Two simple (For you guys, not me) Questions

[AxelVIII]

Since I have been downloading Anime, I have always faced two problems: 1) Converting files, and 2) Dual-Audio videos. So my questions are these: Best conversion program? And how to change the audio of videos?

(Btw, I use Windows Media Player if that's a contributing factor)

Thanks

[Koby]

Best conversion program? Anything that lets you use AviSynth. I typically use MeGUI. However there is a HUGE learning curve when it comes to using AviSynth properly.

For people who don't want to fix issues or learn stuff, HandBrake is likely the program to use. It'll be a lot easier to figure out.

Why do you need to convert files or switch audio files? If it's simply turning MKV to MP4 to be compatible with things like PS3, etc.. You don't even need to bother encoding.

Just take MKVExtract and extract the video and audio streams. Then take Yamb and remux the streams you need into MP4.

[AxelVIII]

I tried the PS3 thing, but when I tried a Dual-Audio file, it said there was only one language. I have been using AnyVideoConverter btw.

[† L4ugh]

I would use mediainfo to see how the file was encoded before you convert or remux it. Hardware like the PS3 doesn't support every setting that h.264 video can be encoded with. I believe settings like profile, level, and reference frames will be the biggest problem. You can use mediainfo to see what settings were used to encode the video. Then check to see if your hardware (PS3, Android device, etc..) supports those settings. If it does, then remux the file like Koby mentioned above. You should be able to drag an mkv directly into Yamb without needing to demux it first. Yamb doesn't support .ass subtitles, so if you need those you'll have to convert them to srt/ttxt.

If you find that the video was encoded with settings your hardware doesn't support. You'll have to use something like Handbrake to re-encode the video with settings your hardware does support. Handbrake is a really good tool for video that doesn't require any filtering (denoising, deinterlacing, sharpening, etc..). If you do need to filter the video, then you'd be much better off trying to learn avisynth scripting than relying on handbrake to do.

Edited November 3, 2012 by L4ugh

[Koby]

I would use mediainfo to see how the file was encoded before you convert or remux it. Hardware like the PS3 doesn't support every setting that h.264 video can be encoded with. I believe settings like profile, level, and reference frames will be the biggest problem. You can use mediainfo to see what settings were used to encode the video. Then check to see if your hardware (PS3, Android device, etc..) supports those settings. If it does, then remux the file like Koby mentioned above. You should be able to drag an mkv directly into Yamb without needing to demux it first. Yamb doesn't support .ass subtitles, so if you need those you'll have to convert them to srt/ttxt.

If you find that the video was encoded with settings your hardware doesn't support. You'll have to use something like Handbrake to re-encode the video with settings your hardware does support. Handbrake is a really good tool for video that doesn't require any filtering (denoising, deinterlacing, sharpening, etc..). If you do need to filter the video, then you'd be much better off trying to learn avisynth scripting than relying on handbrake to do.

Profile and Level settings just try to tell the encode not to surpass certain limitations, and can actually be fooled into thinking it's higher or lower by setting them when remuxing. There are some MP4 remux programs that let you do so. I believe -ref frames will be about the only real issue. Anything higher than 4 ref frames typically won't work in anything less than a 5.0 profile.

As for remuxing straight from the mkv. I've often had issues doing that. The output MP4 file, will often still have the MKV headers, and therefore isn't recognized correctly by my PS3. I've found demuxing the streams before remuxing prevents that issue from occurring randomly.