[solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

ninjaprawn · 2012-08-27 17:50:36

hi..... i dont do a lot of video file editing, but i have got a number of files in .mkv format, which is fine, but they are all massive ~7gig.... I want to shrink them to around 650 - 1000 meg.... i am assuming mencoder is the best tool for the job, but i might be wrong, but am lost with where to begin.... the wiki looks fantastic, but every time i look at it my eyes glaze over and i get lost in a sea of terminology i dont understand.

is there a "mencoder for idiots" guide or does anyone fancy giving me a few tips?

much appreciated

Last edited by ninjaprawn (2012-08-27 18:53:28)

65kid · 2012-08-27 18:26:22

I'm using ffmpeg to compress videos, mencoder afaik can't even handle multiple audio streams:

ffmpeg -i "$in" -threads 0 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 19 -c:a copy -c:s copy -map 0 "$out"

this will compress the video with x264 and leaves the audio and subtitle streams untouched. The higher the crf value, the worse the quality and the smaller the file (19/20 is imho a value where you won't be able to see a difference). This usually gets my blu-ray rips down to 1/2 or 1/3 third of the original size.
not knowing the source of your files, shrinking 7GB down to <1GB is usually not possible without some serious quality loss. I guess you would have to downscale it as well ( -s parameter, e. g. "-s 1280x720", see ffmpeg man page).

ninjaprawn · 2012-08-27 18:46:05

perfect... thanks for that ill give it a go now.... i might try shrinking it further.... im still back in the stone age with a big back low-def crt tv ha so wont miss too much.

hmmm you wouldnt happen to know how to throw subtitles from a .srt file into the mix as well?

65kid · 2012-08-27 18:51:29

I think you could just add it with another" -i $srtfile". just note the option order: From the man page:

Do not mix input and output files -- first specify all input files, then all output files. Also do not mix options which belong to different files. All options apply ONLY to the next input or output file and are reset between files.

or alternatively you could merge the srt file with the mkv file with mkvmerge from the mkvtoolnix package.

ninjaprawn · 2012-08-27 18:53:40

brill... thanks for all that

masteryod · 2012-08-27 19:16:43

ninjaprawn wrote:

i might try shrinking it further.... im still back in the stone age with a big back low-def crt tv ha so wont miss too much.

in serious Yoda voice from empire strikes back: you will be, you will be...

If we talking about un-recoverable content i.e. your own videos, family stuff etc. shrinking it because right now you've got CRT is BAD move... as soon as you jump into world of HD (which is not that expensive, cheapest 1080p pc monitors are for about $120) you're gonna be shocked watching shrinked SD content. I don't even mention your children watching those movies 10-20years from now on their ultra high definition displays. Go and buy HDD because losing picture quality is one-way street

ninjaprawn · 2012-08-27 19:39:29

hmmmm point taken... thanks yoda...... were would the universe be! lol

Arch Linux

#1 2012-08-27 17:50:36

[solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

#2 2012-08-27 18:26:22

Re: [solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

#3 2012-08-27 18:46:05

Re: [solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

#4 2012-08-27 18:51:29

Re: [solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

#5 2012-08-27 18:53:40

Re: [solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

#6 2012-08-27 19:16:43

Re: [solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

#7 2012-08-27 19:39:29

Re: [solved].mkv to .avi and smaller with mencoder or similiar?

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