Staxrip Bluray/VC-1/TrueHDAC35.1 to MKV/x264/AAC2.0 questions

[corvaxmuzzy]

Hi,

I'm dumb, but I will learn fast...

I have ripped a Bluray sci-fi film to my hard drive. The film has video of type VC-1. The audio is TrueHD AC3 5.1. I wanted to rip it to a 1GB-ish MKV/x264/AAC2.0.

Question #1:
What settings would you recommend?

I did:
-Encoding Mode -> Quality -> Super High
-Preset->Medium
-[Resize] -> Width=720 (my tablets' optimal width)
-AAC 2.0 (Stereo) @96Kbps
My h264 video stream came out as @1.1GB (from @16GB)
My AAC audio stream came out as @80MB (from @550MB)

Question #2:
Can you explain (slow/placebo) Quality Mode vs. Three Pass? In other words, when should I choose one vs. the other (if time is of NO CONCERN to me)...or is this one too subjective?


Question #3:
The "Quality" setting under x264 disappears if you are in 2 or 3-pass mode. CRF (Constant Rate Factor) is of no concern when using 2 or 3-Pass mode? In other words, the 2 or 3-pass encoding has limited user-adjustable settings? Bitrate only?

TWO PASS MODE:
--preset slow --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --sar 12:11 --stats "<stats>" --output "<target>" "<source>"

QUALITY MODE:
--preset slow --crf 18 --sar 12:11 --output "<target>" "<source>"


Question #4:
MediaInfo reports the original Bluray (M2TS) to have VC-1 video, of Codec ID 234. When I look at the temp MKV that Staxrip makes with the VC-1 (in the Staxrip project temp files), MediaInfo reports the it as VC-1, of Codec ID: V_MS/VFW/FOURCC / WVC1). Is that just a standards issue?


Please advise. I will learn.:)


Great info:

CRF:
_slhck.info/crf.html

Great Staxrip & encoding details, with an outstanding interactive comparison-screenshot:
_www.behardware.com/articles/828-20/h-264-encoding-cpu-vs-gpu-nvidia-cuda-amd-stream-intel-mediasdk-and-x264.html
Outstanding.

[M+AUDIO]

Hello,
Q1 = The settings that gives you what you like to see and what you like to hear. and of course with respect to your target playback device. for now, if you are not happy with the video, select an slower "preset" and see if it helps. or try a different "tune" and see if it helps.

Q2 == Some good explanation here:
The difference is you select the quality in advance, but the file size will be unknown, however most people no doubt eventually settle on a quality setting they're happy with which gives them a file size they're happy with..... on average. The file sizes will vary quite a bit, but if you do it the other way (select a file size) the quality will vary instead.
A simple bitrate calculator (http://www.videohelp.com/tools/VideoHelp-Bitrate-calculator) can show your output file size before encoding in 2-pass. StaxRip has one, built-in.

Q=3 CQP, CRF and (Average/Constant) Bitrate are different bitrate distribution methods in x264. They just can't be used at the same time. and no limited user-adjustable settings for 2-pass. most(if not all) of the x264 settings can be used on both CRF and ABR methods.

OK, that was some few helps that i can give you. wait for the experts ;-)