Hi, im completely new to this so forgive me if im asking a question which has a simple answer to it!. I have just ordered a QNAP TS-453A NAS and 2 x 4tb hd. I want to use this as the server for my films. I have around 1500 films which i have purchased over the last 15 years or so. I simply want to know the best way of transferring all my films to the server using plex of course. I dont want to lose any quality including the sound such as Dolby digital etc. I have purchased dvd fab, can i use this to convert the films or would you suggest something else. My main priority is the quality and sound, it needs to be exactly the same as the origian. Hope you can help.
So you might want to look at quality and see what works best for you and your systems.
You can use a program like Handbrake by following a guide like this one.
I would suggest you see what format works best for your “clients” that you intend to play this back on.
Some clients support different “codecs” or video formats so whatever client you plan to use to play this back on Xbox or Roku you should figure out what they can play natively and put all your media in that format so that you do not need to transcode video on the fly.
today’s video formats or codecs are called x264 and newest is x265 also called HEVC which provides a great video quality but does compress the video and is not the original format as you mentioned above but saves lots of disk space so again you can see what the output is from each format type and the size differences and how much space you have to store.
I know being new it seems very daunting but its really not that complicated once you get into the weeds!
DVDfab - blows.
A Better Handbrake Guide is in my signature.
If you want original quality use MakeMKV (do your own google), but be prepared to do a fair amount of transcoding - that makes keeping all that original material a complete waste of time, effort and space… If Plex is going to destroy your quality with a transcode (that your NAS - read: Not A Server - can’t do, BTW) you may as well convert those originals to a quality you can live with that will Direct Play on your clients.
Your CPU:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+9850+Quad-Core
Your (rock bottom, barely in the ball park, for no more than one, very light duty transcode of maybe an audio stream) Score:
2896
(Note: Plex recommends 2000 for each 1080p transcoded stream - and that’s on a wing and a prayer. A more realistic number would be about 4000 per stream).
So, let’s say you want to go ahead and Handbrake some of your stuff to use Direct Play instead of transcoding… well… it’s gonna take a while on that box. HD encodes are going to be comparable to watching mold grow on stale bread… no… even slower than that. Mold growth will seem like Warp 9 in comparison.
That box is “Network Attached Storage”.
It is NOT A “Server”.
A NAS is a handy thing to have - once you have a server and need some storage.
I’d buy the server first - then the storage later… once you run out of local storage.
Thank you all for your responses. Since i sent my message ive learnt a little more about what im doing. If im going to use handbrake to transcode can i use this software without compressing the film? You mention Direct Play, is the a way of trasncoding without compression? Im not bothered about saving HD space as ive got plenty of this, i just want to retain the original quality of the film with compressing. What do you think i should do? Thank you in advance. Oh and by the ay i will be buying a dedicated server for the NAS, for the time being its still in its box, im using my PC to test films on plex for the time being until im happy with a solution for my films.
Is there another software application like plex which will read the original film files without having to transcode? This would be perfect!
actually ive just done the maths!!! if a bluray film takes up approx 30gb, if got got loads of them which i do then i would need a ridiculous amount of HD space!!! Looks like i will need to compress.
I disagree with @JuiceWSA .
DVDFab works GREAT and I do not need to worry about all those cumbersome switches and settings that are confusing to say the least.
I have developed many web sites using ffmpeg for video conversion on the fly and messing with all those settings and such is more effort than I want to deal with any more.
DVDfab’s settings for ripping are excellent and all my Plex media direct plays with very high quality.
Using DVDFab is a pleasure especially with it’s video preview function and GUI for editing your ripping output.
Most folks that criticize DVDFab have no idea, too cheap to pay for it, or makes it all their tables, settings, and configurations for handbrake useless…
Nobody want’s to be replaced as a guru by software or their guidance not needed any more.
You said you bought DVDFab… You have all the tools you need with that and the pre-sets work just fine. However, you can change those as well or create your own…
If you encode like so, you will find minimal transcoding.
1080p and below
mp4 / h264 / AC3 at around 4 - 7mbps
4K
mp4 / h265 AC3 at around 11-15mbps
You will be fine with those settings in DVDFab.
My Brother used to be a DVD Fabber - until he discovered Handbrake and I set a profile or two for him. He bailed from the DVDFabcraft, hit the silk and watched it auger into the VA countryside - erupting into a ball of flames.
Plex’s goofy Transcoder can do about the same thing as DVDFab and for many - that’s close enough.
B)
Yeah and easy, with GUI tools and My 1080p rips look like I am looking out a window not a TV screen.
DVDFab does much more than an adequate job as some seem to dispute…
ffmpeg (Handbrake) has many many setting, most of which the results are not very perceptible.
I have heard someone say before, “If it looks good to your eyes” that’s where to stop.
It is hard to believe that Handbrake utilizes much more switches than DVDFab…
LOL, some people are so Byte Head around here they use command line ffmpeg. I suspect they think their encoding is better than Handbrake…
Go figure…
All a matter of what you like to do (If you dig getting down to the bare metal) and if you like the results.
I have been using DVDFab for over 6 years and IMO is outstanding.
Handbrake - Free, guide in my signature
DVDFab - not free, push the buttons and it does whatever it does and you better like it 'cause in 30 days you’re paying…
Note: DVDfab uses the same ffmpeg Handbrake does - only dumber.
lol
So sorry you do not know much about DVDFab…
If you actually USE and play with the product, you can change settings via a GUI which can be previewed BEFORE ripping… So I really do not know or care to know what ffmpeg switches are used.
You are right… It costs money… Most things of value do…
The free handbrake guide is actually very good and helpful. So if you opt for Handbrake… be sure to read the free guide. It certainly will get you good of results as well.
And for ripping episodic TV Shows, DVDFab can’t be beat IMO…
And I did not buy the monthly thing for DVDFab… 6 Years ago I purchased a lifetime license. Been golden ever since.
There is one caveat to DVDFab.
It will create 4k or 3D but cannot rip 4K.
According to DVDFab… They have no plans for 4K ripping.
Sooo. Keep that in mind as to what type content you will be ripping.
I do not know if Handbrake can do 4K.
Maybe @JuiceWSA can advise us about that??
If this freak isn’t annoying enough - there’s plenty more where he came from…:
Do I care?
No, I do not have 4K wedged up inside my crack as one of the things I simply can’t do without.
B)
@JuiceWSA
Handbrake does not support h265??
DVDFab does…
Who encodes 4K using h264???
Anyway, I agree with you, 4K is no big deal for me either.
Although I do have about 100 4K (h265) media files on my PMS
@JuiceWSA
You do not need to get insulting just because someone disagrees with you.
But I suppose since you are an A** H*** like I am Hawkings… Better never play golf since you do not know your ass from a hole in the ground.
I know it’s just an ego thing with you.
BTW thanks for finding 1,630 results. I really don’t care… Just was curious for the rest of the folks looking for answers.
I suppose it was easier for you to push a button on google than adding some meaningful info in a descent way as a simple response.
Gees you worked so hard just to insult me or make snide comments…
Pound Salt bro!!!
BTW… ALS is not a joke… My brother died from it you jerk.
