AutoMKV 0.95c - (DVD/TS/AVI/AVS to X264/XviD/WVC1 into MKV/MP4/WMV) update 12/02/2008

[Zow]

On some movies, I never get a finished mkv, but instead, when AutoMKV is done, I get a Temp file (I've set it to delete the Temp file when finished.)

It consistently happens on two movies, both are subtitled, if this matters.

I have tried selcting either VIDEO_TS.IFO, or VTS_01_0.IFO. If I try VTS_01_1.VOB, then it can't find the subtitles, and the audio track selection looks a bit weird.

I am ripping to an attached USB drive (ripping to my NAS hasn't worked since a couple versions ago.)

01:39:33 Dgindex CMD:             C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\dgindex\dgindex.exe -FO=0 -OM=1 -TN=80 -YR=2 -AIF=[L:\DVDs\Y Tu Mama, Tambien\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob] -OF=[F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie] -exit -minimize
01:49:50 D2V file size:           791010
01:49:50 Audio 1:                 movie t80 3_2ch 448kbps delay 0ms.ac3
01:49:50 Pre Audio 1' Size:       355681536 bytes
01:49:50 Renamed file movie t80 3_2ch 448kbps delay 0ms.ac3 to movie t80 3_2ch 448kbps delay 0ms_.ac3
01:49:50 Encoded 1' Audio Track:  movie t80 3_2ch 448kbps delay 0ms_.ac3 355681536 bytes
01:49:50 D2V Film Detected:      99.900002% FILM found
01:49:57 Number of Frames:        190352
01:49:57 Framerate:               29.970030
01:49:57 Movie length in Seconds: 6352
01:49:57 Movie Width/Height:      720/480
01:49:57 DgIndex AR:              16:9
01:56:36 Source is declared tff by a margin of 106/3.
01:56:36 Advanced Deinterlace Routines Log
01:56:36 Analyzed 768 sections of five frames
01:56:36 Found Interlace Sections:  40 5.21%
01:56:36 Found Progressive Sections:37 4.82%
01:56:36 Found Telecined Sections:  691 89.97%
01:56:36 Found Zero  Mov:  4.82%         37
01:56:36 Found One   Mov:  5.21%         40
01:56:36 Found Two   Mov:  89.97%         691
01:56:36 Found Three Mov:  0.00%         0
01:56:36 Found Four  Mov:  0.00%         0
01:56:36 Found Five  Mov:  0.00%         0
01:56:36 The Movie is declared to telecined
01:56:36 Starting  X264
01:56:37 CRF encoding X264:       C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\encoder\x264.exe --pass 1 --crf 16 --stats "F:\mkv Rips\temp\.stats" --progress --keyint 250 --bframes 3 --qpmin 10 --qpmax 51 --no-psnr --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --filter -2,-1 --direct auto --vbv-maxrate 25000 --me umh --no-ssim --level 4.1 --weightb --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8,p4x4 --8x8dct --threads auto --thread-input  --sar 1:1  --output "F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie.264" "F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie.avs"
06:37:19 X264 Final CRF Encoding Stats: 
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 Cache64 
x264 [info]: slice I:809   Avg QP:13.15  size: 62656
x264 [info]: slice P:60951 Avg QP:15.22  size: 29000
x264 [info]: slice B:90521 Avg QP:16.87  size: 11988
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 10.6% 17.1% 72.3%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  4.2% 10.4%  8.9%  P16..4: 19.0% 22.3% 22.0%  5.0%  4.3%    skip: 3.9%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  2.5%  5.7%  2.0%  B16..8: 37.6%  6.1%  9.9%  direct:23.6%  skip:12.6%
06:37:19 Accepted values are between 31876710400 and 33889976320 bytes (movie+audio)
06:37:19 Got a file of size: 2903469312 bytes + audio size 355681536 bytes (3262368256)
06:37:19 Only Movie Size:         2903469312 bytes
06:37:19 "C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\matroska\mkvmerge.exe" -o "F:\mkv Rips\temp\Y Tu Mama, Tambien.mkv" --default-duration 0:24000/1001fps  --track-name -1:"Y Tu Mama, Tambien" --aspect-ratio -1:1.500000 --chapters "C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\chapters.txt" "F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie.264" --language -1:esp --default-track -1:yes "F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie t80 3_2ch 448kbps delay 0ms_.ac3" "F:\mkv Rips\temp\Y Tu Mama, Tambien.idx" --title "Done with AutoMKV 0.95 http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=854221 "
06:37:20 Final Muxed size:        -1 bytes
06:37:20 Encoding finished:       04:40:43 elapsed time
06:37:20 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
06:37:20 Script AutoCrop.log
06:37:20  
06:37:20 Crop(0,6,720,464)
06:37:20 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
06:37:20 Script movie.avs
06:37:20  
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\AddGrain.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\autocrop.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\aWarpSharp(Pruned).dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\blockbuster.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\cnr2.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\ColorMatrix.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\Convolution3D.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\corrector.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\DctFilter.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\Decomb.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\Deen.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\degrainmedian.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\DGDecode.