I have been converting my library and would like to Optimize my files. My server is fine, but not particularly robust so transcoding for multiple streams is a chore. I would like to optimize my MKVs for mobile and TV.
The question is, after I do that, storage is an issue. Should I get rid of the MKVs and just keep the Optimized versions or am I better off springing for more storage to accommodate keeping them all?
I welcome any input.
Well, you’ll probably get a split decision on that since it pretty much boils down to personal preference. My personal view on this would be - If you still have the original Blu-ray media for the MKV’s I assume that when time comes (in a few years time) and your clients of today has been replaced by better - you could re-rip and replace the optimized versions. Thus you could throw the MKV’s out. But, if you haven’t got the original media still available - I wouldn’t remove the original MKV’s (ofc depending on how close to original Blu-ray disk quality they are).
It takes about 30 minutes to rip a single Blu-ray disc. At $0.03-0.04/GB for HDDs, I’d rather just buy more storage. If you’re fine with watching just the optimized version on all your clients, you could just have the drives storing the original MKVs offline and maybe even as offsite backup.
