DVD to MPEG-4? and x264 advanced guide?

[Daniel_Lechu]

Hi friends, first of all sorry for my english, i don't write it very well.

I've one question, Can i convert a DVD to MPEG-4 with x264 command line without other tools (maybe ffmpeg)?

I know that i can join all vobs with "copy /b 01+02+03...", with MKVmerge to one file or using other programs like DVDShrink but i wanna know if i can jump that pass and do it directly or with ffmpeg help.

I wanna know too if i can extract DVD chapters and add into a MKV with the MPEG-4 that i converted, and how.
And the other thing that i wanna know is if someone know a good advanced guide of x264 use and how exactly affects the options to final quality, because maybe one option give a better quality than other and is faster when is used in conversion.

Thanks in advance.

[Blue_MiSfit]

Hello, and welcome to doom9!

A few things:

1) x264 is for video encoding. There are some experimental patches floating around that do basic audio things as well, but you're going to be better off using an application like ffmpeg or libav to transcode DVD VOBs into H.264 video while preserving the audio. Both these applications are developed with libx264, so you'll have exactly the same visual result as if you'd used x264 CLI.

2) I'm not familiar with a workflow for doing the above, while preserving chapters. I'm sure this is fairly simple, it's just not something I have personally done.

3) Regarding advanced x264 options - the good news is that 99% of users don't need to worry about this. The presets and tuning system are well designed, and there are enough presets to give plenty of granularity between the maximum possible speed (--preset ultrafast) and the maximum possible quality (--preset placebo). The defaults work extremely well in most cases, and +/- 2 steps in either direction are practically all I ever use.

Good luck!
Derek

[chainring]

For #2, you can use DVD Decrypter and rip to a single vob. In the settings you specify "No split" or something like that.

[Daniel_Lechu]

Thanks for replies, the presets should works fine, but sometimes instead the use of a preset is better to activate only some options.

For example, i've used that options in a anime conversion:

"--aq-mode 2 --aq-strength 1.2" and
"--subme 10 --trellis 2 --direct auto"

I think that "--aq-mode 2 --aq-strength 1.2" is for better bitrate distribution between image blocks and high strength give a better quality in flat zones, but i really don't know if is better an aq-strenght of 0.5 or 1.5 for example. Animation tune uses 0.6 of aq-strenght, but in dark scenes or some still images i can see macroblocks but if i change that option to 1.2 (still image presset) i get a better quality without that macroblocks.

And "--subme 10 --trellis 2 --direct auto" give a better quality without activating very slow presset that give a lower fps rate (i've a low power PC).

That's why i wanna learn how to use advanced options and how works, because i know that with this anime i have to use 1.2 of strength but i don't know what i've to do if the film is anime but have higher detailed or high motion scenes.

About DVD Decrypter, i know that program too, but i wanna know if i can do it without 3rd party programs, directly in x264 or ffmpeg, because i've to use a lot of GB in HDD and i uses a lot of time joining that files: 4.3GB = 4400MB; HDD speed is about 20MB/s, then 4400/20 = 220s (about 4 minutes). After all i've to extract the audio and subtitles tracks, then i take about 15~20 minutes with every DVD...

I've to see the ffmpeg program, but i understand how to convert video and copy audio but i don't know advanced video options and how to convert the subtitles tracks.

[nm]

And "--subme 10 --trellis 2 --direct auto" give a better quality without activating very slow presset that give a lower fps rate (i've a low power PC).

But compared to --preset slow and slower, you are missing --b-adapt 2 and --me umh, which are also very useful. You should use the slowest tolerable preset as a basis when tuning things.

About DVD Decrypter, i know that program too, but i wanna know if i can do it without 3rd party programs, directly in x264 or ffmpeg

DVD ripping while encoding is quite difficult with ffmpeg alone, especially if the disc is protected with one of the extra schemes. HandBrake(CLI) can do it though.

[Daniel_Lechu]

I'll try to use ffmpeg to convert, because i'm using it to apply some filters and using a pipe to send to x264, and i think that is faster to use only one program.

Thanks all for replies ;), and very good forum :)