Easiest way to reduce MKV file size?

[morkman100]

I've ripped my entire DVD collection to MKV using MakeMKV (retaining original mpeg2 video, 5.1 audio track, English subtitles and chapters), and the files sizes range from 3.5-10GB. These are huge compared to the smaller files sizes offered by h264 compression. Is there a program that will take these files, and convert just the video from mpeg2 to h.264 and keep everything else the same?

I've tried this with Handbrake but I've had problems with audio syncing and some aspect ratios.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[abaez]

I think the best way with MKV, since it's a container, is to demux the file http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MKVExtractGUI, compress the video with your program of choice, and remux it (mkvmerge/mkvtoolnix)

 

[velillen]

If you want to leave the audio/chapters/subtitles completely untouched i would extract the video file (see above post) and then use something like handbrake to convert it. Once its converted just remux it together and it should be perfectly in sync.

There are tons of guides and videohelp.com is a great resource so i would look around there.

 

[0roo0roo]

You should just rent the bluray..really.
You are spending hours essentially degrading dvd, which is already 5-6x less resolution than bluray.

 

[sdifox]

hdd is cheap

 

[coolVariable]

I've ripped my entire DVD collection to MKV using MakeMKV (retaining original mpeg2 video, 5.1 audio track, English subtitles and chapters), and the files sizes range from 3.5-10GB. These are huge compared to the smaller files sizes offered by h264 compression. Is there a program that will take these files, and convert just the video from mpeg2 to h.264 and keep everything else the same?

I've tried this with Handbrake but I've had problems with audio syncing and some aspect ratios.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Should have used some program to rip the vobs and then handbrake to make mkv's.

 

[alcoholbob]

A 2 terabyte hard drive is practically free these days.

 

[Bryf50]

I think the best way with MKV, since it's a container, is to demux the file http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MKVExtractGUI, compress the video with your program of choice, and remux it (mkvmerge/mkvtoolnix)

This

 

[sdifox]

A 2 terabyte hard drive is practically free these days.

I tried to point that out but no one cared

 

[JAG87]

With the amount of time it's going to take you to re-encode them, a 2TB drive pays for itself.

 

[Dirigible]

Has anyone mentioned that you can put a whole lotta uncompressed movies on a 2TB drive? Those drives just keep getting cheaper. Also, it would take a lot of time to compress the movies, and you'd end up with a worse viewing experience.

 

[Modelworks]

Plenty of program that will convert it, but expect to spend at least the length of the movie in time to convert it. 2 hour movie = 2 hours to convert to h.264
If you want smaller file sizes and quicker conversions, consider divx. It can shrink them to about 25% of their current size with high quality and will convert about 3x faster.
http://www.divx.com/en/software/divx-plus/converter

 

[The-Noid]

ripbot264 will do it in one step. Pretty easy. I would still recommend buying a new hard drive though.

 

[Aharami]

i agree that for DVDs, it doesn't make sense to compress them. But I compress my BRD rips down to something like 10-12 GBs per movie without noticing any quality loss. Also the lower video bit rate videos plays smoother over my WD TV Live

 

[coolVariable]

i agree that for DVDs, it doesn't make sense to compress them. But I compress my BRD rips down to something like 10-12 GBs per movie without noticing any quality loss. Also the lower video bit rate videos plays smoother over my WD TV Live

The same is true for DVDs. You can easily compress to 1-2GB without any quality loss. Why not put the PC to use when you are not actively using it?

 

[velillen]

Different strokes for different folks. Some are happy just leaving the disk as is. Others just want the main movie so why not encode down to a smaller file size? Easy enough to do a few at a time.

Me personally its just raw movie or whole disk but im just lazy like that

 

[morkman100]

Can't (easily) go to a larger drive because I'm using a Netgear ReadyNAS 4-bay NAS. Currently full with 4 1TB drives (3TB storage with redundancy). To get to 4GB (with redundancy), I'd have to pull the 4 1TB drives and replace with 3 2TB drives (so $300-400 to just gain 1TB).

I don't plan on reducing the file sizes of all the movies, just a few that seem crazily long (9GB for The Godfather DVD).

Encoding time is "free"... start the processing and let it run. 2 hr movie takes 2 minutes of actual computer time. And I usually do this via LogMeIn while at work or something, so my computer is being put to work when not in use.

Thanks everyone for your help. Will give RipBot a try. I downloaded it awhile ago, but forgot why. I guess this was why.

 

[sdifox]

Can't (easily) go to a larger drive because I'm using a Netgear ReadyNAS 4-bay NAS. Currently full with 4 1TB drives (3TB storage with redundancy). To get to 4GB (with redundancy), I'd have to pull the 4 1TB drives and replace with 3 2TB drives (so $300-400 to just gain 1TB).

I don't plan on reducing the file sizes of all the movies, just a few that seem crazily long (9GB for The Godfather DVD).

Encoding time is "free"... start the processing and let it run. 2 hr movie takes 2 minutes of actual computer time. And I usually do this via LogMeIn while at work or something, so my computer is being put to work when not in use.

Thanks everyone for your help. Will give RipBot a try. I downloaded it awhile ago, but forgot why. I guess this was why.

4x2Tb=6TB in your scheme. Exactly how many DVDs do you have?

 

[morkman100]

4x2Tb=6TB in your scheme. Exactly how many DVDs do you have?

The ReadyNAS uses 1 of the drives for redundancy, so 4 1TB drives = 3TB

Currently have about 400 movies, plus music, and backups from a couple PC's. Down to about 300GB free from 3TB. This isn't a critical problem, just something I'll have to address sooner or later.

 

[sdifox]

The ReadyNAS uses 1 of the drives for redundancy, so 4 1TB drives = 3TB

Currently have about 400 movies, plus music, and backups from a couple PC's. Down to about 300GB free from 3TB. This isn't a critical problem, just something I'll have to address sooner or later.

that is why I said 4x2=6 assuming it supports 2 TB drives



I would never think of ripping my 1200 DVDs.

 

[morkman100]

that is why I said 4x2=6 assuming it supports 2 TB drives



I would never think of ripping my 1200 DVDs.

$$$$.

 

[DominionSeraph]

You should just rent the bluray..really.
You are spending hours essentially degrading dvd, which is already 5-6x less resolution than bluray.

Which doesn't matter for 99% of the movies out there because either the transfer was crap and/or the movie isn't driven by visuals.


Avatar? Blu-Ray is the only option.
Juno? VHS would do.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Which doesn't matter for 99% of the movies out there because either the transfer was crap and/or the movie isn't driven by visuals.


Avatar? Blu-Ray is the only option.
Juno? VHS would do.

I completely disagree. I think that HD adds a lot to the experience, even with non-action movies.

This is why I am systematically trying to replace my ripped DVD collection with HDTV rips everytime I can.

 

[smitbret]

Easiest way?

Buy Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate.

 

[coolVariable]

I completely disagree. I think that HD adds a lot to the experience, even with non-action movies.

This is why I am systematically trying to replace my ripped DVD collection with HDTV rips everytime I can.

I love people like this - let me guess: 50+ inch TV in a 6 x 10 foot living room?

Easiest way?

Buy Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate.

Or Handbrake which is free.