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Guide

HDR video conversion with HandBrake: How it works with CPU or GPU

Martin Jud
15/9/2022
Translation: machine translated

In the past, VHS tapes, CDs and DVDs used to pile up unattractively. Today, UHD HDR films occupy a lot of memory with up to 100 gigabytes each. What helps: conversion with HandBrake.

My current favourite programme for converting videos is HandBrake. But it has one drawback: if I want to convert 10-bit HDR (High Dynamic Range) videos, I can do it with my processor, but not by using my graphics card, which I have recently started to prefer for converting.

Now I am using HandBrake.

What HandBrake can do and which version you should use

You can download HandBrake here for Windows, Linux and macOS. Since this media converter comes with a graphical interface, it is convenient to use even for beginners.

What you should know before converting your first movie

In the early 00s, I ripped DVDs and converted them to 650 or 700 megabyte size. Then I burned them onto CDs. At that time, my PC was at times calculating day and night for the conversion of films with originally 720 x 576 pixels. For all the nostalgics: I used the DivX 3.11a codec and the SmartRipper and FlasKMPEG software for this purpose.

Today, converting a film can still take many hours to days, depending on the processor and settings. But there are also methods that are somewhat faster but do not offer a perfect result in terms of quality or file size. But one that can hold a candle to the quality of streaming services and takes only a fraction of the time that extreme encoding settings otherwise do.

Best quality and file size: 2-pass encoding with the processor

In the following picture you can see the HandBrake settings of the software-based CPU conversion with HEVC. I've been using it for my movies until now because I didn't know how well I liked Nvidia's graphics card conversion. And because the conversion with the processor offers a big advantage: 2-pass encoding, or encoding in two passes.

How much memory per second of film may be used is variable in 2-pass encoding - as it is when converting in one pass using the average bit rate. And especially when converting in one pass due to a set quality value, where there is no bitrate default. However, 1-pass encoding is less predictive than 2-pass encoding, resulting in a larger file size and/or less quality.

More detailed information on the settings follows below in the step-by-step instructions. The selected average bit rate of 20 000 kilobits per second on the image that can be seen resulted in a 24 gigabyte MKV file. Originally, the video track was 74.7 gigabytes and had an average bit rate of 72.9 megabits per second. The new video track is 20.5 gigabytes in size and has an average bit rate of exactly 20 megabits per second.

Good quality and big time savings: 1-pass encoding with processor or graphics card

How to convert your HDR videos step by step

After all the theory, it's time for practice. We'll use the UHD HDR version of "Batman Begins" as an example. An MKV file with a size of 58 gigabytes.

1. Start programme and open video source
.

After starting HandBrake, you can add a single video or a folder (batch processing) as a source.

2. Load preset and define container
.

After opening the source, you land on the "Overview" tab, where you see a preview of the film and can select the format or the container. Above this, you will see a selection field called "Preset", in which the aforementioned profiles are stored. Now it is a matter of selecting a profile that is reasonably suitable for the desired result. Alternatively, you can also set everything yourself without a profile, but this is quicker.

Select the preset.

Please also make sure that the "Metadata passthru" checkbox is activated. After that, define the name and location of the destination file.

3. define image size
.

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I find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.


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