[mythtv-users] Transcoding ripped DVDs

[Jon Bishop]

Since nobody seems to have answered the question I think you're  
asking, let me give it a try..

On Feb 13, 2009, at 6:25 AM, gonzalo diethelm wrote:

> Now that I have some ripped DVDs available in MythDVD, I would like  
> to learn how to transcode them. Questions:
>
> 1. How do I initiate a transcoding job directly from the screen  
> where I am watching the movie? I tried hitting X but I believe it  
> didn't do anything. How do I control the parameters for the job in  
> this case? Where can I see the list of pending, ongoing, etc.,  
> transcoding jobs?

MythTV does not at this time support transcoding of video files in the  
mythvideo directory at all. You will have to do it from outside of myth.

> 2. How do I initiate a transcoding job from a command line? How do I  
> control the parameters for the job in this case?

There are several different tools to do this. Mencoder and ffmpeg are  
two examples. You will have to learn the command line requirements to  
use either to transcode. On my mac I can use ffmpegx, which is just a  
gui for ffmpeg. I don't know what is good software for windows  
anymore, I haven't ripped anything on a windows box since way back  
before they made all in one apps to do it. Handbrake is a good program  
that is supposed to run on windows/linux/mac (I use it on my mac). You  
might try that, it will treat your video_ts directory like a DVD and  
'rip' it and transcode to the format of your choice all at once.

> 3. Can anybody share recommendations on transcoding parameters for  
> the following cases? I would like to lower the space used by the  
> movies, but hopefully keeping the quality "good enough" (I am aware  
> that this is a subjective measure).

As you are aware, this is VERY subjective. I tend to transcode things  
to xvid mpeg4 at 720x* (keeping aspect ratio) with a bitrate of  
1500-2500. This is 'good enough' for me.

> 3.1. Older movies (think 2010, Godfather) that, although available  
> in DVD format, have a rather lower resolution than new movies and do  
> not benefit that much from having them in high quality MPEG format.

Less bitrate.

> 3.2. Newer movies (think Matrix, Madagascar) with much higher quality.

More bitrate.

> Thanks and best regards,

I know the last 2 answers weren't what you were looking for, but  
really, you're going to have to transcode something and see if it's  
good enough, or not. Only you are going to be able to decide where to  
go from there. More bitrate=bigger files.

I've even managed to transcode things at such a high bitrate that it  
INCREASED the filesize. Mind you, this clearly doesn't increase  
quality, but it is something to watch out for if you go too high...

~Jon