv_bufsize=24000 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : A_AAC
Duration : 29mn 43s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Language : English


Handbrake (248mb, good quality)
Format : Matroska
File size : 243 MiB
Duration : 29mn 42s
Overall bit rate : 1 144 Kbps
Writing application : HandBrake 0.9.5
Writing library : libmkv 0.6.4.1

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 29mn 42s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 400 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 29.917 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Writing library : x264 core 112
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=0 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=300 / keyint_min=29 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English
Color primaries : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : A_AAC
Duration : 29mn 42s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy


Freemake Video converter (430mb, good quality)
Format : Matroska
File size : 424 MiB
Duration : 29mn 43s
Overall bit rate : 1 994 Kbps
Writing application : Lavf52.94.0
Writing library : Lavf52.94.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 29mn 43s
Nominal bit rate : 1 840 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 400 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.213
Writing library : x264 core 112 r1834 a51816a
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0 / me=dia / subme=2 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=4 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=0 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=abr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1840 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.41 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : A_AAC
Duration : 29mn 43s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Language : English


I guess my settings must be wrong for the Xmedia Recode, right? only 73mb? Please view both settings pixs attached...thanks.

1st pix - Handbrake, is the constant quality RF:20 correct?

2nd and 3rd pixs - Xmedia, what went wrong?