so how do YOU convert video files?
Personally, I've got about a hundred gigabytes of nearly uncompressed video from my digital camera that would do a lot better with some decent compression.
But with a couple DVDs waiting to be torrented, I can't help but also ask, how do seasoned uploaders convert a DVD into the perfect video file for torrenting?
When I convert MPEG-2 DVB streams to MPEG-4 for computer use, I use x264/H.264 for video, lame-mp3 for audio and Матрёшка as a container.
Cuts filesizes in half or less when compared to MPEG-2, and quality stays acceptable.
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Anonymous2008-09-22 14:26
Audio: MP3, high bitrate = decent quality, 95% compatible with everything out there..
LC-AAC: Basically the best quality and compression available AND compatible with computers (not stand alone DVD players).
OGG, MPC, WMA, none of them are on the same level as AAC. Tested them numerous times. M4A is extremely similar in quality to AAC but a little less compatible.
Video: On2's VP7 = best I've found for SOME of the lower bitrates. If you keep smoothing on. But that's only if you need low size, decent quality. A small increase in bitrate and you get better results with H264.
H264 reigns as champ. I've tested it hundreds of times, no joke, I haven't seen anything beat it yet.
XviD = Only necessary if you want it to be playable on DVD players. Otherwise the quality is poor.
Theora? I've read that it doesn't do as well as H264, but haven't tried it myself. Avoid DIVX and WMV.
No such thing as a perfectly compressed video though. Even H264 will muck it up a little. Go lossless if you want to preserve it.
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Anonymous2008-09-22 14:45
I suppose I should have mentioned containers. AVI is probably necessary if you have to resort to XviD. MP4 is the flexible, modern container. MKV is a little less compatible and people still shout "wuts a mkv??1/ur video is broken! don't download!" etc.
You can get good quality from any of them, it just depends on what your audience will do with the file/where they'll play it. I don't know any significant reasons to use MKV over MP4 for videos played on the computer.
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Anonymous2008-09-23 17:24
Once the "Thusnelda" branch of Theora gets released, expect big quality improvements.
Dirac looks interesting, but almost nothing supports it.