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\EEDI2.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\FFMpegSource.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\FFT3DFilter.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\FluxSmooth.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\frfun7.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\hqdn3d.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\LeakKernelDeint.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\MaskTools.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\medianblur.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\MipSmooth.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\MSharpen.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\mt_masktools.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\mvtools.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\NicAudio.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\RemoveGrainS.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\RepairS.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\SangNom.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\SimpleResize.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\SoundOut.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\TBilateral.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\TDeint.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\TIVTC.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\TomsMoComp.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\TTempSmooth.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\UnDot.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\UnFilter.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\VSFilter.dll")
06:37:20 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\warpsharp.dll")
06:37:20 #loadpluginstart
06:37:20 
06:37:20 #test1
06:37:20 
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\BlindDeHalo3_mt2.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\Deblock_QED_MT2.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\FastLineDarken 1.3 MT MOD.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\HybridFuPP.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\LanczosPlus.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\Lem.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\LimitedSharpenFaster.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\MCBob_v03c.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\mvbob.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\QMlib.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\seesaw.avsi")
06:37:20 Import("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\spresso.avsi")
06:37:20 #importstart
06:37:20 
06:37:20 #test2
06:37:20 
06:37:20 movie = mpeg2source("F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie.d2v")
06:37:20 function getOrder(clip c) { 
06:37:20 order = GetParity(c) ? 1 : 0 
06:37:20 Return order } 
06:37:20 #filter1start
06:37:20 
06:37:20 #test3
06:37:20 
06:37:20 movie = tfm(movie,d2v="F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie.d2v").tdecimate()
06:37:21 last=movie.Crop(0,6,720,464)
06:37:21 fixed_aspect = 1.839000
06:37:21 out_width = 720
06:37:21 out_width = 720
06:37:21 out_height = 384
06:37:21 out_height = 480
06:37:21 #resizestart
06:37:21 
06:37:21 #test4
06:37:21 
06:37:21 #filter2start
06:37:21 
06:37:21 #test5
06:37:21 
06:37:21 RemoveGrain(mode=2)
06:37:21 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
06:37:21 Script mkvmaudio.avs
06:37:21  
06:37:21 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\NicAudio.dll")
06:37:21 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\SoundOut.dll")
06:37:21 LoadPlugin("C:\Users\HomeTheaterOne\Desktop\AutoMKV095_NORIP\exe\filter\FFmpegSource.dll")
06:37:21 NicAC3Source("F:\mkv Rips\temp\movie t80 3_2ch 448kbps delay 0ms.ac3")
06:37:21 #Applying STEREO downmixing routines
06:37:21 function stereo(clip a)
06:37:21 {
06:37:21 flr = GetChannel(a, 1, 2)
06:37:21 fcc = GetChannel(a, 3)
06:37:21 lfe = GetChannel(a, 4)
06:37:21 lfc = MixAudio(fcc, lfe, 0.2071, 0.2071)
06:37:21 mix = MergeChannels(lfc, lfc)
06:37:21 lrc = MixAudio(flr, mix, 0.2929, 1.0)
06:37:21 blr = GetChannel(a, 5, 6)
06:37:21 Return MixAudio(lrc, blr, 1.0, 0.2929)
06:37:21 }
06:37:21 #
06:37:21 6==Audiochannels() ? stereo() : last
06:37:21 function addvideo(clip c) {
06:37:21 blankclip(length = Int(100 * AudioLengthF(c) / float(audiorate(c))), fps=100)
06:37:21 Return audiodub(last,c)
06:37:21 }
06:37:21 Normalize()
06:37:21 
06:37:21  
06:37:21 - - - - - - - - - - - - FINISHED JOBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[buzzqw]

@Zow

without the temp folder (for manual running the muxing.bat) it's hard to tell what was wrong

the file was encoded.. but not muxed... the audio was present.. maybe the subs was missing ?

please retry without checking "del temp file"

thanks for your test!

BHH

[Amir]

Well some feedback...

I just tried this version and its fine for encoding episodic DVDs, I batched up 4 episodes and all four have been converted!. First time I've been able to do this. Only downside to this is that I had to rip the DVD to disc and then run AutoMKV against it, I think this because AutoMKV writes to that folder, a configurable "temp" folder does not appear to be settable.

