I recently found out that plex cannot direct stream VOB files so I would like to convert them to H.264 MP4 format. Does anyone know of a good software that will do this fast and efficiently?
MakeMKV
What about handbrake?
I have had very good experiences using Subler to convert VOB tracks to timed_text track (Tx3g).
Subler makes use of tesseract-ocr library to read images in the VOB track and uses optical character recognition to convert the bitmap (image) to text.
Subler has other features I use to correct any errors in the optical character recognition process:
- Subler can export timed_text track to (SRT format) text document.
- Use a text editor to make any corrections.
- Subler can import SRT format documents back into the MP4 container.
The Subler FAQ page provide information on adding language packs to support better OCR conversion for various languages.
I use Subler regularly for a variety of activities when preparing media to add to Plex libraries.
Subler doesn’t re-encode the video (H.264 or H.265) track.
Image shows Subler importing MKV file with VOB track. The “action” column shows any manipulation/conversion to be applied to each track.
Different workflows can support different objectives. For example, Handbrake might be used to RIP a DVD-video to produce an MP4 file with video track (H.264), audio (say AAC) and VOB track. With the MP4 open in Subler you can then import selecting the same file. Select the VOB track to import and convert. Then “Save As” the file to a new document (give it a different name) and it is possible to then have an MP4 containing both the original VOB track and the converted text. Plex recognise both VOB and text track and the player interface allow the user to select either subtitle track (VOB or text). If selecting the VOB track Plex Media Server will need to transcode to the subtitles into the video stream. Selecting the text track will not prompt transcoding. After converting VOB track to text track I typically discard the VOB track.
What are the steps to convert a VOB file to an H.264 MP4 format to be direct playable by Plex?
I’m not sure if changing the container from VOB to MP4 is enough, I think it needs to decode the VOB file and then re-encode it to H264 and then save it to an MP4 container?
Looking for the most efficient way to do this without any quality loss. Not sure if makemkv can do this. I am not trying to rip a DVD to MKV.
Almost impossible, when we’re talking Plex use.
The codec in a VOB file is MPEG2.
The video is in the majority of cases stored interlaced (which is an “ugly hack” that only really works when playing back the video on an old CRT screen).
You can use MakeMKV to put the video from VOB into a MKV container, while the codec, interlacing and thus the quality will stay exactly the same.
However, this is of not much use for a large part of Plex clients. Many of them don’t support MPEG2 video. Even less do support interlaced video.
So this means that by playback time, the Plex client is asking your Plex server to transcode this file on-the-fly to H.264, progressive.
Now because this has to happen in real-time, the transcoder isn’t given enough time to find the most effective or most quality-retaining encoding strategy.
(btw. that is the “speed” slider you can find in a video encoder software, like Handbrake.)
So the results of this on-the-fly conversion will almost always look less good or use more bitrate than they’re really worth.
So I personally think that it is reasonable to do the de-interlacing and the transcoding of this video ahead of time.
Using the slowest “speed” setting you can bear and doing the best-quality deinterlacing algorithm and maybe apply a little “sharpening” filter as well, if needed.
That’s where Handbrake comes into play.
And keep in mind that the picture resolution of these files will never exceed SD quality. The deinterlacing doesn’t help either.
They will always look “mushier” than even a downscaled HDTV or Bluray rip.
So you’re saying I should use handbrake to convert (transcode) the vob file to h264/mp4 format?
Well the show and original source I am converting is an old TV sitcom from the early 1980’s. So the resolution is already quite low, maybe 480p or less.
I want to convert this file to the best format so that plex can direct play to all my clients without transcoding. Could you tell me the settings in handbrake I would need for this? I tried to use VLC for the conversion, but not sure that it’ll give me the best results.
Yes.
There are already dozens of threads with “Best settings in Handbrake”. Please use the search function of this forum.
Personal recommendation: Don’t go with a higher H.264 Level than “4.0” for optimal compatiblity. A higher level is not required for SD material and will only cause more unnecessary transcoding. So don’t be tempted to go with a higher number.
Thanks. But what does the Level thing mean? I see some of my videos are 4.0, 4.1, 4.2.
Does the higher number mean better quality? How do you know which level to use?
The levels describe certain limitations in terms of resolution, color depth, refresh rate, and a few other “technical” things.
Generally spoken, the higher this level number, the more advanced the hardware of the player device has to be. Or the higher the requirements to memory and processing power to be able to decode this video.
For SD material, you could probably go even lower than 4.0
But it is low enough for the vast majority of devices out there.
So for H.264, a level of 4.0 should be the safe zone for most plex clients. Is there a way to change the level of an h264 encoded file? I would like to fix some of the files that have really high levels and change them all to 4.0 so that plex doesn’t transcode them.
For old SD shows would you say that 3.1 would be a good value to use?
That is not possible. You’ll need to re-convert them.
And don’t use software which allows you to “fake” the level by patching the video files’ headers. That won’t work in Plex.
Yes, thats quite alright.
I misread your question. Wasn’t awake when I read it. Sorry bout that.
