DVD to H.264

[hardy]

What's a good program to use for DVD to H.264.
I know it's not well supported by hardware. But I figure that will change soon.

I'm also having trouble choosing the container for these files. I know MKV is well liked, so is MP4. I consider AVI the grandfather of containers now.

File sizes will be around 1.5 to 2 GB for good quality.

x264 will be my codec.

I want the best quality possible after compression.

[usta]

Try HandBrake.

[SatStorm]

Most free encoders use X264 to create H264, so there is no difference in that matter. Handbrake, Super, AutoX264, Staxrip, Xvid4PSP...

MKV is very popular on the internet and mp4 is a fair enough industry standard. Avi works but there is no real reason to use it.

If you simply use video/audio and not subtitles, mp4 could be a better choice.

[hardy]

I have already used DVDfab and chose the main movie option. So they are already at a reasonable size, and none of them have subtitles.

Do all of the free encoders let you set the target file size?

[Baldrick]

Most free encoders let you choose the target size, like handbrake and xvid4psp(under the video encoding options).

[hardy]

DVD to H.264 w/ HC Encoder? Is that possible?

[Baldrick]

hc encoder is a MPEG2 encoder only.

[hardy]

What's the best encoder to use for H.264? Most of them use mencoder.

[BozQ]

My personal choice is RipBot264. Second would be Handbrake.
Both allow encoding to either mp4 or MKV format.

Since you never mentioned what is your audio preference, this is my take.
If you want the original Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 surround audio, you have no choice but to use MKV, because AC3 is not supported in the mp4 format.

If you are ok with 2 channel audio, you may optionally choose the mp4 format, and encode your audio to 2 channel AAC.

I personally encode to mp4 because I will watch my rips with either my Xbox 360 or PS3, both of which do not support the MKV format.

[minidv2dvd]

mediacoder will let you choose x264, xvid, mencoder, ffmpeg, or cuda for the h264 encoder to use.

handbrake works well also.

[hardy]

Is there a way to only compress the video without compressing audio?

[BozQ]

RipBot264. Rip to MKV. And then you have to choice of selecting "COPY STREAM" for your audio section.

[minidv2dvd]

Is there a way to only compress the video without compressing audio?

with which program?
mediacoder, yes there is a check box to allow "copy" audio.
handbrake, not that i'm aware of.

[hardy]

If the target file size for 1.5GB, how will that effect the audio?

[davie89]

i have been using mediacoder to make my dvds into mkv and what do you set to get rid of the interlaced lines that show up from using a interlaced dvd? and Ally68 it doesn't effect the audio as long as you set it to leave it alone