MKV files will be fine - in fact, I prefer them.
- they aren’t affected by the default position of Local Media Assets
- they are more versatile
- your Roku will accept either
- all the neat tools - you’ll eventually need - work ONLY, or BETTER with MKV files.
Here’s how I do it:
I first rip everything with MakeMKV - removing embedded metadata before the rip - before it ever becomes a problem. <— when you show up in MakeMKV the Title in the right pane is going to be the Embedded Title! Delete it and hit enter and you’ll see that every line on the left changes to it’s ‘naked’ version - without a Title. Congrats, you now know more than 98% of the MakeMKVing Public - and apparently ALL Plex users…lol… let’s continue.
I settle on a bit rate, determined by testing ‘Handbrake Previews’ - you don’t need to test each one. If your file sizes are large, loading and buffering is always longer so your goal should be to make the smallest file you can.
A bit rate of 2450kbps for a DVD (480p) is about twice what I use (and half of the original) - and my eyeballs can’t see enough difference in the original to matter. You should do numerous previews until you finally decide on what ‘Your Bit Rate’ should be. Then you can always use that bit rate and you can stop worrying about it.
‘Average Bit Rate’ does lock Handbrake into a set file size - and I like knowing how big my files are going to be. If they all have the same bit rate, they’ll be of a predictable size… easy.
This thread lays out my settings exactly, so I would suggest you start with my settings exactly - then make small adjustments to the bit rate until you find yours… then go with it:
HD (1080p) will be first - then DVD (480p) is in the lower section.
If your material is Interlaced (MediaInfo will tell you) do absolutely fix that in HB’s Filters. The Default Yadif with no detection works a treat. Live action can be sharpened up with the LapSharp Filter’s default setting, UnSharp - default - works better on animation (I have recently discovered).
If I have set any links to tools - get those, if they’ll work on your OS - 'cause eventually you’ll probably have need of them.
Handbrake will preserve the chapters in an original, but you may (probably will) need to fiddle with the naming of them - or you can do that later with one, or more, of the ‘handy tools’. When you get your chops down, you’ll be doing things on the ‘first pass’ more often, so don’t sweat the little things for now.
Create an audio track, or tracks, that will Direct Play. Period. Don’t create DTS, ATMOS or ANDY 7.1 tracks you can’t use, for instance. Handbrake will do a pretty nifty job of a downmix, but Xmedia Recode will do a better one later - he’s gonna be in one of those ‘handy tool’ links - so you can let HB do the downmix or you can ‘Pass it through’ untouched to fiddle with later. <—my method.
I’m sure a LOT of people would love to use Plex’s Optimizer. Unfortunately it is poorly designed and it’s even poorer execution leaves little doubt you’re gonna need to tackle this one on your own. <—if you optimize a nice version, then try to delete the original - Plex deletes everything… Genius Design? Plex thinks so, but Users have a different view.
Overwhelming? Just remain calm and proceed slowly following all the instructions. Soon you’ll be an old hand and be giving others advice.
