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View Poll Results: What's the best format to store your TV/Movie Recordings?
Been looking over my growing video collection and reviewing how I do all this. Currently I convert to avi, but I wonder sometimes if another format would be better / more effctive.
So, what does everyone think should we keep our TV shows/movies as avi, wmv or DVD folders?
I compress via XVid to .avi but store them inside a Matroska container for chapters' availability, & slightly smaller overhead size so I voted for 'something else'.
For TV programmes I use AutoGK set to 75% but for movies I use GK two pass encoding set to 70%.
My eyes can't tell the difference between an encoded file to a ripped DVD if done right -even on my 4:3 X1 projector, & I like the extra space the compressed file leaves on my HDD. Add to that I can't stand being forced to endure the PUBs & extended load times for menus in DVDs, then for me, it's a no-brainer.
I've been converting all of mine to DVD folders. For me the benefit is that I get all of the navigation advantages of the DVD format as well as a nice interface because I add them to my DVD library and download the cover info etc. The downside for now is that it's a multi step process but then I only archive those movies that are really worth keeping. When VideoRedo adds DVD authoring (coming soon) the process will become a lot simpler.
I had been storing my DVD collection as VOB's, ripped via CloneDVD2, then added to My Movies. However, since setting up an Xbox360 extender, I've begun the painfull process of converting to mpg. Transcode360 just didn't do it for me, and was too buggy.
I said avi as most of mine are in that format but I would say now that the codec of choice would be H.264 in a matroska container with original DTS or AC3 audio track.
H.264 does such a good job it is actually possible to upscale 576i DVD to 720p and still get a decent sized rip at a better than original quality.
Generally speaking though I don't bother with conversion any more. I'm still happy to put the DVD in and only archive the kids stuff to stop the mess and destruction of media.
Cheers,
Arkay.
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The box said 'Requires Windows XP or better' - so I installed Linux . . .
I transcode everything to WMV's, with 5.1 WMA for DVD encodes. That way I get consistent, supported, idiot-proof movie and tv show playback on the PC and on my two Xbox 360 extenders.
If and/or when Microsoft update the Xbox 360 (and the Media Center Extender component) to support full MP4 H.264 playback (not the half-assed non-MCE version they have now) then I may consider encoding in that, but at the moment TMPGEnc Xpress 4.x does an amazingly good job in converting DVD's to WMV (link to my guide here: http://www.shasam.net/archives/19).
For TV shows I re-encode using either WinAVI Video Converter (when on Windows) or VisualHub (when on Mac).
Regards,
Shane.
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Generally speaking though I don't bother with conversion any more. I'm still happy to put the DVD in...
I'm in a similar boat arkay. This is about archiving recorded TV shows/segments. If I want to watch a DVD, I just put the disc in, but I'm (or rather the wife ) is getting lots of TV shows and segments from TV shows and video clips accumulated that need archiving.
Using avi at the moment but wondering if other formats offer benefits...
Hmmm. I'm not that fussed with broadcast TV. If it's good enough that I'll one day watch it again then I'll buy it or source it other ways. Conversion for me is only short term when space is tight. Like the 18 episodes of McLeods tarts the Mrs has backed up on the machine unwatched.. I could convert them, they take up a heap of space.. Then again, I could just let the machines policy of "delete the crap if you need the space" take care of it for me
In my case, if it's convert to watch later then delete I'm not overly concerned with the quality. As I've said before if you really want to get quality conversions they need to be done fairly manually with attention payed to each conversion for best results. I only put that effort in to something that will be watched repeatedly so for me automated tools that do a generic but good job are good enough for recorded TV, most of them are divx/avi based (crunchie included).
Cheers,
Arkay.
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The box said 'Requires Windows XP or better' - so I installed Linux . . .
Hmmm. I'm not that fussed with broadcast TV. If it's good enough that I'll one day watch it again then I'll buy it or source it other ways. Conversion for me is only short term when space is tight. Like the 18 episodes of McLeods tarts the Mrs has backed up on the machine unwatched.. I could convert them, they take up a heap of space.. Then again, I could just let the machines policy of "delete the crap if you need the space" take care of it for me
In my case, if it's convert to watch later then delete I'm not overly concerned with the quality. As I've said before if you really want to get quality conversions they need to be done fairly manually with attention payed to each conversion for best results. I only put that effort in to something that will be watched repeatedly so for me automated tools that do a generic but good job are good enough for recorded TV, most of them are divx/avi based (crunchie included).
Yes I have to admit I do precious little archiving these days and only of movies. Even then I only do it if space is getting a bit tight on my recorded TV store. TV series are generally set to keep the last 2 or 3 episodes and then delete so I know if I don't get around to watching them within a reasonably short period they won't be cluttering up my system. Some programs I record are only there in case there's absolutely nothing watchable on TV and I can't decide on a movie to watch. Generally those are things like Getaway etc which are at least mildly entertaining.
I find that archiving to DVD folders gives me some benefits in that all of the navigation features like FF and REW and chaptering work natively unlike AVI files etc and I have a nice little cover pic to identify the movie in my DVD library. It's not perfect but it works pretty well. Of course it's a bit of a pain having to author and re-encode after removing the ads but that will soon be fixed when videoredo release the authoring and DVD burning add-in so I'll be much happier with this process then.
Had to go for the "something else" since I just don't change the format. IMHO its easier jsut to throw some more disk space at things. I've got enough space to store about 300 hours of recorded material. If I get to that level, then the reality is I'll never be able to watch it. Oh yeah, and it saves me time since I do nothing.
Just thought I'd thow a different perspective on things.
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Too many toys is still not enough.
) is getting lots of TV shows and segments from TV shows and video clips accumulated that need archiving.
