Best format for iPad, DLNA-enabled Blu-ray player

[jerrycurl]

Hello -- I have started buying seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and would like to have digital files on both my iPad and my computer (to play on my DLNA-enabled Blu-ray player). File size is not really an issue, but obviously I'd like to keep them manageable. (I only put select episodes on my iPad, and I have plenty of HDD space for storage.)

I have been testing out different Handbrake settings. If there is one that I can use that would look good on my 42" Samsung LCD TV and my iPad, I'd be happy (rather than two versions). Again, I'd rather have a larger file size (to keep quality on the 42") than have two copies.

Thanks!

[edDV]

Hello -- I have started buying seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and would like to have digital files on both my iPad and my computer (to play on my DLNA-enabled Blu-ray player). File size is not really an issue, but obviously I'd like to keep them manageable. (I only put select episodes on my iPad, and I have plenty of HDD space for storage.)

I have been testing out different Handbrake settings. If there is one that I can use that would look good on my 42" Samsung LCD TV and my iPad, I'd be happy (rather than two versions). Again, I'd rather have a larger file size (to keep quality on the 42") than have two copies.

Thanks!

This depends on the particular Blu-Ray player and what it will accept.

from Handbreak, avoid MKV, use mp4 and h.264 then experiment with bit rates. Under 17 Mbps is safest.

The iPad preset should also play on the Blu-Ray but will be only 1024x768.

The iPad is capable of playing 1080i or 720p but will downsize to 1024x768.

[jerrycurl]

So would the Universal preset have the highest quality and still be playable on the iPad? Or would High Profile be better? (I assume it's either one of those.)

[edDV]

So would the Universal preset have the highest quality and still be playable on the iPad? Or would High Profile be better? (I assume it's either one of those.)

Those are both SD settings.

Is your TV 1366x768 or 1920x1080?

What is the resolution of your source files?

[aedipuss]

iPad 1 or 2?

iPad 1 will not play high profile h.264.

iPad 2 video specs:
: H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

iPad 1:
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

[jerrycurl]

So would the Universal preset have the highest quality and still be playable on the iPad? Or would High Profile be better? (I assume it's either one of those.)

Those are both SD settings.

Is your TV 1366x768 or 1920x1080?

What is the resolution of your source files?

TV is 1080p and it's an iPad 2. Source files will vary -- I'd rather plan for HD files and just use one preset. Thanks!!

[jman98]

Most seasons of Curb were apparently shot in 4:3 and I think may only be available in DVD format. There's not really anything special to worry about if you are ripping 4:3 DVDs of the early seasons. I think that 16:9 Curb episodes only began with season 6, but you should take what I say with a grain of salt and verify it.

[aedipuss]

try vidcoder. it has an ipad preset that's not bad. i'd turn off vfr though and since it's most likely interlaced turn on vidcoder's decomb filter, it uses yadif on frames that need it. start vidcoder, pop in the disc, use the dvd folder nav button to locate your video_ts folder. the episodes should be accessible using the chapters button. you can put them all into the queue and encode.

[jerrycurl]

Most seasons of Curb were apparently shot in 4:3 and I think may only be available in DVD format. There's not really anything special to worry about if you are ripping 4:3 DVDs of the early seasons. I think that 16:9 Curb episodes only began with season 6, but you should take what I say with a grain of salt and verify it.

I will keep that in mind for 4:3 and for Curb -- however, I may also be making digital copies of other TV shows or movies that may be at 16:9.

Which settings are HD (you guys said that Universal and High Profile are SD)?

aedipuss -- I will give vidcoder a try. I'd prefer to stick to Handbrake, simply due to my, albeit slim, better understanding of the program. However, I'll see how vidcoder goes.

[edDV]

So would the Universal preset have the highest quality and still be playable on the iPad? Or would High Profile be better? (I assume it's either one of those.)

Those are both SD settings.

Is your TV 1366x768 or 1920x1080?

What is the resolution of your source files?

TV is 1080p and it's an iPad 2. Source files will vary -- I'd rather plan for HD files and just use one preset. Thanks!!

Well, you need to optimize for the 1920x1080 TV (big file) or the iPad 1024x768 (poor picture on big screen) or meet half way at something like 1366x768.

The iPad2 will play h.264 at up to 1080p but only at 30p. the TV would prefer 60i or 30/60p. Personally I find 30p jerky on the large screen but others don't seem to mind.

The other basic problem you have with one file is the TV is 16:9 while the iPad is 4:3 so wide files will show as letterbox on the iPad.

[jerrycurl]

So would the Universal preset have the highest quality and still be playable on the iPad? Or would High Profile be better? (I assume it's either one of those.)

Those are both SD settings.

Is your TV 1366x768 or 1920x1080?

What is the resolution of your source files?

TV is 1080p and it's an iPad 2. Source files will vary -- I'd rather plan for HD files and just use one preset. Thanks!!

Well, you need to optimize for the 1920x1080 TV (big file) or the iPad 1024x768 (poor picture on big screen) or meet half way at something like 1366x768.

The iPad2 will play h.264 at up to 1080p but only at 30p. the TV would prefer 60i or 30/60p. Personally I find 30p jerky on the large screen but others don't seem to mind.

The other basic problem you have with one file is the TV is 16:9 while the iPad is 4:3 so wide files will show as letterbox on the iPad.

I'm okay with big files, as long as the iPad can play them. And letterbox on the iPad is fine too. Will the Universal preset keep HD resolution?

While searching around on the internet, I found some copyright info -- is this even permitted (for DVD sets that you own)? My goal is to eventually build a home theater PC and would need these files to be digital, if it's permitted.

[edDV]

Apple "universal" is an SD resolution intended for iPod well below your TV or player.

You will need to create custom Handbrake presets

DVD wide with Detelecine (inverse telecine) for movies and TV series discs
DVD with with Deinterlace (slow) for interlace discs.

Then HD presets for TV captures (varies by resolution and telecine).

Generally thought that making discs of TV captures is allowed.

http://www.macworld.com/article/142301/2009/08/beyond_handbrake_defaults.html
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/handbrake