:::m2ts HD converter/Xilisoft?:::

[rlubocki]

I am trying to convert HUGE 41GB m2ts file to something smaller without downgrading image quality..
I want to put it in a container than can be played in PS3. Is there a good simple tool that will simply convert m2ts file to something manageable? I only found Xilisoft HD converter that is simpliefied and has quad core ulitization, is there anything quicker, with better picture output? I am willing to spend $$ for new software..

Thank you!

[deadrats]

I am trying to convert HUGE 41GB m2ts file to something smaller without downgrading image quality..
I want to put it in a container than can be played in PS3. Is there a good simple tool that will simply convert m2ts file to something manageable? I only found Xilisoft HD converter that is simpliefied and has quad core ulitization, is there anything quicker, with better picture output? I am willing to spend $$ for new software..

xilisoft?!? i wouldn't use it if my life depended on it, well maybe if it really depended on it.

tmpg express, megui, movavi, ffcoder, any of the x264 front ends, take a quick look through the tools sections, there's something there for everyones tastes, depending on how much configurability you want:

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/video-encoders

[rlubocki]

Xilisoft actually works great, with simple interface!
Supports quad core, and is straight forward..
Thank you for great advise!

[Baldrick]

Use Ripbot264 or HandBrake.

[deadrats]

Xilisoft actually works great, with simple interface!
Supports quad core, and is straight forward..
Thank you for great advise!

my problem with it is that the quality of the encodes leaves a lot to be desired, as i'm sure you have realized or you wouldn't be looking for something else.

[rlubocki]

deadrats,

Quality is my concern.. With Xilisoft I left my pc encoding from .m2ts (1080p) to .mp4 1080p.. It said 3 hours and encoding will be done.. We'll take a look at it when I get back from work. If Xilisoft ends up making a lesser quality file, then I need to change my strategy.. I like all in one programs, and not install this and that.. Is handbrake any good on video quality? Have any other suggestions to point me in the right direction?

[deadrats]

deadrats,

Quality is my concern.. With Xilisoft I left my pc encoding from .m2ts (1080p) to .mp4 1080p.. It said 3 hours and encoding will be done.. We'll take a look at it when I get back from work. If Xilisoft ends up making a lesser quality file, then I need to change my strategy.. I like all in one programs, and not install this and that.. Is handbrake any good on video quality? Have any other suggestions to point me in the right direction?

first things first, m2ts is just a container as is mp4, you don't encode from one container to another, you only mux into another container, you only encode if you have raw uncompressed footage and convert it to a compressed format for digital storage and if you start with one compressed format and go to another compressed format it's called transcoding.

now that we got that out of the way, i assume your source blu-ray uses either mpeg-2 or h264 (the most likely case) and lcpm, ac3+ or ac3 audio.

for maximum quality, since you are dropping the bit rate (because you are trying to get a smaller file size that also plays nice with the ps3) you should also drop the resolution, while maintaining the original aspect ratio of the movie.

for ps3 most users seem to choose the 4 gig mark as a target, so let's assume that's the target. since 4 gig's is roughly 1/10 of 41 gigs, find out the video bit rate that the blu-ray uses (media info will tell you, as well as the audio bit rate).

now it's time to decide on a target resolution, if the original aspect ratio of the movie is 2.35:1, set the target resolution as 1280 x (1280/2.35) or 1280 x 544 (the actual calculation is closer to 545, but you want a multiple of 16), if the original aspect ratio is 2.40:1 then your target resolution will be 1280 x 533 (this is a pretty odd resolution, i haven't run across too many of these, the actual calculation comes out to 533.333... but there is no number close that is evenly divisible by 16, so...

choose an audio bit rate that is high enough to preserve good audio quality but low enough to allow you to maximize the video bit rate for the target size, 256 kbps for 2 channel ac3 or more than likely aac, which is what most programs insist you use if you are using the mp4 container.

the video bit rate in your case will be somewhere between 1/8 and 1/10 what the original bit rate was, i'm guessing the original bit rate must be up there for a 41 gig file (plus there must be an uncompressed audio stream plus a number of other high quality audio streams), whatever it is calculate all your bit rates so the target file size is about 4 gigs, use a 2 pass encode with variable bit rate, and you should be reasonably happy with the results.

as for applications, tmpg express is fairly easy to use, however if you choose to output to mp4 then only main concept's h264 encoder can be used, i personally am fine with this but some seem to swear by x264. avi demux will also do for you what you want, has excellent x264 options exposed but is significantly harder to use, hand brake isn't bad but from what i remember doesn't expose as many x264 options.

there's trade offs with most apps, as they reflect the personal preferences of the programmer, you best best is to experiment with as many demos and free apps as you can to get a better feel for what you like, the same can also be done with xilisoft, it does expose some options, but they seem to be a tad confusing and thus you may have a hard time getting the best quality encode out of that app.