[hillstones]

bastion, on 20 January 2010 - 10:44 AM, said:

BrianM, on 20 January 2010 - 10:39 AM, said:

simple312, on 20 January 2010 - 08:14 AM, said:

funny how there is a story on how to rip a blu-ray.
APPLE I JUST WANT TO WATCH BLU-RAY ON MY MAC.

(sorry for the yelling)

I would be nice to be able to just watch bluray disks in say a mac mini htpc. vs getting another standalone player.

and Apple pretty much yelled at the Blu-Ray consortium to simplify the licensing and rights issues at one of the Keynotes. I'm sure you've heard the Steve Jobs quote about "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It's great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we're waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace."

well it has definitely taken off, although I don't know if the licensing is any better yet.

It hasn't taken off, really. Adoption has been slower than other home media formats at similar points in their life cycle and at least a few of the major players are predicting it won't last long as a format. The licensing situation is improved but still has serious issues. I didn't expect it in 10.6 and I don't expect it in 10.7.

It didn't take long for you to spout off your BS rhetoric! We get it. You HATE Blu-Ray. But you are WRONG. Walk into any Best Buy and Blu-Ray titles are growing in HUGE numbers and many people are buying them. There are now more Blu-Ray players being sold than DVD players. So your BS quip about "major players" is dead-wrong. So sit back and enjoy your collection of Beta tapes.

[thej]

Jon Seff, on 20 January 2010 - 09:07 AM, said:

Aueua, on 20 January 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

Interesting article, thank you!

Why haven't you used HandBrake to transcode the 30+ GB MKV file?
HB is 64 bits (VideoMonkey 32 bit only) and if you get the latest SVN (developer build) from their forum, it seems to handle MKVs pretty well...

Cheers!
Aueua

Good point...in the past I've had trouble with HandBrake and non-DVD files (as in, a lot of crashes). But the 0.9.4 version seems to be more stable in that regard, and I'm giving it a try converting the MKV to Apple TV format.

AAAAHHHHHH !!!!
You DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSCODE !!!!

Try this:
-Rip disc with MakeMKV
-Open either SimpleMovieX or Quicktime 7 Pro(Perian must be installed for both in order to open the MKV)
SimpleMovieX
-Open the MKV file to change
-Choose Save As
-Choose the file container that you want to use (MOV, MP4, etc)
Quicktime Pro (QT 7 Player)
-Open the MKV file to change
-Press CMD-J to edit the tracks
-Make any change such as deleting a track you don't want. Like a subtitle track.
-Choose Save As
-Choose the file container that you want to use (MOV, MP4, etc)

In both cases, your MKV file is saved in the new file container (MOV, etc) WITHOUT TRANSCODING.
Every time you transcode you WILL lose some quality. It is not necessary in this case and it is easy to do.

SimpleMovieX is a simple yet fantastic video editor and can be found here: http://simplemoviex.com/
The author is expecting to release a substantially revised version 4.0 "really soon now".

TheJ

[HottDogg]

I know the whole point of this is "CAN I DO THIS?" But if the goal is to have a Blu-ray copy in the living room and a digital copy for Apple devices, what about just Netflix'ing the movie in standard form and making the digital copy from the rental? Sounds like it would a whole lot easier that ripping the movie into a 31GB (Geez!) file and then have to do it all over again with yet another program.

I'll pass.

[pablorkcz]

thej, on 20 January 2010 - 11:53 AM, said:

Jon Seff, on 20 January 2010 - 09:07 AM, said:

Aueua, on 20 January 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

Interesting article, thank you!

Why haven't you used HandBrake to transcode the 30+ GB MKV file?
HB is 64 bits (VideoMonkey 32 bit only) and if you get the latest SVN (developer build) from their forum, it seems to handle MKVs pretty well...

Cheers!
Aueua

Good point...in the past I've had trouble with HandBrake and non-DVD files (as in, a lot of crashes). But the 0.9.4 version seems to be more stable in that regard, and I'm giving it a try converting the MKV to Apple TV format.

AAAAHHHHHH !!!!
You DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSCODE !!!!

Try this:
-Rip disc with MakeMKV
-Open either SimpleMovieX or Quicktime 7 Pro(Perian must be installed for both in order to open the MKV)
SimpleMovieX
-Open the MKV file to change
-Choose Save As
-Choose the file container that you want to use (MOV, MP4, etc)
Quicktime Pro (QT 7 Player)
-Open the MKV file to change
-Press CMD-J to edit the tracks
-Make any change such as deleting a track you don't want. Like a subtitle track.
-Choose Save As
-Choose the file container that you want to use (MOV, MP4, etc)

In both cases, your MKV file is saved in the new file container (MOV, etc) WITHOUT TRANSCODING.
Every time you transcode you WILL lose some quality. It is not necessary in this case and it is easy to do.

