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Anyone started converting movies yet?
- Thread starter ReallyBigFeet
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I don't know why you all are jumping all over this guy. There are a ton of Handbrake settings that have nothing to do with the resolution of the source media. It would be great for an expert to explain which ones may or may not make a difference on a very high resolution display. Framerate, bitrate, etc. Or maybe it's just best to use the older iPad Handbrake settings? Who knows, I'm certainly not the expert but I'd like to know the answer.
Most people that don't know just give the OP a bunch of crap and dance around the question and provide no real answers. What's wrong with you?
Oh that's right. I almost forgot, this is macrumors. Where everyone is always right.
My advice would be to head over to the HandBrake forums. As I recall, they have quite a few threads regarding the various settings and impacts.
Here's what I use for all my HD K-Pop Music Videos. These run fine on iPhone 4S so will run fine on iPad the 3rd. The vast majority of them are 1080p.
The video preset is saved with video size set to largest post scan or whatever it is (so it uses whatever the source's res was). The key here on audio is the max of 160kbps stereo (although you can embed 5.1 dolby as well and the iPad can pass it thru but it needs a stereo AAC track for it's own consumption). The video settings are just basic based on general recommendation from handbrake forums, i.e. that constant quality 20 is best bang-for-buck setting. No arcane advanced option tweaking going on here.
The video preset is saved with video size set to largest post scan or whatever it is (so it uses whatever the source's res was). The key here on audio is the max of 160kbps stereo (although you can embed 5.1 dolby as well and the iPad can pass it thru but it needs a stereo AAC track for it's own consumption). The video settings are just basic based on general recommendation from handbrake forums, i.e. that constant quality 20 is best bang-for-buck setting. No arcane advanced option tweaking going on here.
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I'm just gonna throw an uncompressed blu-ray rip at it when it gets here tomorrow and see what happens. 
Might take a trip into town to try and get a camera kit. Then I don't to travel with my laptop this weekend
Might take a trip into town to try and get a camera kit. Then I don't to travel with my laptop this weekend 
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OP, what type of source video are you encoding with Handbrake?
I always used Handbrake's iPad setting too, but because it down converts the resolution of 1080p, I've encoded some test files. Here are my setting I'm going to try when I encode my blu-ray mkvs:
Format: m4v
Large file size box checked
Video Codec: H.264
Frame rate: 29.97 (NTSC Video)
Video Quality
Constant Quality: RF 20.25
Audio
Code: AAC (Core Audio)
Mixdown: Stereo
Samplerate: Auto
Bitrate: 160
I checked the "large file size box" and changed the frame rate from "same as source" to 29.97 because the handbrake iPad settings are so and I like how those encodes look. I changed constant quality to 20.25 instead of 20 because I want a slightly smaller file size for my portable media encodes and the .25 difference is not noticeable picture quality wise to my eyes. I used stereo and 160 due to iPad requirements.
OP, what type of source video are you encoding with Handbrake?
I always used Handbrake's iPad setting too, but because it down converts the resolution of 1080p, I've encoded some test files. Here are my setting I'm going to try when I encode my blu-ray mkvs:
Format: m4v
Large file size box checked
Video Codec: H.264
Frame rate: 29.97 (NTSC Video)
Video Quality
Constant Quality: RF 20.25
Audio
Code: AAC (Core Audio)
Mixdown: Stereo
Samplerate: Auto
Bitrate: 160
I checked the "large file size box" and changed the frame rate from "same as source" to 29.97 because the handbrake iPad settings are so and I like how those encodes look. I changed constant quality to 20.25 instead of 20 because I want a slightly smaller file size for my portable media encodes and the .25 difference is not noticeable picture quality wise to my eyes. I used stereo and 160 due to iPad requirements.
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Done my LOTR collection, and "Jumpers" so far...WIll watch them first to see the difference...My iMac is an animal and encodes them in under 11 minutes..The LOTR movies are long too...
I seriously doubt there's a conversion scheme in existence that can make Jumpers watchable at any resolution.
My Encoder Recommendation: VideoMonkey
Ive been encoding for AppleTV2 using video monkey but I don't even go to the highest quality because the file sizes can become excessively large for some content (sitcoms, dramas etc). On one hand I do wish I kept everything at max quality but on the other then I never found it practical to watch movies on the iPad (thats a personal opinion). So if given a choice of one 7GB movie vs an entire season of a TV Show then I prefer more. But maybe the new screen will change my mind.
I just posted this in the other thread about this topic. Been re-encoding all my Blu-Ray's for the new iPad. These are the settings I use, with picture size set to match whatever the blu-ray was originally, (vs downsizing for iPad 2's smaller screen). Should add that the Constant Quality slider is set to RF: 18.5.
Thanks for that, I need the Dolby, but we are all experimenting at the moment...LOTR should be a good test...They are the top end box set, with the directors cuts etc. I have used similar settings to yours apart from putting the Dolby in...I've watched them on my smart TV and tested the Dolby...Works fine...Ipad comes tomorrow so will put them on one at a time and see how they stream to the new (Aslo delivered tomorrow ATV3) Will watch this thread to see what settings folks find best.
First, thanks to everyone who actually contributed some useful info.
But you sir....you deserve a cookie. Huge help.
My source video is almost entirely 720p or 1080p MKVs. I'm trying the settings shown above right now. Re-encoding takes so long I thought I'd get a jump on this while waiting for my new iPad.
Unless you have a lot of time, and a lot of horsepower at your disposal (no, not iMac horsepower, I'm talking 16-24 core horsepower) I do not suggest you use the settings I use above. Honestly I would set it using the iPad 2 settings, then change dimensions to the proper size for the original video, then finally bump up all the settings a little. Not a lot, just a little.
While not listed in my sig since it stays at the office all the time, we've several Dual 6-Core Xeon (12 Core effectively) Mac Pro's we dedicate for rendering work. I'm using two of them right now. And yes...totally right. 24-28 hours per encode. But the office is closed tomorrow so figured why not.
Yea, if you have tomorrow, or the weekend? Sure, queue them up at max settings. Just pause them when you need the machines.
I did a little homework, and the settings I posted above fall under the High Profile Class 5. So we'll see if the new iPad can handle that tomorrow.
I did a little homework, and the settings I posted above fall under the High Profile Class 5. So we'll see if the new iPad can handle that tomorrow.
Yeah, but you can always burn ripped HD movies, illegal 1080p mkv torrent
or even iTunes HD downloads on a DVD, as long as it below 8GB. Technically it would still be HD on a DVD, although you cannot play it on any regular DVD player.Yeah, but you can always burn ripped HD movies, illegal 1080p mkv torrent
Technically, yes. But to be clear, the burned DVD with HD on it is not in the traditional DVD format and will not play back it's high def content on normal DVD players, only blu ray players. It is basically like burning a small 4.7 or 8.5GB blu ray formatted DVD disc. In fact some older blu ray players might not even play them back.
Also at true blu ray bit rates (30-40Mbps) you only get a few minutes on a single sided normal DVD.