Using Handbrake converting existing MKV to smaller versions
I have my collection of Bluray and DVD's ripped onto my HD for playing with Plex from my laptop, but they're all about 5GB+ in size. I'd like to see if there's a way to convert them alles into something smaller without losing the quality by converting everything with only one soundtrack. Lots of them I left the soundtrack intact with several languages, like English + Dutch + German etc.
Does someone have an idea of the best way I can re-convert these babies without losing quality but keeping one soundtrack using Handbrake?
I'm using Mac, have a 42" HTV and using Plex for media server.
PS: Posted this topic in the wrong "General". Should be in "General Chat".
The best thing to use is the GUI version of MKVtoolnix…it allows you to deselect audio tracks (and other things), and then remuxes the file for you in no time without doing anything to the video…
Thanks! That sounds like a very good option. I’ve tried it and it renders lightning fast with only removing the audio tracks.
The downside is I’ve already seemed to have ripped everything with only 1 audio track, so the final render, after using MKVtoolnix, is still of the same filesize as where it started from. Any suggestions on how I can convert those rips to something smaller without losing much of the quality (preferably no loss at all)?
Sounds like you are asking to compress a high end quality BD file type (the best quality available) to a even more compressed file type, and all this without quality loss? I believe this is a no-go ;o). Smaller file size = lower quality (As far as I am aware of that is …). I just came across the same issue. And decided to convert mkv to divx/avi. A high quality avi was larger then the original mkv. Medium quality was about 50% of the original mkv.
Use MKVExtract to extract tracks from container. Use mkvmerge to join selected tracks. You're not going to save much space. I would invest in a larger hard drive.
In my experience with f.ex. DVD Schrink you don’t save that much space by taking out the unwanted language sound tracks. But if your moto is “a few megabytes here and a few there…” then above could work for you. But the time you need to invest if you have a large colection… I personally would go for a second hard drive.
