Ok so I just started updating my library by including 4K versions of my favorite movies. My workflow is to first decrypt and backup the DVD to my hard drive. Then use Handbrake to transcode the movie and extras files into more user friendly m4v movie files I can then use to stream on various devices.
The question I have is in Handbrake I have 2 choices for encoding the files. H.265 HVEC or the newer AV1 format. I’ve been choosing AV1 Super HQ which seems to be working fine. But is this the best choice? Anybody have any better workflow suggestions?
The treason I ask is I noticed the discs themselves are all encoded using HVEC so I’m wondering if I should just keep it the same or is AV1 better……
If disk space is not an issue I would just copy the decrypted HEVC file to your server. Why re-encode unless you have to?
I agree with @BanzaiInstitute. Rip the disc with MakeMKV and put the file on your system. Do not transcode with Handbrake unless necessary to fit a bandwidth limit or for storage limitations.
Regarding MKV vs MP4/M4V, those are container formats. Moving between them does not require transcoding. You can remux the file and copy the video/audio/subtitle tracks between the containers.
You cannot use Handbrake to remux, as it cannot copy/passthrough the video track. If on a Mac, look at Subler. It can remux from MKV to M4V. I have not used it in awhile, so don’t know how well it handles HDR video. There are many Windows based tools for remuxing to M4V/MP4, such as XMedia Recode.
Regarding AV1, it does not yet have wide-spread adoption. Many devices will not be able to play it. If you must transcode, suggest you do so to HEVC.
That is a frontend for ffmpeg, so you can still inadvertently end up transcoding the video.
Use MKVtoolnixGUI if you want to restrict to only remuxing.
Agree. However, OP mentions the MP4/M4V container, and MKVToolNix cannot save to that format.
XMedia Recode can save to MP4, but you are correct, care must be taken to copy, not transcode, the video.
