Ripping a DVD library

[McBainUK]

It looks the same IMO.

[imilne]

They're just containers; it's what you put in them that matters

Iain

[McBainUK]

I've done a trial run with DVDFab and handbreak.

DVDFab rip was "main title only", resulting in a 3gb VIDEO_TS folder structure.
Handbrake's conversion was "high profile", resulting in a 1.2gb .m4v file.

Guys. Does your DVD rips include 5.1 surround sound. Listening to this test rip and convert, I'm not sure it's as good sound as from the DVD original.

[JonnyCam]

I always use AC3 passthru for movies, but for series I don't mind AAC.

[smajor]

Yes, same here. When I RIP with Handbrake, I always set it for AC3 passthru. You're getting the audio exactly as it is from the DVD. Being the much smaller component of a RIP, passthru is well worth it to preserve the 5.1 in all it's goodness.

[McBainUK]

My test used the "High Profile". Is it ok to have the two audio tracks, one being "AC3 passthru"?

[psycik]

Should be. But the option to switch between them will depend I the device playing it.

Actually I speak for Mkv files which I know can handle multiple audio streams. Mp4 I'd assume can, but its not something I've tried.

[smajor]

MP4 can handle multiple streams. Curious, is there a reason you need to mix it down with AAC at all if you're unhappy with the mixdown audio? I'd assume only if you're playing back on a device that can't deal with the AC3 you'd need it.

[McBainUK]

Curious, is there a reason you need to mix it down with AAC at all if you're unhappy with the mixdown audio?

The mixdown track is only there because of the default "High Profile" I used for my test with Handbrake. I was considering only having the AC3 passthru track as I'm only going to be playing the rips on a Windows HTPC (via NextPVR). Any problems with this?

[psycik]

The mixdown track is only there because of the default "High Profile" I used for my test with Handbrake. I was considering only having the AC3 passthru track as I'm only going to be playing the rips on a Windows HTPC (via NextPVR). Any problems with this?

Nope I mostly do that, or down mix to stereo (as generally I'm not fussed about 5.1 - can't remember the last time I turned on teh receiver for a movie. Having a 2yo asleep at that time of night is a bit of incentive to keep the volume down ). Even with the ac3 passthrough npvr (connected via hdmi to the telly), the Atv2 (connected the same + optical to receiver) and popcorn hour all handle the stereo downmix themselves - or if connected to the receiver will pass the ac3 through.

The only time this might be an issue for you is if the soundtrack is DTS (and you're expecting downmix) some devices wont do it as they have not paid for the license (a popcorn hour for example) - but those devices will generally pass through the raw DTS so a receiver will pick it up.