Shrinking films
Shrinking films
I possess roughly 1 terabyte of ripped DVDs in raw format, including audio and video folders. Even with a 4 terabyte drive, space was limited, and adding Blu-rays proved challenging due to their large file sizes. I prioritize quality over size but wonder if compression could help without sacrificing clarity. Downloading a 1080p movie for around 6 gigabytes seems manageable and looks good, so is raw format really superior? Which compressor works best and what settings yield the highest fidelity?
Use Handbrake to combine video and audio, remove unnecessary foreign tracks, and trim file size if needed. It also offers preset quality options tailored to different devices like 1080p TVs, 720p screens, or iPhones. Adjust bit rates or settings as required for optimal performance.
For clarity, remember that pulling raw files straight from a DVD is usually not recommended. Studios employ advanced techniques to prevent piracy, which can make computers handle DVD data in unexpected ways. The 30 GB per movie you see might be exaggerated. Opting for a lossless ripping process tends to be superior. This applies similarly to CDs, where some use the .cda format that needs conversion to play properly on a disc. Many prefer .wav files for copying, but ripping to formats like FLAC offers additional benefits.
I aim to preserve the original size, most of my collection is DVDs rather than Blu-rays, so even in raw format they’re around 6GB. I want to convert while maintaining high quality for playback on various devices. Any recommendations on presets or tutorials covering advanced options would help. Should subtitles be saved separately instead of embedded? VLC and XBMC seem to work well so far, but I’m open to suggestions. You mentioned considering a lossless ripping with Handbrake—won’t it be lossy? How can I achieve a lossless version using it?
I’d prefer MKV format. You’ll miss features like the DVD menu, but it offers some lossless compression (very minimal). Alternatively, you could compress each movie in a .ZIP archive using its folder layout if you need to save space. I’m not sure how practical that would be. Personally, I keep full DVD and BD disk images as ISOs on my NAS. Kodi (XBMC) works well with these (usually). For any conversion tasks, I just save the main video to an MKV file.
Lossless compression won’t significantly shrink a compressed file. To lower its size, you must re-encode it.
Google provides detailed guidance through built-in features and subtitles. For separate subtitles, use the dedicated tab. Avoid checking the burn subtitles option to prevent them from entering the stream. MKV acts as a container for audio, video, and subtitles—similar to a folder that can’t be opened by default. Choosing between lossy and lossless formats mainly affects playback once; quality loss occurs during editing. When removing unused audio tracks, focus only on those you won’t use. Many languages offer multiple versions (2.0, 5/7.1 surround), but unless it’s a foreign film with poor dubbing, they’re rarely necessary. For streaming, keep it as is—raising the bitrate above the source won’t improve quality; adjust settings in the help file for best results.
To reduce the file size, you'll need to sacrifice some quality. There isn't true "lossless" compression for DVD rips. Instead, aim for minimal visible loss. I recommend these steps:
1. Get MakeMKV from http://www.makemkv.com/download/ – it lets you extract a DVD or Blu-Ray into an uncompressed MKV file, letting you pick subtitles and audio tracks.
2. Use MakeMKV to rip the DVD to your hard drive at http://www.makemkv.com/onlinehelp/.
3. Download and install Handbrake from https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php – this tool lets you compress the file, with options for compression level, subtitles, etc.
4. Encode the ripped file into MKV format. Set the RF setting around 20, enable deinterlacing (DVDs are interlaced), and choose the x264 codec. Keep all audio tracks and subtitles you selected in MakeMKV.
5. Wait for the process to complete; all chapters, audio, and subtitles should remain intact. This will significantly free up HDD space per movie.