Free Video Cutter – Split MKV and MP4 with Avidemux on Mac Windows and Linux

Free Video Cutter – Split MKV and MP4 with Avidemux on Mac Windows and Linux

Free Video Cutter - Avidemux Icon

If you have ever read one of my articles on compressing video in Handbrake you will have seen me rant about cutting off a section of your source file, and encoding a 2-3 minute chunk too see how your settings look as opposed to waiting all night for the whole video to encode. I was asked recently how this can be done for free, as pretty much everything out there ultimately ends up asking you for money. Avidemux is a free open source tool that allows you to split and cut your MKV and MP4 video files, including 4K UHD. They have versions for Mac, Windows and Linux, and it works really well!

The latest stable releases can be downloaded on Github HERE. If you are looking for the latest version you can try the nightly builds from the Avidemux site HERE.

Once you have it downloaded your copy, open it up and you will see the main user interface window.

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Best Optimal Handbrake Settings to convert 1080 BluRay to H.265 HEVC on Mac Windows Linux MARCH 2023

Convert BLURAY to H.265 HEVC with Handbrake
Convert BLURAY to H.265 HEVC with Handbrake

Convert BLURAY to H.265 HEVC with Handbrake without having to know or understand all of the settings. Just copy my settings and you’re done!

H.264 Vs H.265 – Which one should I use?
If you have a 1080 HD TV and an older media player you will want to use H.264 – See THIS ARTICLE for instructions.
If you have a 4K Television and a newer media player H.265 is best, so use these instructions below.

*Whilst your user interface may appear slightly different than shown here (depending on if you are using Windows, Mac or Linux), the settings and results will be the same across all platforms.

**NOTE** – These settings are for 1080P BLURAY to H.265 HEVC Video
Use these settings if you have a recent 4K UHD Television and newer media player like the Apple TV 
4K.
To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.264 – CLICK HERE!
To convert DVD to H.265 – CLICK HERE!
To convert DVD to H.264 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 4K BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!

THE SHORT VERSION

1 Open source file in Handbrake and make sure you are on the “Summary” tab
2 Set file format to “MKV’ and deselect “Passthru Common Metadata”
3 Click “Dimensions” tab and set Resolution Limit to 1080p and leave Anamorphic as Automatic, leave cropping “Automatic” and borders “None”
4 Click the “Filters” tab
5 Leave Interlace Detection set to Default, De-interlace set to Decomb, and Preset at “Default”
6 Click the “Video” tab
7 Select “H.265 10-Bit (x265)” from the Video Codec drop down
8 Select “Same As Source” in “Framerate”
9 Check the “Constant Framerate” button
10 Set “Encoder Preset” slider to “Slow”
11 Set “Encoder Tune” to “None”
12 Set “Encoder Profile” to “Main 10”
13 Set “Encoder Level” to “5.1” – If this wont play on your system drop it back to “4.1”
14 Set the “Constant Quality” slider to “24”
15 In the “Additional Options” box add strong-intra-smoothing=0:rect=0:aq-mode=1:rd=4:psy-rd=0.75:psy-rdoq=4.0:rdoq-level=1:rskip=2
16 Click the “Audio” tab
17 Select the preferred 7.1 or 5.1 channel soundtrack
18 Set “Codec” to “AC3” and the Bitrate to 448kb
19 Set Mixdown to “5.1 Channels” and Samplerate to “48”
20 Click the “Subtitles” tab
21 Click the “X” in the circle at the right side to remove the subtitles track on Windows, or select “None” from dropdown on Mac
22 Click the “Chapters” tab
23 Uncheck the “Create Chapter Markers” option if you don’t want them or leave it checked if you do
24 Give your output file a unique name and save it somewhere easy to fid
25 Make a preset to save the settings and Press the Green “Start Encode” button

THE LONG VERSION

Continue reading “Best Optimal Handbrake Settings to convert 1080 BluRay to H.265 HEVC on Mac Windows Linux MARCH 2023”

Frank Morris Cell at Alcatraz Prison with Sony Bloggie 3D

Sony-Bloggie-3D-MHS-FS3-Font-back

I recently purchased Sony’s Bloggie 3D and have been impressed with the results so far. Its small and light, has a great 3D screen, not only shoots 3D and 2D 1080P video, but 5 megapixel 2D and 2 megapixel 3D photographs as well. A few things I don’t like about this camera is the start up time is a little longer than I would like, and the battery life is poor. I often run out of battery WELL before the memory is even close to full.

But for what it does, and what you pay, this camera is a VERY cool and fun device to have in your pocket.

In July/August 2012 I visited Alcatraz Prison, and filmed Frank Morris’ Cell B-138 in 3D HD. Frank Morris was involved in the Great Escape with John and Clarence Anglin, and Allen West. Morris and The Anglin’s escaped the island never to be seen again. Personally, I think they made it to the mainland!

httpvh://youtu.be/NqALt8edlSI

The Fountains of Bellagio on Flip Mino HD

flip-mino-hd-pocket-video-recorderLast year I went to the U.S for a holiday and catch up with some friends, and whilst I was waiting to board Qantas”s sweet new Airbus A380 (which I might actually review here) I was browsing a duty free store and I saw the Flip Mino HD. At that time it was $149 I think? Anyways, upon reading the specs on the box I had to have one. It was smaller than my cell/mobile phone, shot 720P HD video with a bit rate of around 8Mbs, AAC audio, and 2hrs of record time. It is SUCH a cool device!

My wife and I have stayed in a lot of hotels all around the world, and we both agree (which rarely happens) that The Bellagio in Las Vegas is the most beautiful, opulent, and in short, the best. Whilst there I recorded a lot of the Fountain Shows on my Flip Mino HD, and below is what I got.

These video”s were shot through the tinted glass window of our suite in The Bellagio, and what you see is what was shot. Disclaimer – I have tried to clean the audio up a bit though. As any one who has seen a Fountain Show from Las Vegas Blvd will know, the audio on the strip is just wonderful, but 20 something floors up in the tower however,  it gets a little messy.

Anyways, enough rambling. Enjoy the show!

httpv://youtu.be/-fVxpQCMcRE

httpv://youtu.be/0xGoIfezqQI