Good morning/afternoon fellow Plex users
I was wondering what is a good piece of software to convert files and settings to optimal video play back for Plex? I know that it has this feature built in. I just wanna go for a blanket setting on all the media, the most compatible (potentially space saving) and then going forward maybe setting something up that would auto convert new files in the future?
Hi @sjlarowe I use for converting media files Handbrake
These are going to contradict each other. The most space-saving compression is usually producing the most demanding files, which require the most memory to playback and the most modern chipset in hardware players.
Provided, you are going for comparable playback quality.
Right, I was thinking something similar to YIFI but then again I think that uses something like a variable bitrate?
So what would be the idea specs for files where itās not sacrificing quality? And is most compatible across all or majority of devices?
I know this as been talked about here and there on the forums, but time has gone on and maybe someone has found a better way? Or at least a source that has this data if there is more than one option?
YIFI-style encodes are not something to aspire to. At least not for putting them on a Plex server. These encodes are ābitrate-starvedā, which makes them OK for watching on smaller screens and ādirect playbackā.
But as soon as you need to send them through a transcoder again (e.g. for burning-in subtitles, for syncing to a mobile device, or simply because otherwise audio and video may drift apart over time) then these files will yield gutter-level visual quality.
Oh, well this is good to know, thank you. So basically keep the settings the same across the board, and convert to either MP4 or MKV?
No. The settings should be adjusted, depending on the type of content and your expectations to the resulting visual quality.
Stand by for @JuiceWSA 's tips.
As far as Mouse Traps and building a better oneā¦ different, maybe, but better is up for debate.
Start here with olā Handbrake and adjust as required for your needs:
Letās use more bit rate then YiFiā¦ start with mine and you can tank it from there if you wantā¦ Many people think Iām ābit-rate-starvingā, but as it turns out, mine are fairly reasonableā¦lol
I like MKVs, but you need to find out if theyāll work across all your devices - if so, that would be the preferred container as itās more versatile and doesnāt suffer from the shortcomings of MP4s in Plex.
A few 240 second āPreviewsā - and putting them in an Other Videos Library - will tell the tale very quickly.
Awesome, thank you for the info. Looks like I have to playing around to do when I get home.
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