How to downsize MPG files with least quality loss

[windranger]

I've got a 4.1Gb mpg file ripped from a DVD.
Video codec is mpeg2.

Now I want to downsize it to about 1.4Gb.
So I would like to know what options I have to this with the least loss of quality. I know some quality loss cannot be avoided but I want it to be as little as possible.
I prefer final codec to be H246, if possible.
The tools can be free or not.

I'd appreciate any advice.
Thanx

[netmask56]

It depends somewhat on what your media player can support but for me I would convert to MKV

[Kerry56]

Ripbot264 or Handbrake can do the conversion to H264 mp4 or mkv for you.

[Baldrick]

Or VidCOder!

[leghorn]

Like Kerry56 said, Handbrake is an easy but also efficient tool. If you don't mind complexity you might also try meGUI. It gives somewhat more options to influence your encoding outcome.

Regarding Baldrick's post...VidCoder is basically as good as Handbrake. But for me, I haven't found a way to encode files with it using constant frame-rate. It always gave variable FR.

[Hoser Rob]

+1 on VidCoder. It is handbrake. The developer just wrote a different, somewhat streamlined interface. It's easier for newbies, though handbrake was already better in that respect from other good converters because only outputting mp4 and mkv makes the options a lot less daunting to learn.

I prefer the 2 pass target file size setting. It's given me the most consistently reliable high quality output.

For minimum quality loss you want at least 1 gig per hour of source video file size target. I don't remember just off the top of my head how long a 4.1G mpeg2 file from a DVD is but 1.4G would be less than 90 min from that reckoning.

A setting of 1G per hour doesn't give you perfection ... you won't get that with any compression method. But it's very acceptable.

[Chef Goldblum]

Handbrake is my choice for doing this pretty simply. I'd go with constant quality vs 2 pass because it takes less time and the results will probably be pretty much identical with a DVD rip. As far as file type goes, MP4 is less "cool" but more widely supported than MKV, and it's what I always use.

[windranger]

Hey, thank you all for the good advice, I think I'll give a shot to both HandBrake and VidCoder. Maybe meGUI, too.

Choosing the application seems to be more a matter of personal preference rather than significant differences in quality of the job done..

Cheers

[windranger]

I tried to use HandBrake because it seemed to be what I was looking for.

In the videohelp tools there is a screenshot loaded and it shows that you can chose the target size of the output file; and that was what I wanted.
However, the version that I downloaded there is no such option in the Video section, under Quality.
The options you can chose from are only "Constant Quality" and "Avg Bitrate", that's all.

So I wonder why is this difference...

[misermidas]

With constant quality, you can choose the quality of the encoding but you cannot know what will be the size of the output file before you have made it !

With average bit rate you can use the formula:

Averagebitrate = filesize / time

but remember bit rates are usually given in bit per second , file sizes in bytes and time in minutes.
One byte (B) is 8 bits (b) ,and one minute (mn) is 60 seconds (s) !

Remember audio also needs some bit rate and multiplexing will also you some space more.

For best quality one should always use variable bit rate . Average bit rate must be less than maximum bit rate or you will just get constant bit rate !

[Hoser Rob]

The new version of Handbrake doesn't support target file size anymore. That bugged me at first but I've adapted. Itl tells you what the file size will be though, as I remember. I've been experimenting with constant quality mode and advanced settings lately.

Anyway, I think the newest version of handbrake is better enough to make adapting worthwhile. If you really want target file size mode use vidcoder, which uses the last version of handbrake as its engine. The user interface is easier to get around too.

If you're a newbie the more advanced settings, which you'll find discussed often here, may be a bit confusing. The handbrake docs for the basic stuff is excellent ... better than many programs you pay for. But for advanced options they dump you straight into the real video geek stuff. And it's complex.

What I'd suggest for a start with handbrake or vidcoder is that you always use the high profile unless you want to rip to a mobile device. That way you can get 8x8 DCT, which is essential for high quality. Unfortunately the default profile upon startup is the standard profile.

If you want to try advanced settings, the handbrake docs will point you to the .264 options page on the mplayer site. There are some useful settings there but you'll have to play with it a bit because the nomenclature isn't 100% the same.

I guess I am turning into a video geek. Somewhat reluctantly. Past a certain point there doesn't seem to be much choice.

[hello_hello]

The new version of Handbrake doesn't support target file size anymore. That bugged me at first but I've adapted. Itl tells you what the file size will be though, as I remember. I've been experimenting with constant quality mode and advanced settings lately.

Wow, that surprises me a little.
Personally I rarely use file size based encoding myself as there's more reasons not to than there are for doing so, but there are instances where you do need to encode something to a fixed output size. It seems like an odd feature to drop completely.

I use MeGUI myself, but I'd also recommend FFcoder, HDConvertTox or Ripbot to the OP as programs to try.