Handbrake Tutorial

mainly for low size or mini size h264 video format encoding of fansubs using x264 encoder in mkv or mp4 container

TIP: if your ripping a encrypted DVD then install libdvdcss here is a guide – http://www.howtogeek.com/102886/how-to-decrypt-dvds-with-hardbrake-so-you-can-rip-them/
getting handbrake
go to http://handbrake.fr/
click “Downloads” and go to “Nightly Builds”
NOTE: we are using Nightly Builds because its more updated so less bugs and more updated encoding tools

installing handbrake
clicking “Nightly Builds” will take you here http://handbrake.fr/nightly.php
then download something that says “WindowsGUI” or “Win GUI”

then install it and open it
encoding with handbrake

click “Tools” menu and then click “Options” and then click “Output Files”

click “Browse” button and browse the desktop folder for example as your default output folder then click “Close”

click “High Profile” on “Presets” pane

click “Container” drop down box select “MKV”

NOTE: we select MKV to select Vorbis audio later on when encoding with audio because AAC of Handbrake

is not NeroAAC so Vorbis audio wins in here for good quality on low bitrate

go to “Picture” tab (Resolution tab) and select “None” on “Anamorphic” drop down box

then check “Keep Aspect Ratio” now on “Height” input box put 400 or 360

now the “Width” will be calculated automatically

NOTE: 400 as height is 400p so 360 as height is 360p

go to “Video” tab set “Video Codec” to “H.264(x264)” then set “Framerate (FPS)” to “Same as source”
then make sure that “Variable Framerate” is selected and then choose your encoding mode on “Qaulity”
i prefer “Constant Quality” or CRF
if you prefer “Constant Quality” take note that filesize will vary but quality will
be almost consistent through out the video for a given CRF value
and its a faster way of encoding too because its 1-pass
“Constant Quality” or CRF values good ranges are from 24 – 28 i prefer value of 26
in CRF the higher the value the lesser the quality but lesser the filesize
in CRF the lesser the value the higher the quality but higher the filesize
in CRF filesize will be less too if you set a low reolution thats why we set Resolution that
is in average 360p like 640×360 (for 16:9) or 512×384 (for 4:3)
if you prefer or “Avg bitrate” make sure to check “2-pass encoding”
and check “Turbo first Pass”
NOTE: in “Avg bitrate” good values are betweeen 300-450 bitrate

set x264 Preset to “Very Slow”

NOTE: the slower the x264 preset the better the quality and the smaller the filesize but “Placebo” preset is a waste of time

set x264 Tune to “Animation”

NOTE: we choose “Animation” as the preset since we are encoding anime/cartoons or cel shaded videos but if your encoding live action movies/series then choose “Film”

set H.264 Profile to “High”

set H.264 Level to “Auto”

go to “Audio” tab click “Clear” button to remove all the audio on the queue
click “Add Track” then “Add New Track”

on “Source” drop down box select an audio you want to add
on “Codec” drop down box select “Vorbis”

on “Mixdown: drop down box select “Mono”
on “Bitrate” drop down box select “48” (this means you will encode the audio in 48 bitrate)
NOTE: for multi-audio (like dual-audio) you do same steps just click “Add Track” again and do the steps again
NOTE: take note that the first audio you put on the queue will be the default audio
when you play the reencoded file
NOTE: we set “Mixdown” to “Mono” and at 48kbps audio to ensure that we can encode sources that are FLAC and in 6 channels

go to “Subtitles” tab then click “Add Track” then click “Add New Track”

on the “Source” drop down box select a subtitle of your choice
in this case i select a SSA/ASS subtitle then i check the “Burn In” checkbox for Hardsubbed
or “Default” checkbox for Softsubbed
NOTES:
Hardsubbed – means the subtitles are irreversibly part of the video so you cannot turn off this or extract this kind of subs
Softsubbed – means the subtitles are just part of the video like a text display that can easily be turn off or turn on back again and this kind of subtitles can be extracted

then press “Start” button to start encoding
alternatively you can click “Add to Queue” then start encoding from “Show Queue”
the “Add to Queue” function is good if your gonna encode a lot of videos
so thats it happy encoding with Handbrake
to speed up more the reencoding of fansub anime
go to “Video Filters” tab and set it all to “Off”

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