I am currently encoding all my videos for the aTV, using Handbrake. I was wondering which format I should be using, as most of the videos will be watched on my big screen HD TV downstairs and in the future on the iPhone (not as much on the video ipod). So what are some settings I should be using when I do this? Basically best quality for a small size? Thanks
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HandBrake and H264 vs. MP4
- Thread starter Blazer5913
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MP4 is a file container. Sort of like AVI except it doesn't suck like dotAVI. You put your AAC audio + H.264 encoded video inside of a dotMP4 container. I haven't used hard break but I will, so tell me how this goes for you.
By the way there is a chance that the Apple TV will just resize 1080p video to 720p. If you have the space and the time encode all your video in H.264 720p and 1080p and then with the Apple TV comes out see if it works. If I doesn't work just keep both file types until it eventually works.
Good luck to you brother.
I wasn't aware that HandBrake could encode in HD, can it? Thanks alot for all the input guys~ I'll stick with the h.264 encoding, with the 5channel audio... Hopefully it all goes well... Any other input I should be aware of? You think a bitrate of 2000 is suitable? Remember, its going on an HD tv, so I want it to look near DVD quality for non HD content... Mainly b/c its coming from a DVD (the movies that is)
You should encode at whatever the original resolution of the videos are- are these DVD's, Youtube clips, HD trailers, etc...? It makes a big difference on the bitrate you're going to want to use in HandBrake.
If they're DVD's, stick with the original resolution, and do 2-pass encoding with either H.264 or XVid. Either will look great, H.264 is a bit more efficient but XVid encoding will be faster. For DVD's a bitrate somewhere around 1500 to 2000 will be fine- I'd do a couple of test encodes and see with your own eyes (2000 kbps is probably not necessary but if you've got the space why not.)
If they're DVD's, stick with the original resolution, and do 2-pass encoding with either H.264 or XVid. Either will look great, H.264 is a bit more efficient but XVid encoding will be faster. For DVD's a bitrate somewhere around 1500 to 2000 will be fine- I'd do a couple of test encodes and see with your own eyes (2000 kbps is probably not necessary but if you've got the space why not.)
DVD = H264 at 2500 , and two pass encoding if you don't mind waiting for an insanely long time...
What i use for my good movies, Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle, etc.
About 2x - 3x the length of the recording. This is with a Core 2 Duo iMac 2.16ghz with 2Gb of Ram.
I just set a queue and leave it running over night.
hey, i just downloaded handbrake, and i dont have an option for h.264 anywhere, is there something that i am doing wrong?
Be aware that AFAIK Quicktime (and therefore Front Row) won't pass through the DD5.1 audio - so you'll get no 5.1 Audio if using QT or FrontRow.
VLC will play 5.1 - although I've so far only managed this through a DivX file. I'm trying to encode using H264/AAC and get 5.1 sound that I will play through VLC. Just need some ore experimentation!
VLC will play 5.1 - although I've so far only managed this through a DivX file. I'm trying to encode using H264/AAC and get 5.1 sound that I will play through VLC. Just need some ore experimentation!
so i have now found the h.264, but i was wondering if I should use AVI , or MP4, since i do not plan on putting these on an ipod, should i just use AVI, with h.264 mp3 audio, or h.264 AC-3 audio?
and then under encoder, should i use the main profile, or baseline profile?
and then under encoder, should i use the main profile, or baseline profile?
Here's a link to a guide that might answer some of your questions:
http://guides.macrumors.com/Ripping_a_DVD_to_an_iPod_Video
http://guides.macrumors.com/Ripping_a_DVD_to_an_iPod_Video