Easiest Best Optimal settings for Handbrake DVD to H264 Video Conversion on Mac, Windows and Linux 2022

Want to convert your DVD to H264 with Handbrake?DVD to H264

This is a simple easy guide on how to make the best encodes with the smallest file size in Handbrake using H.264 without having to know or understand all of the settings. Just copy my settings and you’re done!

This article is current as of FEB 2022 and uses Handbrake version 1.5.1

*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 DVD to H.264 ONLY

To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.264 – CLICK HERE!
To convert DVD to H.265 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 4K BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!

THE SHORT VERSION

1 Open file in Handbrake and make sure you are on the “Summary” tab
2 Select your preferred output file format “MKV’ or “MP4” (MKV was used for this tutorial)
3 Click “Dimensions” tab
4 Set Resolution Limit to None and leave Anamorphic as Automatic
5 Leave Final Dimensions set to Automatic
6 Click the “Filters” tab
7 Make sure “Interlace Detection” is set to “Default”
8 Set “Deinterlace” to “Decomb”
9 Set “Preset” to “Default”
10 Make sure everything else is set to “Off”
11 Click the “Video” tab
12 Select “H.264 (x.264)” from the Video Codec drop down menu
13 Select “Same As Source” in “Framerate”
14 Check the “Constant Framerate” button
15 Set “Encoder Preset” slider to “Very Slow”
16 Set “Encoder Tune” to “Film”
17 Set “Encoder Profile” to “High”
18 Set “Encoder Level” to “3.1”
19 Set the “Constant Quality” slider to “20” if you want great picture quality – If you don’t mind a slightly softer picture and would prefer a smaller file size set it to “24”
20 In the “Additional Options” box copy and paste the following:ref=5:bframes=5
21 Click the “Audio” tab
22 Select the English 6 Channel (5.1) Dolby Digital soundtrack
23 Set “Codec” to “AC3 Passthru”
24 Click the “Subtitles” tab
25 Click the “X” in the circle at the right side to remove the subtitles track if you don’t want them. If you’re using a Mac click where it says “Foreign Audio Scan” and select “None”
26 Click the “Chapters” tab
27 Uncheck the “Create Chapter Markers” option if you don’t want them or leave it checked if you do
28 Press the Green “Start Encode” button

THE LONG VERSION

THE GOAL – To produce the highest quality video with the smallest possible file size, whilst retaining the entire original 5.1 Dolby Digital sound track.

Continue reading “Easiest Best Optimal settings for Handbrake DVD to H264 Video Conversion on Mac, Windows and Linux 2022”

Best Optimal Settings for Handbrake convert DVD to H265 HEVC Mac Windows Linux 2023

Convert DVD to H265 with HandbrakeConvert DVD to H265

Convert DVD to H265 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 DVD to H265 HEVC Video
Use these settings if you have a recent 4K UHD Television and newer media player like the Apple TV 
4K.
To convert DVD to H.264 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.264 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 4K BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO COMING SOON!

THE SHORT VERSION

IMPORTANTBefore you begin, drop your source DVD file into Mediainfo and identify if the video stream is 480 or 576 size! (Different countries use different sizes)

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 480p or 576p (depending on your source file) 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 “4.1”
14 Set the “Constant Quality” slider to “22”
15 In the “Additional Options” box ad 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 5.1 channel soundtrack – If it is AC-3/Dolby Digital 5.1 click pass thru and go to step 20
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 find
25 Make a preset to save the settings and Press the Green “Start Encode” button

THE LONG VERSION

Continue reading “Best Optimal Settings for Handbrake convert DVD to H265 HEVC Mac Windows Linux 2023”

Easiest Best Optimal settings for Handbrake 1080p Blu Ray Video Conversion on Mac, Windows and Linux – UPDATED – MARCH 2023

Convert BluRay to H.264 with Handbrake

Convert BluRay to H.264 2023 Handbrake 1.6.1

Convert BluRay to the smallest file size in 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 4K Television and a newer media player you will want to use H.265 – See THIS ARTICLE for instructions.
If you have a 1080 HD TV and an older media player H.264 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.264 Video ONLY
Use these settings if you have a 1080 HD Television and older media player
To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.265 – 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 “MP4’ 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.264 (x264)” 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 “Very Slow”
11 Set “Encoder Tune” to “Film”
12 Set “Encoder Profile” to “High”
13 Set “Encoder Level” to “4.1” – If this wont play on your system drop it back to “3.1”
14 Set the “Constant Quality” slider to “24”
15 In the “Additional Options” box add ref=5:bframes=5
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 find
25 Make a preset to save the settings and Press the Green “Start Encode” button

THE LONG VERSION

Continue reading “Easiest Best Optimal settings for Handbrake 1080p Blu Ray Video Conversion on Mac, Windows and Linux – UPDATED – MARCH 2023”