Best Format For Digital Files

[stonesfan99]

Hello all, I've been out of this game for awhile and am wondering if MKV/H264/AC3 is still the way to go for digital files? Everything I own can play these, all my encoding applications support that format, but not sure if anything better has come along. I looked at x265 a bit but my CPU still takes forever and a day to encode anything with this format and not a lot seems to support it. I read about AV1 but I never saw it come to fruition. Also, anybody know if plain DD 5.1 640kbps is still a decent format to use for audio? I know some streaming sites use DD+ 7.1 but I have never seen any GUI that can take a DTS-HD MA 7.1 or Dolby Atmos 7.1 track and create a DD+ 7.1 track. Thank you.

[lordsmurf]

What is the intended use?
That determines the answer needed for this use case.

[stonesfan99]

What is the intended use?
That determines the answer needed for this use case.

The files would end up being streamed over Plex from my desktop PC into my Xbox One S, my Roku Ultra; or directly played on my Windows 10 laptop. Would MKV/H264/AC3 still be the best format to keep the files in or would I be better served with MP4/H264/AAC? I understand that the latter format used to not allow forced subs and I'm not sure if it allows both an AAC and AC3 audio stream in the file (I thought M4V could contain both though). Thanks.

[aedipuss]

there's nothing wrong with h264 in mkv with ac3. it will be playable as a standard for a long time...

[lingyi]

I recently researched and posted the following in this thread: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/395824-How-to-add-subtitles-properly#post2572183

TL;DR

Handbrake doesn't allow DVD or Blu-Ray subs to be embedded into .mp4, only hardcoded. Though the container apparently supports it. Bottom line +1 to .mkv.

BTW, .mp4 and .mkv aren't formats, they're containers only, which is why they can contain different video and audio formats.

[lordsmurf]

AC3 can be a problem for some players.
Everything from audio drift, to popping, to refusal to play (licensing).

AAC is more ideal for H.264.

[stonesfan99]

AC3 can be a problem for some players.
Everything from audio drift, to popping, to refusal to play (licensing).

AAC is more ideal for H.264.

I also understood that more mobile devices support AAC as opposed to AC3. My Roku Ultra and Xbox One S also apparently support MP4/H264/AAC natively without any issues. I guess the main reason why I was interested in keeping both AAC and AC3 in the MP4 container was so retain surround sound if needed. I understand AAC can support more than 2 channels, but most players do not support it in more than 2 channels. I also have some content that has forced subs. I mainly compress everything with BD Rebuilder on the MKV Container, 1920x1080, 640 Kbs DD 5.1 setting. I do not know if its similar MP4 setting burns in subs or just forces them. I thought you needed M4V for this (forcing subs or using multiple audio streams).