Settings for converting Freeview recordings to mp4/avi

[doveman]

I have a lot of Freeview recordings (Mpeg2 SD, 704x576, MP2 48khz audio) which I need to convert to mp4 or avi (I'll mostly be converting to mp4/mkv but I also need a good profile for avi).

I suspect that a lot of the pre-defined profiles the various programs have might be overkill for Freeview quality recordings and obviously don't want to waste hours converting files if it can be done satisfactorily much quicker, so can anyone recommend some suitable settings? Would any of the profiles from MCEBuddy below be ideal?

 
[MP4 High Quality]
Description=High profile, high quality 2 pass MP4 
(H.264/AAC) conversion.  Takes the most time but produces the best 
results.
2pass=true
order=mencoder,ffmpeg
mencoder-unsupported=wtv+h264
mencoder-general=-ss 3 -vf pullup,softskip,yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d,harddup
mencoder-video=-ovc x264 -x264encopts bitrate=1800:me=hex:trellis=2:subq=8:partitions=all:8x8dct:me=hex:ref=8:rc_lookahead=50:keyint=25:keyint_min=20:bframes=3:weight_b:level_idc=41:b_pyramid=normal:direct_pred=auto:mixed_refs:deblock=-1,-1:nofast_pskip:nodct_decimate:threads=auto 
mencoder-audio=-oac faac -faacopts br=192:mpeg=4:tns:object=2
mencoder-audioac3=-oac faac -faacopts br=192:mpeg=4:tns:object=2
mencoder-ext=.avi
mencoder-remuxto=.mp4
mencoder-audiodelay=skip
ffmpeg-general=-async 1 -threads 0
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec libx264 -b 
2000k -flags +loop -cmp +chroma -deblock -1:-1 -bt 256k -refs 8 -bf 3 
-b_strategy 2 -coder 1 -me_method hex -me_range 16 -subq 8 -partitions 
+parti4x4+parti8x8+partp8x8+partb8x8 -weightb 1 -mixed-refs 1 -8x8dct 1 -g 25 
-keyint_min 20 -level 41 -trellis 2 -sc_threshold 40 -i_qfactor 0.71  
ffmpeg-audio=-acodec libvo_aacenc -ab 192k -ac 2
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec 
libvo_aacenc -ab 192k -ac 2
ffmpeg-ext=.mp4
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip
CutMP4Alternate=true
 
:
 
[MP4 Normal]
Description=High profile, high quality 1 pass MP4 (H.264/AAC) 
conversion.  Produces good results and is faster than the two pass 
conversion.
order=mencoder,ffmpeg
mencoder-unsupported=wtv+h264
mencoder-general=-ss 3 -vf pullup,softskip,yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d,harddup
mencoder-video=-ovc x264 -x264encopts 
bitrate=1800:me=hex:trellis=1:subq=8:partitions=all:8x8dct:me=hex:ref=8:rc_lookahead=50:keyint=25:keyint_min=20:bframes=3:weight_b:level_idc=41:b_pyramid=normal:direct_pred=auto:mixed_refs:deblock=-1,-1:nofast_pskip:nodct_decimate:threads=auto 
mencoder-audio=-oac faac -faacopts br=192:mpeg=4:tns:object=2
mencoder-audioac3=-oac faac -faacopts br=192:mpeg=4:tns:object=2
mencoder-ext=.avi
mencoder-remuxto=.mp4
mencoder-audiodelay=skip
ffmpeg-general=-async 1 -threads 0
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec libx264 -b 
2000k -flags +loop -cmp +chroma -deblock -1:-1 -bt 256k -refs 8 -bf 3 
-b_strategy 2 -coder 1 -me_method hex -me_range 16 -subq 8 -partitions 
+parti4x4+parti8x8+partp8x8+partb8x8 -weightb 1 -mixed-refs 1 -8x8dct 1 -g 25 
-keyint_min 20 -level 41 -trellis 1 -sc_threshold 40 -i_qfactor 0.71 
ffmpeg-audio=-acodec libvo_aacenc -ab 192k -ac 2
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec 
libvo_aacenc -ab 192k -ac 2
ffmpeg-ext=.mp4
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip
CutMP4Alternate=true
 
:
 
[MP4 Fast]
Description=Fast MP4 (H.264/AAC) conversion.  Fastest 
conversion but lower quality, more sensitive to errors in the source 
video.
order=handbrake
handbrake-general=--loose-anamorphic --verbose=2 -f 
mp4 -4
handbrake-video=-e x264 -b 2000 -x cabac=0:ref=2:bframes=0:weightp=0:8x8dct=0:trellis=0:subq=6:me=hex
handbrake-audio=-E faac -6 auto -R auto -B 160 -D 0
handbrake-audioac3=-E faac -6 auto -R auto -B 160 -D 0
handbrake-ext=.mp4
handbrake-audiodelay=skip
 
:
 
[DivX Avi High Quality]
Description=Very High quality, 2 pass DivX / Xvid 
AVI (XVid/AC3) conversion. Takes the most time but produces the best results and 
a small file.
order=ffmpeg
2pass=true
ffmpeg-general=-threads 0 -async 1
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec libxvid -b 1800k -f avi 
-mbd rd -flags +mv4+aic -trellis 2 -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -g 300 -bf 2
ffmpeg-audio=-acodec ac3 -ab 192k
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec ac3 -ab 384k
ffmpeg-ext=.avi
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip
 
:
 
