dvd to mkv (h.264) questions

[downer]

Ok I am looking to convert a dvd into mkv. I am looking for the best possibly quality and don't really care how long it takes or the size. I just need it to be compatible with my Popcorn media player.
Here are my questions:

- what is the best (maybe easiest) tool for this, and is there a guide for it?
- what settings should i follow to allow this to play on that media player

I am not apposed to using a one-click solution if that will be easiest and give me good quality. But I really do want to keep the quality for this one.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

Xvid4psp, load the DVD(rip using DVD Fab Decrypter or use ANyDVD), choose mkv format, h264 video, copy audio(to keep ac3 or dts track). If you don't need a specific file size use Constant Quality/Quantizer h264 encoding mode.

You can also use megui, ripbot264, staxrip, automkv, fairuse wizard but I think xvid4psp is easiest.

But doesn't the popcorn hour support dvd isos? No quality loss....but I guess you want smaller file size?

[downer]

Popcorn hour does support the isos but they have to be on a USB drive or internal hard drive. I am using myIhome to stream from my PC. But currently that software doesn't support DVD ISO's.

[poisondeathray]

You basically want AVC high@4.1 or lower. Most GUI's will have presets for "AVC Standalone" which corresponds to blu-ray players - this will be the same. It won't play if you have too many reference frames or b-frames.

[downer]

So basically do all GUI's produce the same quality? So if I were to use any of the one's that Baldrick suggested, is my ouput going to be the same?

Thanks.

[poisondeathray]

They all use x264.exe as the back end - the GUI's are just front ends. If they use the same x264.exe version, and you enter the same settings they will give identical output.

[buzzqw]

some gui add filters, other .. no

so the output could not be identical

BHH

[downer]

Xvid4psp, load the DVD(rip using DVD Fab Decrypter or use ANyDVD), choose mkv format, h264 video, copy audio(to keep ac3 or dts track). If you don't need a specific file size use Constant Quality/Quantizer h264 encoding mode.

You can also use megui, ripbot264, staxrip, automkv, fairuse wizard but I think xvid4psp is easiest.

But doesn't the popcorn hour support dvd isos? No quality loss....but I guess you want smaller file size?

Does anyone one know which option in FairUse I should use to achieve what I am looking for? I am confused by H.264/AAC/MP4 or H.264/AC3/AVI??

Just curious as to which one will give me a compatible .mkv to play on the Popcorn.

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

FairUse Wizard can't make mkv...just mp4 and avi. mp4 should work on your popcorn hour and is better for h264 but you can' keep the ac3 then.

edit: okey, you can make mkv so ignore this. I just checked the custom profiles.

[craigarta]

Fairuse Wizard can make mkv



As far as his quality that may take some tinkering around till her finds what he wants

[downer]

Cool, guess i will have to get the 2.9 version (I have 2.8). I was using Xvid4psp and wasn't sure really what the proper video settings I needed to try to make the file compatible. I will play around and see what I can find.

Thanks.