Also turning off the stats allowed x264 to run at full speed.

[buzzqw]

@Amir

well done!

BHH

[Honeyko]

Originally Posted by survivant001

TWO new features requested
#1 - audio CUT (if the audio is longer than the video track)

I don't like this one -- audio is often a couple seconds longer than the video, and merely needs to have its start time adjusted in an external muxing utility.

[ryc0203]

Originally Posted by buzzqw

maybe it's the windows regional configuration

could you try setting "." as decimal separator ?

BHH

it work

[Crono141]

I'm sorry to ask you to switch gears, but I'm a total noob on AutoMKV. I have an Mpeg2 file (extracted from a dvr-ms file) with surround sound in it. I'm trying to get it into WMV with 5.1 audio to play in Xbox360 MCE. I've looked in the Wiki and can't find anything on it.

Also, encoded to WMV gives me insanely slow encoding speeds (x0.05), so a 12 minute file took 4 hours. I have a dual core athlon 64 4200+, old but not nearly that bad. I'm I doing something (obvious) wrong?

EDIT: Its a 1280x720 clip, btw, and I'd like to maintain the quality.

[buzzqw]

@Crono141

First of all Welcome to the Forum!

i bet you have selected an Insane profile.., try with the "2_Pass_Balanced", should be a lot faster and quality wise similar

About audio... sorry but 5.1 is very problematic on wmv.. not due to my application... but to wmcmd.vbs encoder

just set your ac3/audio decoder to output 5.1 16bit audio and .. hope the best!

BHH

[Crono141]

I did pick insane quality. However, I also picked 2 pass balanced, and had the same effect. The 1st pass ran at about 0.5x, but the second pass ran at .05x. The final output was also garbled noise for video, and 2 channel audio.

Thanks for quick response.

[buzzqw]

ok.. go for WMV8_2_Pass_VBR and if slow try the WMV7_2_Pass_CBR.
The last MUST be fast! (and not garbled)

BHH

[survivant001]

@buzzwq

first test with the ps3 profile (default values)

I got
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-52681 bits)fps, eta 1:24:03
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-39157 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-159150 bits)ps, eta 1:20:38
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-269549 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-230413 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-206341 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-217045 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-66966 bits)fps, eta 0:58:06
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-33013 bits)fps, eta 0:57:45
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-2054 bits)7 fps, eta 0:18:55
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-107962 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-287210 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-65786 bits)
x264 [warning]: VBV underflow (-137824 bits)

I will try with a lower keyint and your new build.

REQUEST

if you find VBV underflow in the x264 output.. you need to restart the encoding with a lower value for the keyint.

[Crono141]

Another question: the wiki says the audio string for 5.1 wmv needs to be WMAPRO 160_48_6. However, I can't get the last number to change from _2 to _6. Since this is setting the number of channels, how can I get this to change. The advanced audio options under WMV sound doesn't have a number of channels options.

Also, in the drop down, do I need to pick "original"?

OK, I've encoded with your suggested settings, The encode was much quicker, but I"m still getting garbled video and 2 channel audio.

EDIT: Attached log file.

If you have an avi with AC3 how do you get it to do 5.1 AAC

i select nero and then original but it always is 2.0

[Crono141]

OK, I finally have some success. I was able to get 6 channel sound (I think, file properties indicate 6 channels) as well as a non-garbled video. I was able to get multichannel surround by using one of the regular profiles. Problem is, second pass still maxed its speed out at .12x (1st pass still about .56x). I used 2 pass better quality. Any of the other profiles (accessible by using the all profiles check box) left me with garbled video, from this particular source.

Problem is, I didn't get the quality I wanted at all. Visible blockiness was abundant. And I don't even want to speculate how long a 2 hour DVD rip would take. I'm going to try again with extreme quality to see if the blockiness decreases.

The method I had used for DVDs was this attached batch file. I don't really know anything about writing code or scripts, but this file always gives me the quality I like from the DVD rip. If someone could tell me how to make a script to match the quality of this batch file, I think I would be very happy. Bitrate is 4 Mbit/s.

Thanks again for all your help!

[buzzqw]

@survivant001

actually the keyint is 300 ... what value you suggest ?

@Crono141

attachment need to be approved.. post it in [code] tag

.. and i will try the WMV8_1_Pass_CBR BUT in advanced settings check "Specify Quality" and set it to 95%

in this way should be fast and .. at 95% of max quality

@bigggt

If you have an avi with AC3 how do you get it to do 5.1 AAC

avi is processed via directshowsource, you need to set your audio decoder (ffdshow or ac3filter) to output 5.1 16bit audio

BHH

[xxxyzzzz]

Hi buzzqw,

I have some feature requests if you don't mind hearing me out:

1. The ability to use custom AVIsynth scripts during the video encode. (This may exist, I just haven't found it.)
2. The ability to use different scripts for each of the first and second passes.

