Converting files to movie storage

[bbguy50]

OK, guys/gals, here my question. I just bought a Go flex 2T storage box and wdtv and I also have the handbrake converter. I was wondering what the best format with out losing picture quality fo my 37" LG tv. I really want to maximize this unit(storage box) and get as many movies on it. I actually want my whole dvd collection on it too.

[hech54]

with out losing picture quality .

NOT gonna happen.

[The Mariner]

Howdy,

Using the h.264 video codec will give you the best quality results for a given filesize, but as hech54 says, you will always have a reduction in image quality if you compress/transcode DVD movies to smaller filesizes. You can save a little filesize by reducing the audio down to 2 channels.. say MP3 @ 128kbps but the savings are small compared to the video size.

You need to determine how much video quality you are prepared to loose before it becomes objectionable to YOU. Using a bitrate or quality setting that makes files from DVd's around the 1.5 GB is a place to start. At this size, you'll still be able to fit over 1300 movies on your 2 TB drive.

[hello_hello]

For best quality you want to be using the x264 encoder. For encoding DVDs I use a quality based encoder setting (CRF value) of 19 with x264's default settings and an AVC level of 4.1. I think Handbrake only does quality based encoding these days. I keep the original 5.1ch audio. At a guess the average file size would be around 1.5GB. Probably less. A higher CRF value will give you smaller file sizes at the expense of quality, although how high you can go before you actually start to see it is another matter. Using a CRF vlaue of 19 the encoded video is fairly indistinguishable from the original to me. CRF 18 is supposed to be around where the x264 encoder is "transparent".

As DVDs don't use square pixels (the video is resized to the correct aspect ratio on playback) there's two ways to convert them. The first is to resize the DVD to the correct aspect ratio and then encode it using square pixels. Often this involves (although it doesn't have to) reducing the resolution. The second way is to encode the DVD "as-is" and then have the player resize it on playback just as it would the original DVD. Generally this will give you better quality but not all players support it. It's called "anamorphic encoding". I'd imagine the WD player supports it but I've never used one. I've not used Handbrake much either but I'm pretty sure it supports anamorphic encoding. I always use anamorphic encoding for DVDs.

My encoder of choice is MeGUI which I prefer over Handbrake but it does have more of a learning curve. Handbrake is no doubt easier to use if you're new to encoding. Both seem to default to a CRF value of 20 for x264 encoding so that's probably a good place to start.

[hello_hello]

Here's an additional question for Handbrake users..... something I've noticed and always been curious about..... so sorry to sidetrack the thread a little.
Handbrake has a setting to use a constant framerate or a variable one. It seems to default to a variable frame rate. Anyone know how the variable frame rate setting works if you're encoding a constant frame rate video? Given most movies use a constant frame rate, does leaving the setting on variable frame rate do anything? Does it actually use a variable frame rate?

[Hoser Rob]

Set the frame rate mode to the same as the original. I've never done anything else. For the record handbrake doesn't just use constant quality mode, though they dropped target file size in the latest version.

To the OP ... it is indeed impossible to make small files without losing quality. You didn't say how many dvds you were talking about, but for good quality dvd encodes I'd say you're talking about 1Gb per hour of video. I know that's subjective but it's a good, generally accepted guideline.

It isn't much help, by the way, to know what size the screen is without knowing how far you sit away from it. Most people sit too far away to really see what their hdtvs are capable of anyway. For someone with normal 20/20 vision, at the average distance of 9 feet, you'd need a 70" tv to actually be able to see all the detail in a 1080p hd picture. I know you're talking dvd res here but that's a guide.

You may be quite happy with less than 1 Gb per hour. Some of my dvd rips are encoded much larger than others because the content demanded it. I'm a lot fussier with Lord of the Rings than the typical sundance indie with a lot of static scenes.

What I'd suggest is to rip one of your dvds to HDd (I use dvdfab hd decrypter to rip, though their encoder is crap). Then load one of the .vob files on it a number of times in batch mode and try different h.264 constant quality settings in handbrake. Decide for yourself what you're satisfied with.

And BTW always use the high profile in handbrake for tv viewing. The default standard profile is really only any good if you want to rip to a mobile. For decent quality high profile is critical.

[hello_hello]

Set the frame rate mode to the same as the original. I've never done anything else.

So does anyone actually know why handbrake defaults to variable frame rate and how it handles the frame rate when encoding constant frame rate video if you leave the setting on variable?