Easy & Reliable Transcoding .ts to AVC?

[hvatum]

I tried numerous times to transcode 10GB MPEG2 files in Nero to AVC but it always seems to have a problem at some point. Optimally I would like to be able to transcode a hundred or so transport streams to AVC in whatever appliaction I'm using. I can easily convert to MPEG2 to beforehand though, it's just a bit of a pain and takes some time.

I really like to keep the HDTV quality and resolution as much as possible too. Would it be do-able to compress a 1hr30min MPEG2 file down to a 4.5GB using AVC without an easily perceptible loss of quality, even on a 24in LCD or larger plasma screen?

[check]

To the perceptual quality - you will have to decide yourself. The best estimation tools available are rules of thumb, andrules of thumbs are by definition inaccurate. Every file will be more or less compressible so every file will behanve differently.

As to application suggestions, have you tried MeGUI? Follow the link in my signature.