Video conversion: .ts into something smaller while retaining maximum quality.

[wand3r3r]

I would like to reduce some filesizes. I've seen some excellent .mkv, I think .avi, and possibly mpg(?) videos that had high quality but smaller sizes (say 700MB -> 1.5GB on size).

The .ts files seem to range from 2.5->5GB, averaging around 4 I believe.

I tried to convert to a couple once but wasn't satisfied. I have to look at what I did, it was just some free .ts to .avi application (or was it mp4?).

Does anyone have suggestions on (free) software and what it codec or standard to use in order to convert to say 50% filesize, but 90% of the quality? What output format etc. should I use?

 

[phreaqe]

use Handbrake. It has built in presets for different devices and quality levels. If one of the built in presets is not to your liking you can customize pretty much anything you want for better quality.

 

[wand3r3r]

Thanks!

Any suggestions for what format would be a good compromise between size and the highest quality?

Trying it out now. Using the Normal preset (default) just chose mkv as the output format.
3.8 GB -> 1.4GB
Using .mp4
3.3 GB -> 1.8GB

Found this thread about MKV vs. MP4
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2295992

 

[smitbret]

The video should encode the same whether you use .mp4 or .mkv as long as all of the other settings are the same. Different source material will make a difference if you use CF settings instead of bitrate. CF settings are adaptive and only use as much bitrate as the scene requires relative to the level you choose. You could take a slow paced drama that is 4GB on the DVD and with a CF setting of 20 it will compress down to 1.2GB. Take a 4GB fast action movie with lots of movement and explosions and the same CF 20 and it will come out at 1.8GB.

 

[Cerb]

MKV is just a container. TS is typically going to be limited to MPEG2. An MP4 with the same video in it is only going to be slightly larger than an MKV, though if the index gets corrupted, you're hosed (if that happens to an MKV, you can use mkvmerge to build a new MKV file from it, all fixed 🙂).

Whatever codec and settings you choose, for best quality, always enable VBR and multipass encoding.