Filed under: Video, Open Source
HandBrake 0.9.3 adds Universal Input
The well known, open-source DVD ripping and video transcoding application HandBrake has been updated to version 0.9.3. Among the changes, perhaps the most exciting is universal input -- now you can use HandBrake to convert any kind of video file it recognizes, not just DVDs. This is particularly exciting given the recent demise of the much loved VisualHub (although the open-source reworking of VisualHub via the TranscoderRedux project is underway). In fact, the new HandBrake incorporates some of the same ffmpeg libraries that did the heavy lifting in VisualHub. Among the many changes are an updated interface as well as improvements to both audio handling and video quality. Interestingly, the HandBrake developers have removed its internal DVD decryption which means you'll need to have the free VLC on your machine to utilize HandBrake's classic DVD ripping functionality (though as long as you have VLC they promise it will work as before).
HandBrake 0.9.3 is a free download from HandBrake.
Thanks Will!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
stooke said 10:09AM on 11-24-2008
I don't know the motivation for breaking out the prime bit of functionality. Scared to ship it? The least they could do is automatically download it if they can't find a copy of VLC (mine isn't in the standard location).
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Hawkman said 10:36AM on 11-24-2008
Because it's technically illegal.
Best practice has always been to rip with MacTheRipper first anyway, because (a) it's much better at avoiding copy protection, and (b) ripping direct from the DVD is inconvenient and stresses your drive -- so really, nothing has changed.
LD said 11:02AM on 11-24-2008
It's only illegal in certain countries.
LD said 10:29AM on 11-24-2008
Yeah, there must be some looming lawsuit or something otherwise it's just a pain in the ass to remove it's main feature.
Now we can rip DVDs...but we can't rip DVDs.
Not a great slogan.
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Big John said 11:04AM on 11-24-2008
It's a legal issue. It's not like they wanted to go "hey, let's rip the core funtionality of our program out and make it difficult for users".
Distributing code to decrypt CSS can draw the ire of a legion of lawyers. What would you rather see -- the code included and the developers closing up shop due to legal fees or this way?
I'll take this way, since anyone using Handbrake has a good chance of having VLC around anyway.
Jash Sayani said 11:05AM on 11-24-2008
I have a SONY DVD Handycam. Is there any app using which I can connect it to my Mac and rip the video...?
Tried iDVD but it accepts Cams with Firewire only, no USB support.
Pls let me know. Thanks.
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EBone said 12:38PM on 11-24-2008
Upgrade to iLife 08. The 08 version pulls media from my Canon FS100 through USB.
Jash Sayani said 2:37PM on 11-24-2008
@EBone
I am already using iLife 08. Its a new Mac so it had Leopard and iLife 08 pre-installed....
Any third party apps that can do it....?
scott said 1:20PM on 1-15-2009
He means imovie 08, though it has an odd editing interface, you can just connect the handycam while imovie is open and it will recognize and capture your clips.
jared said 12:19PM on 11-24-2008
this can now convert MKV!!!
finally, no more completely useless MKV files!!
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ash said 2:13PM on 11-24-2008
Getting excited but can it encode MKV to WMVHD so that I can stream to my 360? This would be amazing! Are there any Mac apps that can do this already that I'm oblivious to?
Reg said 2:23PM on 11-24-2008
Ash,
I doubt that the new Handbrake can do that as WMV is a closed protocol (even though it is a standardized one) and usually requires licensed tools to do it. I do know that if you install Perian on your Mac, you can load the MKV into Quicktime. From there, if you purchase Flip4Mac, you can export it to WMVHD. It will take a while, but it can be done.
On the flip side of that, you do realize that your Xbox 360 can play HD that isn't in WMVHD format? About a year (I believe it was the Spring 2007 Update), Microsoft added the ability for it to play H.264, MPEG4, Xvid, and DivX, the former two supporting HD. The new Handbrake even comes with nice, flashy new presets supporting PS3, Xbox 360, and PSP. All you have to do is select the Xbox 360 preset. I believe it defaults to 720p.
ash said 2:33PM on 11-24-2008
Reg,
It can't play .MKV h.264 HD (360 won't even see the file). I'm converting a file now through VMWare + TMPenc Express 4 to WMV HD and it's taking 12-15 hours (I leave it on over night and come to work).
I will try Flip4Mac and Handbrake .MKV to 360 preset and see how it goes.
Thanks!
Reg said 3:27PM on 11-24-2008
That would be correct, Ash. The Xbox 360 cannot play MKV files (MKV is a container that wraps around the H.264 video). You will have to remove the MKV container before the video can be played on the Xbox 360. The best way to do it is to find tools that can do audio/video passthrough on the files while pulling it out versus re-encoding it, as you will loose quality.
Chris said 4:19PM on 11-24-2008
@ash
Since you're already in VMWare/Windows, check out GOTsent. This transcodes the audio to 4 channel, but doesn't touch the video--just changes it from a .mkv to .mp4 container so no video quality is lost. And much more effecient than the 12-15 hour method you're currently using :)
http://sentry23.googlepages.com/
ash said 4:42PM on 11-24-2008
@ Chris:
I did try it with little luck. My file is about 8GB (i know..it's huge) and the 360 has a 4GB limit on MP4.
I don't do it often so converting this isn't too bad. I was just hoping for a native Mac alternative that would do it quicker/better.
I don't even know if the conversion has worked, but I'll update once I get home from work.
Thanks again for help.
ash said 10:42AM on 11-25-2008
UPDATE: So the conversion from .MKV to .WMV HD took over 22 hours. It streamed OK, was a bit choppy but there was no audio, both on the Mac and 360. Desperate, I hooked up my MBP to my TV through DVI and the sound in stereo (missed out on 5.1 audio).
I am converting to .AVI using handbrake right now with the audio as pass-through and the video quality at 100%. It says it's only going to take 4 hours HandBrake is already way ahead.
ricosuave said 12:33PM on 11-24-2008
The world would be a better place if all torrents would be AppleTV ready from the start with full 5.1 goodness!
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mickeyd26 said 12:53PM on 11-24-2008
i'm right there with ya! that'd be perfection. having to run mkv files through visualhub takes so much time, especially 1080p files... i'll have to play with the new handbrake when i get home tonight.
vandil said 2:34PM on 11-24-2008
As much as I can understand their legal reasons for removing DVD ripping support from the distribution, it just seems silly to remove it since the software is already well known for ripping DVDs.
The last build that had the decryption built-in will still be out there in circulation...
I've actually been disappointed with Handbrake's iPod presets. Every attempt to make an iPod/iPhone compatible rip using those presets resulted in a file that would not sync. However, if I ripped using my pwn desired settings, the resultant file syncs fine.
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