SimpleMovieX is a simple yet fantastic video editor and can be found here: http://simplemoviex.com/
The author is expecting to release a substantially revised version 4.0 "really soon now".

TheJ

Actually, you do.

AppleTV HD files are 720p whereas HD mkv files ripped from BluRay are 1080p.

Even if your AppleTV is set at 1080i, its maximum resolution, you would still need to transcode.

[hayesk]

hillstones, on 20 January 2010 - 06:46 AM, said:

New Disney titles have the right idea because they include a Blu-Ray version, DVD version, and Digital Copy version.

They have almost the right idea. Unfortunately, those digital copies are only 480p. AppleTV outputs 720p and all Macs sold today are capable of playing at least 720p. I'm hoping the reason is that most computers don't have blu-ray drives so there's no practical way of getting them on to the computer, but I'm skeptical and think the reason is they're being stingy again.

[hayesk]

hillstones, on 20 January 2010 - 11:46 AM, said:

bastion, on 20 January 2010 - 10:44 AM, said:

It hasn't taken off, really. Adoption has been slower than other home media formats at similar points in their life cycle and at least a few of the major players are predicting it won't last long as a format. The licensing situation is improved but still has serious issues. I didn't expect it in 10.6 and I don't expect it in 10.7.

It didn't take long for you to spout off your BS rhetoric! We get it. You HATE Blu-Ray. But you are WRONG. Walk into any Best Buy and Blu-Ray titles are growing in HUGE numbers and many people are buying them. There are now more Blu-Ray players being sold than DVD players. So your BS quip about "major players" is dead-wrong. So sit back and enjoy your collection of Beta tapes.

You failed to disprove his point. The fact that you see a few line-ups and more shelves is irrelevant. The fact is people switched from VHS to DVD at a faster rate than DVD to Blu-ray. Your anecdotal evidence (oxymoron) doesn't change that. He is asserting that DVD sales took off faster in their day than blu-ray is today. He is also asserting that Blu-ray will go away in favour of an even better format sooner than blu-ray replaced DVD. Feel free to prove him wrong.

[chase]

What about Toast's BluRay feature?

Did you ever finally burn your BD??

[Jon Seff]

chase, on 20 January 2010 - 12:22 PM, said:

What about Toast's BluRay feature?

Did you ever finally burn your BD??

Not sure who this is directed towards, but I wasn't looking to burn another copy of my Blu-ray disc, but see if I could rip it to play on another device.

[matt_s]

murphtall, on 20 January 2010 - 07:04 AM, said:

handbrake or quicktime pro with perian installed should do the trick to make an mkv to mp4. IIRC handbrake is faster on my g5
~KM

Ditto. Handbrake compression to MP4 is just a tad over 2.5X faster on my dual G5 compared to the Intel Core2 Duo box.

[thej]

pablorkcz, on 20 January 2010 - 12:05 PM, said:

thej, on 20 January 2010 - 11:53 AM, said:

Jon Seff, on 20 January 2010 - 09:07 AM, said:

Aueua, on 20 January 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

Interesting article, thank you!

Why haven't you used HandBrake to transcode the 30+ GB MKV file?
HB is 64 bits (VideoMonkey 32 bit only) and if you get the latest SVN (developer build) from their forum, it seems to handle MKVs pretty well...

Cheers!
Aueua

Good point...in the past I've had trouble with HandBrake and non-DVD files (as in, a lot of crashes). But the 0.9.4 version seems to be more stable in that regard, and I'm giving it a try converting the MKV to Apple TV format.

AAAAHHHHHH !!!!
You DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSCODE !!!!

Try this:
-Rip disc with MakeMKV
-Open either SimpleMovieX or Quicktime 7 Pro(Perian must be installed for both in order to open the MKV)
SimpleMovieX
-Open the MKV file to change
-Choose Save As
-Choose the file container that you want to use (MOV, MP4, etc)
Quicktime Pro (QT 7 Player)
-Open the MKV file to change
-Press CMD-J to edit the tracks
-Make any change such as deleting a track you don't want. Like a subtitle track.
-Choose Save As
-Choose the file container that you want to use (MOV, MP4, etc)

In both cases, your MKV file is saved in the new file container (MOV, etc) WITHOUT TRANSCODING.
Every time you transcode you WILL lose some quality. It is not necessary in this case and it is easy to do.

SimpleMovieX is a simple yet fantastic video editor and can be found here: http://simplemoviex.com/
The author is expecting to release a substantially revised version 4.0 "really soon now".

TheJ

Actually, you do.

AppleTV HD files are 720p whereas HD mkv files ripped from BluRay are 1080p.

Even if your AppleTV is set at 1080i, its maximum resolution, you would still need to transcode.