[DivX Avi Normal]
Description=Good quality, 1 pass DivX / Xvid AVI 
(XVid/AC3) conversion.  Produces good results and is faster than the two 
pass conversion.
order=ffmpeg
ffmpeg-general=-threads 0 -async 1
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec libxvid -b 1200k -f avi 
-flags +mv4+aic -g 300 -bf 2
ffmpeg-audio=-acodec ac3 -ab 160k
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec ac3 -ab 256k
ffmpeg-ext=.avi
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip
 
:
 
[DivX Avi Fast]
Description=Good quality, 1 pass DivX / Xvid AVI 
(XVid/AC3) conversion.  Much faster conversion, more resilient to errors in 
the video but a creates a larger file.
order=ffmpeg
ffmpeg-general=-threads 0 -async 1
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec mpeg4 -vtag xvid -b 1800k -f avi -flags +mv4+aic 
-g 300 -bf 2 -dts_delta_threshold 0
ffmpeg-audio=-acodec ac3 -ab 160k
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec ac3 -ab 256k
ffmpeg-ext=.avi
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip
 
: 
 
[MKV High Quality]
Description=High profile, high quality 2 pass MKV 
(H.264/AC3).
2pass=true
order=mencoder,ffmpeg
mencoder-unsupported=wtv+h264
mencoder-general=-ss 3 -vf pullup,softskip,yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d,harddup
mencoder-video=-ovc x264 -x264encopts 
bitrate=1800:me=hex:trellis=2:subq=8:partitions=all:8x8dct:me=hex:ref=8:rc_lookahead=50:keyint=25:keyint_min=20:bframes=3:weight_b:level_idc=41:b_pyramid=normal:direct_pred=auto:mixed_refs:deblock=-1,-1:nofast_pskip:nodct_decimate:threads=auto 
mencoder-audio=-oac lavc -lavcopts acodec=ac3:abitrate=192
mencoder-audioac3=-oac lavc -lavcopts acodec=ac3:abitrate=384
mencoder-ext=.avi
mencoder-remuxto=.mkv
mencoder-audiodelay=skip
ffmpeg-general=-async 1 -threads 0
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec libx264 -b 
2000k -flags +loop -cmp +chroma -deblock -1:-1 -bt 256k -refs 8 -bf 3 
-b_strategy 2 -coder 1 -me_method hex -me_range 16 -subq 8 -partitions 
+parti4x4+parti8x8+partp8x8+partb8x8 -weightb 1 -mixed-refs 1 -8x8dct 1 -g 25 
-keyint_min 20 -level 41 -trellis 2 -sc_threshold 40 -i_qfactor 0.71 
 ffmpeg-audio=-acodec ac3 -ab 192k
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec ac3 -ab 384k
ffmpeg-ext=.mp4
ffmpeg-remuxto=.mkv
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip
 
:
 
[MKV Normal Quality]
Description=High profile, high quality 1 pass MKV 
(H.264/AC3).  Produces good results and is faster than the two pass conversion.
order=mencoder,ffmpeg
mencoder-unsupported=wtv+h264
mencoder-general=-ss 3 -vf pullup,softskip,yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d,harddup
mencoder-video=-ovc x264 -x264encopts 
bitrate=1800:me=hex:trellis=1:subq=8:partitions=all:8x8dct:me=hex:ref=8:rc_lookahead=50:keyint=25:keyint_min=20:bframes=3:weight_b:level_idc=41:b_pyramid=normal:direct_pred=auto:mixed_refs:deblock=-1,-1:nofast_pskip:nodct_decimate:threads=auto  mencoder-audio=-oac lavc -lavcopts acodec=ac3:abitrate=192
mencoder-audioac3=-oac lavc -lavcopts acodec=ac3:abitrate=384
mencoder-ext=.avi
mencoder-remuxto=.mkv
mencoder-audiodelay=skip
ffmpeg-general=-async 1 -threads 0
ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1,hqdn3d -vcodec libx264 -b 
2000k -flags +loop -cmp +chroma -deblock -1:-1 -bt 256k -refs 8 -bf 3 
-b_strategy 2 -coder 1 -me_method hex -me_range 16 -subq 8 -partitions 
+parti4x4+parti8x8+partp8x8+partb8x8 -weightb 1 -mixed-refs 1 -8x8dct 1 -g 25 
-keyint_min 20 -level 41 -trellis 1 -sc_threshold 40 -i_qfactor 0.71 
 ffmpeg-audio=-acodec ac3 -ab 192k
ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec ac3 -ab 384k
ffmpeg-ext=.mp4
ffmpeg-remuxto=.mkv
ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip

[doveman]

I've also tried Handbrake now and on the Normal profile, I found it makes about a one hour program into a 1GB file. I'd hope for something nearer 600-700MB and note that downloads from BBC iPlayer at 640x360 are around 350MB, so perhaps I can even get it down to that?

[Baldrick]

Adjust the bitrate(lower) or the constant quality setting(higher) under the video tab in Handbrake to get smaller size.

[doveman]

Adjust the bitrate(lower) or the constant quality setting(higher) under the video tab in Handbrake to get smaller size.

Sure I get that. I'm just not sure what I should set it to to get a good compromise between size and quality for my source material. The tests I did were with Normal profile set to Constant Quality RF20.

I also need some suggested settings for MCEBuddy so that I can have that automatically compress files I move to a certain folder, whilst others I'll do manually with Handbrake, so I want both to produce roughly the same quality/size output.