When I convert video files into mp4, their size increases

[lawllmaster]

Whenever I change a video file into an mp4, it's size increases 2-3 times, although I set it to the same bitrate. Shouldn't this keep the file size same, and not increase it unnecessarily?

Please help, I am running out of HDD space! :/

Oh, and I'm converting the videos to run on an Apple TV, so don't say use a different format.

[Baldrick]

What do you convert with?

Try something else like handbrake, vidcoder.

[manono]

Shouldn't this keep the file size same...?

Yes, if the output length is the same as the source length. Have you checked? And the audio is the same before and after?

You didn't say what program you're using. You didn't say how you're determining the source bitrate.

[videobruger]

Check source and converted with MediaInfo. And are you sure you need to re-encode. From this post

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/354399-Adding-subtitles-to-mp4-file-for-Apple-TV-(3rd-Gen-)-use

it looks like you are using x.264 encoded video in wich case you may just re-mux your source file ?

[lawllmaster]

Check source and converted with MediaInfo. And are you sure you need to re-encode. From this post

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/354399-Adding-subtitles-to-mp4-file-for-Apple-TV-(3rd-Gen-)-use

it looks like you are using x.264 encoded video in wich case you may just re-mux your source file ?

You're probably right... But using PotEncoder, adding subs is much easier and practically supports almost all video formats.

And I checked output file's and source file's bitrates. Apparently the output file had a much higher bitrate (wth?).

[lawllmaster]

Shouldn't this keep the file size same...?

Yes, if the output length is the same as the source length. Have you checked? And the audio is the same before and after?

You didn't say what program you're using. You didn't say how you're determining the source bitrate.

I used PotEncoder, and the audio has a lower bitrate than the source file.

I'm not sure about the source length, but I do know this: the output file's bitrates were higher than those of the source's. Could this be the problem?

[transporterfan]

Check source and converted with MediaInfo. And are you sure you need to re-encode. From this post

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/354399-Adding-subtitles-to-mp4-file-for-Apple-TV-(3rd-Gen-)-use

it looks like you are using x.264 encoded video in wich case you may just re-mux your source file ?

You're probably right... But using PotEncoder, adding subs is much easier and practically supports almost all video formats.

And I checked output file's and source file's bitrates. Apparently the output file had a much higher bitrate (wth?).

Just a thought. In your PotEncoder post, you say 'I am using H.264 to encode BD-quality video with subtitles in this pic'. No offense but are you converting like-for-like resolution? You're sure you're not unintentionally up-scaling? Obviously, I don't know the original size of the source files...just hazarding a guess. Feel free to shoot me down

[lawllmaster]

I did not upscale, and here's what MediaInfo says:

The 1st pic is the source, the 2nd pic is the output. You can clearly see the bitrate has skyrocketed... Maybe this is the problem? But it's funny, cuz I didn't change anything (frame size, fps, audio quality, etc) :/

[poisondeathray]

Yes that's the problem

filesize = bitrate * running time

[lawllmaster]

Yes that's the problem

filesize = bitrate * running time

But I never increased the bitrate when I re-encoded the video.... Any ideas to why it increased in the first place?

[poisondeathray]

Yes that's the problem

filesize = bitrate * running time

But I never increased the bitrate when I re-encoded the video.... Any ideas to why it increased in the first place?

maybe the program isn't very good or has bugs ? I've never used PotEncoder, but if you entered the same old bitrate, it looks like it's not meeting the target you set

[manono]

But I never increased the bitrate when I re-encoded the video.... Any ideas to why it increased in the first place?

Did you even enter a bitrate? Maybe it has some sort of default value it uses if you don't enter one. Or maybe you did a 1-pass CRF encode for a specific quality. In such cases the bitrate can be virtually anything. We can't tell you what you did.

[El Heggunte]

Please help, I am running out of HDD space! :/

Time to buy-and-use USB sticks / DVD-Rs / another HDD.

[lawllmaster]

I used a 1-pass VBR encoding, which encodes by quality, not bitrates. But there is an option for CBR, which encodes by bitrate. I think I'll try that out.

[lawllmaster]

Yes that's the problem

filesize = bitrate * running time

But I never increased the bitrate when I re-encoded the video.... Any ideas to why it increased in the first place?

maybe the program isn't very good or has bugs ? I've never used PotEncoder, but if you entered the same old bitrate, it looks like it's not meeting the target you set

Likely coz I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by % you set and not bitrate), I shall try CBR, which encodes by a set bitrate

[manono]

Likely coz I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by % you set and not bitrate)

Nonsense. If if this program allows you to choose a percent then likely it's some sort of CRF or quality-based encoding, which I mentioned as a possibility in my last post. If you want a smaller size, choose a lower percent. You chose 100%, maybe? CBR encoding is not what you want.

