Content/handbrake/mkv pros vs cons

[JaredC79 0]

I think I finally have the issues with Direct Play all set up correctly.  I have been using MKV to back up all files and then converting to MP4.  This process seems to be a total waste of time and space as I setting up my parameters to lossless formats.  Also auto cropping is set up and when the content is being watched on a Rasp running OSMC, I have the pesky black bars on the top and bottom.  From other comments, I am guessing EMBY/KODI/OSMC would recognize a MKV file however from a folder and labeling standpoint each folder has around 3-4 other folders in it so how would I set up my movie folder? keep all subfolders? delete stream or certificate? 

 

Lastly what is the benefit of using handbrake to convert MKVs to MP4? again my files are all lossless and huge and do not wish to alter and compress the native formats. 

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

The one advantage of MP4 over MKV is that most mobile devices support the MP4 container natively so you're going to get more direct play options as long as your video meets allowed bitrates.

 

The con of MP4 is that it is a stricter container and allows fewer additional stream types or supplemental data to be added.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Koleckai Silvestri

[AdrianW 1058]

Another con for mp4 is that it doesn't really support AC3 or DTS.

 

Probably best to rip straight to mkv (use MakeMKV) and only keep the resulting mkv file.

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Another con for mp4 is that it doesn't really support AC3 or DTS.

 

Probably best to rip straight to mkv (use MakeMKV) and only keep the resulting mkv file.

 

Handbrake can insert those into mp4.  It can't do TrueHD or PCM, but for all other audio formats I've encountered it's fine.  I use for all rips without those two formats.  Works great.

 

As for OP's question on organization, very best way for recognition and metadata storage has always been each movie in it's own folder, clearly labeled:

 

\Movies\Conan the Barbarian (1984)\Conan the Barbarian (1984).mkv

\Movies\Conan the Barbarian (2011)\Conan the Barbarian (2011).mkv

 

There are other acceptable groupings but in my experience the people using that structure have the best compatibility with Emby and similar tools.

[AdrianW 1058]

Handbrake can insert those into mp4.  It can't do TrueHD or PCM, but for all other audio formats I've encountered it's fine.  I use for all rips without those two formats.  Works great.

 

 

Yes, but is there any point? I would expect that basic devices that can play mp4 files will probably have difficulty if they contain AC3 or DTS.

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Yes, but is there any point? I would expect that basic devices that can play mp4 files will probably have difficulty if they contain AC3 or DTS.

 

I've never had an issue with them.  Suppose if it were a problem it would transcode, but with the clients I use everything is playing direct if it can process that audio at all.  Theater, the win 10 app, and android tv app are fine with it.

[JaredC79 0]

OK unfortunately I dumped most of my mkv back ups but not a biggie since changing them in handbrake takes forever in a day.  I can set up another path for MKVs so this way I get as much direct play as possible.  I label my content as stated above but with music files, I will have to make some changes.  When I make my MKV library and directory what file should I use? MakeMKV is giving each movie a folder with 4 subfloders.  Which is the one with the actual movie in it and how should I set it up?

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

Go into MakeMkv's settings and turn on advanced mode. Then you can name the playlists you save. I always tell it to save into the folder "moviename (year)" and the filename "moviename (year).mkv". Uncheck any playlists you don't want before processing. I also uncheck duplicate audio streams and have it set to ignore all subtitles except English.

 

Usually the movie is the largest playlist on the disk. However if there are multiple playlists, look in the MakeMkv forums as people will post which one is the correct one. Or rip them all and watch them until you find the one where the movie is put together correctly. Delete the others.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Koleckai Silvestri

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Go into MakeMkv's settings and turn on advanced mode. Then you can name the playlists you save. I always tell it to save into the folder "moviename (year)" and the filename "moviename (year).mkv". Uncheck any playlists you don't want before processing. I also uncheck duplicate audio streams and have it set to ignore all subtitles except English.

 

Usually the movie is the largest playlist on the disk. However if there are multiple playlists, look in the MakeMkv forums as people will post which one is the correct one. Or rip them all and watch them until you find the one where the movie is put together correctly. Delete the others.

 

Note that a few of your blu-ray's likely have dozens or hundreds of fake tracks.  It's not super common but a few discs create playlists of the movie where the segments are out of order as a copy protection layer.  So if a movie were in 4 segments on the disc there would be piles of playlists where the order is 4321, 1243, 1342, etc.  There will only be one in the mess that's actually in the order 1234.  If you see more than 2-3 tracks where the output file will be larger than 20GB I'd check the makemkv forums.  Someone will likely have identified the correct one to rip.

 

That's assuming you're ripping blu-rays.  DVDs don't do that.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Deathsquirrel

[pclausen 44]

As for OP's question on organization, very best way for recognition and metadata storage has always been each movie in it's own folder, clearly labeled:

 

\Movies\Conan the Barbarian (1984)\Conan the Barbarian (1984).mkv

\Movies\Conan the Barbarian (2011)\Conan the Barbarian (2011).mkv

 

Most of my movies follow the above convention, but I do have around 600 or so that do not.  Is there a script or utility that can automatically rename the *.mkv within each folder, to the name of the parent folder?

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

Most of my movies follow the above convention, but I do have around 600 or so that do not.  Is there a script or utility that can automatically rename the *.mkv within each folder, to the name of the parent folder?

 

Media Center Master can rename your directories and files for you in a large batch. Can't remember if that is a free feature of if you have to buy a month of service or not. A month license is something like $5.00.

 

https://www.mediacentermaster.com/

Edited September 29, 2015 by Koleckai Silvestri

[pclausen 44]

Thanks!  That looks very promising.  I'll play around with that tonight.

[JaredC79 0]

I am currently ripping it to a folder.  The folder will have like 4 other folders, certificated, one with a ton of numbers, basically nothing I can identify with a .mkv extension.  I would rather have the original content if possible since handbrake takes so long and have about 2000 other movies to rip. Handbrake also doesn't handle atmos and 3 of my rooms are atmos now. 

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

I am currently ripping it to a folder.  The folder will have like 4 other folders, certificated, one with a ton of numbers, basically nothing I can identify with a .mkv extension.  I would rather have the original content if possible since handbrake takes so long and have about 2000 other movies to rip. Handbrake also doesn't handle atmos and 3 of my rooms are atmos now. 

 

You're trying to maintain the ISO structure for some reason? I just rip each playlist to a single MKV file and move on. Don't need the Bluray structure. That is nice for players with now UI but really not necessary for a system like Emby.

[JaredC79 0]

You're trying to maintain the ISO structure for some reason? I just rip each playlist to a single MKV file and move on. Don't need the Bluray structure. That is nice for players with now UI but really not necessary for a system like Emby.

It can skip all the trailers and nonsense like that I don't care about that.  when I click thru the folders, one is certification, one is stream, one is something else. Could be 60gigs.  I am using EMBY as the server portion and not using EMBY theater, I like to have the chapter selections and stuff so one big file isn't ideal.  Also I don't since a mkv file only a ton of pieces labeled mts or something similar in what I believe would be the main movie.  I would even rerip and dump all the stuff I did in handbrake to assure everything is lossless and perfect and lack of atmos codec in handbrake upsets me.

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

What tool are you using to copy the ISO? 

 

I use *used" makemkv. However the site is currently down at the moment. It just gives an MKV file.