Thanks for all your good work. I haven't had any big problems with AutoMKV 0.95a in Linux yet.

Z

[buzzqw]

1. The ability to use custom AVIsynth scripts during the video encode. (This may exist, I just haven't found it.)

it's already possible to feed an avs script as input

2. The ability to use different scripts for each of the first and second passes.

could you motivate it ? (just want to learn!)

Thanks for all your good work. I haven't had any big problems with AutoMKV 0.95a in Linux yet.

fyi.. in next mounths i will change pc (i waiting for q9450) and i will VERY PROBABLY move to Linux (i already use it ... but not as primary OS)... so.. automkv will have some hiccup..

BUT purebasic (automkv source code language) is present EVEN on LINUX.. so maybe i will build natively for linux.. and not for win.. but i cannot promise.. (since automkv use several specific windows api.. maybe i must change some behavior)

BHH

[xxxyzzzz]

could you motivate it ? (just want to learn!)

Sure thing. Take a look here:
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/VFR#en..._vfr_.28mkv.29

There is sometimes content from DVDs that is blended true 30fps and 30fps telecined. When this occurs, any sort of frame matching or "teleciding" applied to the whole video will make some parts jumpy/stutter in varying degrees.

One good example is "Avatar: The last Airbender" DVDs. I was having problems in this thread:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=131779

until someone pointed me to the above AVIsynth page about variable frame rate video that MKVs can handle.

But to use VFR, you have to use a different script for each of the first and second passes during an encoding. Example scripts I finally chose to use only differed by one line:

First pass:

tfm(movie,mode=0,pp=7,mi=40,output="tfm.txt").tdecimate(mode=4,output="stats.txt")

Second pass:

tfm(movie,mode=0,pp=7).tdecimate(mode=5,hybrid=2,dupThresh=1.0,input="stats.txt",tfmin="tfm.txt",mkvout="timecodes.txt")

Everything else in the scripts was identical.

This is why I ask for the ability to use different scripts for each pass. Did I motivate you?

Thanks once again,
Z

[buzzqw]

a little bit

... i will try to do this without changing so much the application..

stay tuned!

BHH

[Tirade]

OK, I just started using AutoMKV last night and so far so good!

Ive done some test clips and even a DVD, but before I do a batch convert of all 300 movies I wanted to verify some things.

Source - 300 DVD's ripped to individual folders with VIDEO_TS subfolder (VOB's)

Output - Another local drive


My goal is simple.

I want to reduce each DVD as small as possible without losing "noticeable" quality. I realize noticeable quality is subjective and that there is no perfect setting.

Couple of questions:

1. What is a good estimate in size reduction before image quality usually begins to drop off? Is it generally possible to transcode DVD down to 50% of its original size w/o easily noticeable quality loss? I would be happy with 50%, but smaller is better, but not at the expense of poor video quality.

2. I have done nothing but read read read for the last 72 hours and there is a LOT to absorb. From what I can gather though the following is true:

CQ Lossless would be pointless in my situation because my source is lossy. Encoding time is not important and I do not have any bitrate restrictions, so ideally CQ CRF profile with AQ strength 5 (.5) and AQ Sens. 13 should provide a good quality MP4 transcode?

So my remaining question is where do I specify the CQ factor?

I see the box for Specify Quality, but I read on the previous page that Specify Quality is not needed for CQ profile because it is already CQ. How do I tell what the default CQ number is? Also what is the suggested number for CQ to be set at? I see the default is 75 if you check the box, but I believe this wont give me much size reduction. Ive seen mention of using 72 as well.

This is my command line

--pass 1 --crf 18 --stats "C:\Temp\HTPC\Utils\AutoMKV095_NORIP\.stats" --progress --keyint 250 --bframes 3 --qpmin 10 --qpmax 51 --no-psnr --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --filter -2,-1 --direct auto --vbv-maxrate 25000 --me umh --no-ssim --level 4.1 --weightb --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8,p4x4 --8x8dct --threads auto --thread-input --aq-strength 0.50 --aq-sensitivity 13 --sar 1:1


My final questions (sorry so many) is:

Do I need to do high quality 1st pass with CRF?

and

My monitor is a 52" TV, desktop resolution is 1920X1080. Some of my movies are 2:35 and some are 1:85. What is the correct crop setting to make each of these properly fill the screen without black lines. Is this even possible? Maybe I should just use ffdshow to resize the movie as it is being played.