Encoding .MPG Files To .AVI XviD Files Using HandBrake

[BTJustice]

This is a simple guide to setting up HandBrake for use in GB-PVR. It is pretty easy.

First you will to download and install HandBrake. You can get it here...

http://handbrake.fr/?article=download

You can open the attached .ZIP file for XP or Vista and save “XviD 2-Pass.bat” to “C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\Third Party” for Windows XP or to “C:\Program Files (x86)\Devnz\GBPVR\Third Party” for Windows Vista. This file has all the settings needed to encode using XviD.

The rest of these directions will be for Windows XP. If you use Windows Vista, change “Program Files” to “Program Files (x86)”.

Now you will need to go to “C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR”. Right-click once on “config.xml” then left-click once on OPEN WITH > NOTEPAD.

Once “config.xml” is open in NOTEPAD, scroll down to the section called “<CustomFFmpegConversions>”. You will see a list of conversion types. You will need to add the following in the same way the others are listed...

Code:

<Conversion name="XviD 2-pass" exe="XviD 2-pass.bat" cmd="{SOURCE_FILE} {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".avi" />

Now close NOTEPAD and be sure to save the changes you made when asked.

That command links to the .BAT file you saved earlier to the “Third Party” folder.

Now you will need to open the CONFIG for GB-PVR double-clicking on “Config.exe” in “C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR”.

Go to the PROCESSING tab. Change “Auto-Convert MPG recordings to:” to “XviD 2-pass”. You can change the other two drop-down options there to the same if you like. Click OK to save the change.

Now when you record a program, HandBrake will convert it to an XviD .AVI file.

[BTJustice]

If you don't want to do 2-pass encoding, you can use the .zip files attached to this post. Use the directions in the previous post.

Be sure to re-open “config.xml” with NOTEPAD, scroll down to the section called “<CustomFFmpegConversions>”. You will see a list of conversion types. You will need to add the following in the same way the others are listed...

Code:

<Conversion name="XviD" exe="XviD.bat" cmd="{SOURCE_FILE} {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".avi" />

Now close NOTEPAD and be sure to save the changes you made when asked.

That command links to the .BAT file you saved earlier to the “Third Party” folder.

Now you will need to open the CONFIG for GB-PVR double-clicking on “Config.exe” in “C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR”.

Go to the PROCESSING tab. Change “Auto-Convert MPG recordings to:” to “XviD”. You can change the other two drop-down options there to the same if you like. Click OK to save the change.

[BTJustice]

I am not doing 2-pass anymore. Single pass seems to work just fine making a second pass a waste of time.

Also, 2-pass may not make a pending conversion go through. Like if you are recording a marathon or something. Using 2-pass with HandBrake may have HandBrake still working on Show 1 after Show 2 has been recorded and Show 3 is recording which skips the conversion of Show 2.

FFmpeg seems to get any pending conversions if another is already running. I am not sure why FFmpeg is able to do that and HandBrake is not. I guess GB-PVR is designed for FFmpeg.