The original post made no mention of AppleTV or any other specific destination for the video. You are correct though. If you wanted the video to play on anything other than a computer (AppleTV, iPod, iPhone, etc) then a transcode is required to get the video into the correct resolution and user chosen audio format (no sense having 5.1 surround audio on your iPhone !)

I have my Mac Pro connected directly to my HDTV and use PLEX and Rowmote (on my iPod Touch) to control everything.

;-)

[bastion]

hillstones, on 20 January 2010 - 11:46 AM, said:

bastion, on 20 January 2010 - 10:44 AM, said:

It hasn't taken off, really. Adoption has been slower than other home media formats at similar points in their life cycle and at least a few of the major players are predicting it won't last long as a format. The licensing situation is improved but still has serious issues. I didn't expect it in 10.6 and I don't expect it in 10.7.

It didn't take long for you to spout off your BS rhetoric! We get it. You HATE Blu-Ray. But you are WRONG. Walk into any Best Buy and Blu-Ray titles are growing in HUGE numbers and many people are buying them. There are now more Blu-Ray players being sold than DVD players. So your BS quip about "major players" is dead-wrong. So sit back and enjoy your collection of Beta tapes.

Sigh. Someone posed a question and I answered it. I don't hate Blu-Ray. Never have. Can't imagine I ever will. Frankly, I consider the notion of hating a piece of technology to be surreal. I've also never owned a Beta player or tape, your snide ejaculation notwithstanding. How about you look at the situation dispassionately and objectively instead of assuming that your desire defines reality, and that everyone else is as passionate about consumer technology as you are? How about you actually look at reality instead of being offended by those who describe it?

Your anecdotes don't meaingfully contradict the statistics that are available. Fine, BD players are outselling DVD players today. No reason they shouldn't be, given that they play DVDs and an increasing number of them now have the additional benefit of supporting streaming media. It would be foolish not to go for the more versatile unit. But the truth remains that BD isn't being adopted as fast as DVD was. It cannot, at this time, be seriously said to have "taken off."

My "BS quip" about the major players comes from direct quotes. "I think it has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10." But then what do companies like Samsung know about home entertainment devices? And if you don't agree with assessments like that, don't shoot the messenger. *I* didn't say that. I merely reported that someone else whose opinion is not negligible did. But then if you weren't so bound up in the need for BD to be successful you might have noticed that distinction instead of telling me how wrong "I" am.

And of course you didn't address my comment about the licensing situation still being problematic, although I'm sure you retain deeply-felt and completely unsupported beliefs along those lines as well.

[crowecg]

hillstones, on 20 January 2010 - 06:46 AM, said:

New Disney titles have the right idea because they include a Blu-Ray version, DVD version, and Digital Copy version. They know people still have a DVD player in the home or car, and they want the Digital Copy version for their iPod/iPhone. Now if only the other Studios will follow suit.

We mustn't forget that a certain Mr S. Jobs due to a significant shareholding has a major infulence at Disney.

[buzglyd]

hillstones, on 20 January 2010 - 11:38 AM, said:

buzglyd, on 20 January 2010 - 07:05 AM, said:

Aueua, on 20 January 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

Interesting article, thank you!

Why haven't you used HandBrake to transcode the 30+ GB MKV file?
HB is 64 bits (VideoMonkey 32 bit only) and if you get the latest SVN (developer build) from their forum, it seems to handle MKVs pretty well...

Cheers!
Aueua

What would be the point of compressing a BluRay rip? You'd end up with something of less quality than the original.

You might as well just use a regular DVD.

The purpose of the article is for taking a movie you own and converting it to the iPhone. Most people buying Blu-Ray titles are not buying the DVD counterpart at the same time, so they won't have a regular DVD to rip from.

You're gonna rip a 35GB file and then compress it to fit on an iPhone?

[thej]

buzglyd, on 20 January 2010 - 01:45 PM, said:

hillstones, on 20 January 2010 - 11:38 AM, said:

buzglyd, on 20 January 2010 - 07:05 AM, said:

Aueua, on 20 January 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

Interesting article, thank you!

Why haven't you used HandBrake to transcode the 30+ GB MKV file?
HB is 64 bits (VideoMonkey 32 bit only) and if you get the latest SVN (developer build) from their forum, it seems to handle MKVs pretty well...

Cheers!
Aueua

What would be the point of compressing a BluRay rip? You'd end up with something of less quality than the original.

You might as well just use a regular DVD.

The purpose of the article is for taking a movie you own and converting it to the iPhone. Most people buying Blu-Ray titles are not buying the DVD counterpart at the same time, so they won't have a regular DVD to rip from.

You're gonna rip a 35GB file and then compress it to fit on an iPhone?

Not just compression. When the file is transcoded for the iPhone (perhaps with Handbrake), the target resolution would be the resolution of the iPhone (480x320 rather than 1920x1080; HUGE size reduction!).