Handbrake settings for DVD encoding to MKV (h.264 + AC3 or DTS)

I edited right before you posted, but the blocking was in the source (to my surprise). Other than having about 200 discs qued up to be ripped (after major prioritization of my ~ 1000 disc collection), everything is now going well. Thanks again!

I also use the lastest unstable handbrake build find less crashin on encode on BD . My file sizes are usually 2-4gb which is fine for a 1080 blu ray highest is 6gb but still fine )

What are your steps for encoding BD? Will it recognize a decrypted BD source just like it will for a DVD? Or do you have to rip the M2TS first, then re-encode? Thanks!

Be careful with the strict setting and auto crop. It will crop to the exact dimensions without making the dimensions mod8 or mod16. I have found on linux with software render that it will not scale to fit the screen even though XBMC says that it is. Its about 10 or so pixels short of the full screen.

If you use VDPAU render it will scale properly to fit the screen.

I use 2 pass encoding even though it is longer since it will result in a smaller file size.

I also change the high profile parameters a bit, and use

Motion estimation: uneven-hexagon
Subpixel motion estimation: 9
No-fast-pskip
Trellis: 2
Analysis: all
Pyramidal B-frames: yes

I turn-on decomb also

Also as mentioned above, consider using the development releases at
http://handbrake.fr/snapshot.php

I primarily use the CLI version of Handbrake but I know that these translate to settings in the GUI. Here is the video related settings that I use:
-e x264 -x ref=3:mixed-refs=1:bframes=3:me=hex:subq=7:b-adapt=2:weightb=0:trellis=0:weightp=0 -q .62

This creates a version that is hard to tell from the original DVD. I also use AC3 passthrough with a Dolby Pro Logic II mixdown as a second audio track for watching on devices that don't decode AC3. My movies come out between 1.3G and 2.0G. Depends on the length of the movies (of course)

wstewart Wrote:I also change the high profile parameters a bit, and use

Motion estimation: uneven-hexagon
Subpixel motion estimation: 9
No-fast-pskip
Trellis: 2
Analysis: all
Pyramidal B-frames: yes

I turn-on decomb also

Also as mentioned above, consider using the development releases at
http://handbrake.fr/snapshot.php

Doesn't the high profile already have decomb enabled?

wstewart Wrote:Be careful with the strict setting and auto crop. It will crop to the exact dimensions without making the dimensions mod8 or mod16. I have found on linux with software render that it will not scale to fit the screen even though XBMC says that it is. Its about 10 or so pixels short of the full screen.

If you use VDPAU render it will scale properly to fit the screen.

Also I use strict yet use VDPAU so that wouldn't ever be an issue in my case. With using software rendering, is this an issue with how XBMC is scaling it? If so, maybe it can be looked into why XBMC has an issue with this.