[jagabo]

I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by %

Then there's your problem -- percent doesn't mean percent of the original file size. Use a lower quality setting if you want a lower bitrate (smaller file). Or use bitrate based encoding and the specify the same bitrate as the original.

[lawllmaster]

Likely coz I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by % you set and not bitrate)

Nonsense. If if this program allows you to choose a percent then likely it's some sort of CRF or quality-based encoding, which I mentioned as a possibility in my last post. If you want a smaller size, choose a lower percent. You chose 100%, maybe? CBR encoding is not what you want.

Isn't there any way to have full quality and have same (or mildly large) file size?

[lawllmaster]

I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by %

Then there's your problem -- percent doesn't mean percent of the original file size. Use a lower quality setting if you want a lower bitrate (smaller file). Or use bitrate based encoding and the specify the same bitrate as the original.

No offense, but I know it doesn't mean file size. And I want full quality, but same or mildly large file size. Is there no way to achieve this?

[transporterfan]

Not while you're determined to hang on to that program!
The problem is, nobody uses it (until you wrote the 'How To' I hadn't even heard of it) so any advice on how to accomplish what is you're trying to accomplish is going to be small or non-existent.

[poisondeathray]

I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by %

Then there's your problem -- percent doesn't mean percent of the original file size. Use a lower quality setting if you want a lower bitrate (smaller file). Or use bitrate based encoding and the specify the same bitrate as the original.

No offense, but I know it doesn't mean file size. And I want full quality, but same or mildly large file size. Is there no way to achieve this?

For full quality, same size => leave it as is

Even when the size is 3-4x larger, the quality DECREASES when you re-encode with a lossy codec


The best advice in this thread for full quality:

Please help, I am running out of HDD space! :/

Time to buy-and-use USB sticks / DVD-Rs / another HDD.

[lawllmaster]

Not while you're determined to hang on to that program!
The problem is, nobody uses it (until you wrote the 'How To' I hadn't even heard of it) so any advice on how to accomplish what is you're trying to accomplish is going to be small or non-existent.

I'll try using different encoders then. :P

[lawllmaster]

I used VBR to encode (which determines quality by %

Then there's your problem -- percent doesn't mean percent of the original file size. Use a lower quality setting if you want a lower bitrate (smaller file). Or use bitrate based encoding and the specify the same bitrate as the original.

No offense, but I know it doesn't mean file size. And I want full quality, but same or mildly large file size. Is there no way to achieve this?

For full quality, same size => leave it as is

Even when the size is 3-4x larger, the quality DECREASES when you re-encode with a lossy codec


The best advice in this thread for full quality:

Please help, I am running out of HDD space! :/

Time to buy-and-use USB sticks / DVD-Rs / another HDD.

I guess it's time to head on to an electronics shop and get some 3TB drives...

[transporterfan]

I downloaded PotEncoder. Can't make head nor tail of it, but in the advanced setting (i think that's what it is) is an option for 'direct stream copy'. I am not sure if that works with the subs though, or if it even helps at all. You could give it a shot. The real problem with these type of programs is that while it's good of you to provide a guide, if an error message or warning pops up the rest of us are fooked.

For the record, it has a nice layout and 'feel' to it. Just wish there was a language setting. :P

[lawllmaster]

I downloaded PotEncoder. Can't make head nor tale of it, but in the advanced setting (i think that's what it is) is an option for 'direct stream copy'. I am not sure if that works with the subs though, or if it even helps at all. You could give it a shot. The real problem with these type of programs is that while it's good of you to provide a guide, if an error message or warning pops up the rest of us are fooked.

For the record, it has a nice layout and 'feel' to it. Just wish there was a language setting. :P

I understand. I will look into the Direct stream Copy option soon... as for the language problem, I will be posting a detailed guide on how to use it. It's such a great program, I really wish I could share it with you guys at VideoHelp. Cheers, and thanks for the tip!

[jagabo]

I will look into the Direct stream Copy option soon...

Direct Stream Copy will only remux with soft subs (ie, subs that the player overlays while playing, that can be switched on and off). It will not burn the subs into the picture (making them permanent) and reencode. I don't know if that's what you are looking for.

[lawllmaster]

I will look into the Direct stream Copy option soon...

Direct Stream Copy will only remux with soft subs (ie, subs that the player overlays while playing, that can be switched on and off). It will not burn the subs into the picture (making them permanent) and reencode. I don't know if that's what you are looking for.

I am looking for soft subs, since I want to use on an Apple TV, but don't want to sacrifice quality. Thanks for the concern!

[lawllmaster]

The Direct Stream Copy only outputs avi, mkv, and wmv formats, so it's no good...

[transporterfan]

MKV is halfway there. This is why I don't like Apple products. If you can get the sub file into the MKV try:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/340675-Mkv%D0%A2%D0%BEMp4-v0-222-rapid-tool-for-rep...v-to-Mp4/page3

[jagabo]

What soft sub formats are supported by MP4?