[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Samurai

What is the best utility to convert my MKV files to H.264 MP4 files without losing subtitles? Please don't suggest very hard to use software even if it is free. I should be able to select a bunch of mkv files, choose the output format as H.264 MP4 and click to convert in one shot. I should be able to try before buying.

Handbrake (HandBrake) is the way to go.

Just note that apart from resolution (480/720/1080p), bit rate also plays a role in quality of videos.

So, you will get smaller files but quality would be like highly compressed JPEGs.

[Samurai]

Handbrake does one file at a time. That is a real pain when I have 500+ titles to convert.

[khanak]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Handbrake does one file at a time. That is a real pain when I have 500+ titles to convert.

You can set up a que for handbrake and it will convert the files one by one automatically.

I assume you need to do this for Apple TV?

[Samurai]

No, I use WDTV media player. Looks like HandBrake also has commandline option. Let me explore this queue option first.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Handbrake does one file at a time. That is a real pain when I have 500+ titles to convert.

You can select all files to be converted at once.

Go to Source->Folder, select folder that has mkv files and then

Add to Queue -> Add All

That would convert all files at once.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

That would convert all files at once.

Thanks, that is working. Now I need to see whether subtitles get transferred properly.

[Fillmore]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

I am in the process of buying a decent amp in the next month or so, hopefully it will have HDMI as standard....

One minor point to be kept in mind here.
When picking up your HDMI cable be aware of the different releases, do not pick up a HDMI 1.1 cable, which might be put on clearance sale.

HDMI 1.1 does not support 7.1 HD audio , only 1.3 does.

For accurate information you can ref : HDMI :: Resources :: FAQ

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

One minor point to be kept in mind here.
When picking up your HDMI cable be aware of the different releases, do not pick up a HDMI 1.1 cable, which might be put on clearance sale.

Or you can buy no-name cables from any electronics parts store. That would cost just 500 Rs for a 5 meter cable or 200 for 5 feet.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

You can select all files to be converted at once.

There is one trouble with select all. The default audio is always set to AAC (faac) Dolby Prologic II, that is 2 channel stereo. How can I set AC3 passthru as the default? I don't want to lose 5.1 audio from the MKV. Right now I have to change this in each file before adding to the queue.

I tried saving AC3 passthru in the preset, it didn't work. Looks like I have to use High profile setting, which means bigger file size. I am still fiddling with it.

[AvinashV]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

You can select all files to be converted at once.

Go to Source->Folder, select folder that has mkv files and then

Add to Queue -> Add All

That would convert all files at once.

Originally Posted by Samurai

Thanks, that is working. Now I need to see whether subtitles get transferred properly.

Is there a major drop in quality when converting the large 720p, around 4~5 Gb files to h.264(smaller files)? Can one make out the difference on a 40 inch? Cause my hard drive is fast filling up

[Samurai]

Ok, the high profile retains 5.1 audio tracks with only 10% increase in size. I guess I will go with that.

Originally Posted by AvinashV

Is there a major drop in quality when converting the large 720p, around 4~5 Gb files to h.264(smaller files)? Can one make out the difference on a 40 inch? Cause my hard drive is fast filling up

That's not true. H.264 is a very superior encoding technique. Even Blu-ray uses H.264 format.

The subtitle is getting transferred. But Media Player Classic is unable to display it, while VLC can. I just hope WDTV can show it.

[AvinashV]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Ok, the high profile retains 5.1 audio tracks with only 10% increase in size. I guess I will go with that.

That's not true. H.264 is a very superior encoding technique. Even Blu-ray uses H.264 format.

Ok i guess noob question time then - is there a reduction in file size when converting? As in huge difference? & coz of the superior encoding technique that you mentioned is the quality just as good?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Ok, the high profile retains 5.1 audio tracks with only 10% increase in size. I guess I will go with that.

Naaah, it is ridiculously slow to convert.

Anyway, I was able to take the normal profile, change the audio setting to AC3 passthru and then save it as a new profile. Now I am able to load the entire directory with the right audio track.

Originally Posted by AvinashV

Ok i guess noob question time then - is there a reduction in file size when converting? As in huge difference? & coz of the superior encoding technique that you mentioned is the quality just as good?

H.264 format has lots of parameters to fine tune the quality. If you pick low quality, file will be very small. If you choose high quality, the file will be big. But normal profile is good enough for most of our viewing requirement. After all, I am dealing with DVD files, that is 480p or less.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Samurai

That's not true. H.264 is a very superior encoding technique. Even Blu-ray uses H.264 format.

H.264 is pretty good, but that is not the only variable affecting "Quality". Major factor that affects quality (with same codec) is bit-rate.

There are recent articles in that compares recent movies like Harry Potter from Blu Ray and from Online videos like iTunes.

Both used same codec and same resolution (1080p) but resulting picture was different due to bitrate differences.

[mayankjha1806]

I have a question, not sure if someone has solved this mystery

Here is the setup

• Plasma TV
• WD Live Media Player connected to TV with HDMI
• 6TB Hard Drive Connected to WD Media Player through Ehternet Wifi Router
• Onkyo Home Theater connected to WD Live Media player through Optical Audio Out.

Now when i want to play Movies/Video i switch on the TV and WD Media Player and select the movie to play and it plays on TV with Audio on Home Theater. No problem here

When i want to play Music, i have to UN-necessarily switch the TV on to select songs that i intend to play. How can i avoid doing this.

I have tried using some WD iPad apps that let me control the WD Media player connected to it through Wifi but they do not work.

Is there a solution that shows me audio on my 6tb HDD through WD media player on my android phone (or iPad) and when i select the song it plays on the Onkyo Home theater.