Compression

[bluesnow]

I've used Makemkv to create about 100 mkv files out of m2ts blu-ray files. Each has turned out to be about the same size as the original. The last 4 files I've converted however have ended up about only 50% to 75% of the original file size. I'm using version 1.9.9. Has something changed in this version? I'm alarmed that all of a sudden my movies are being compressed when I didn't think Makemkv did any compression.

[Woodstock]

MakeMKV doesn't do any compressing of video. You may want to check which play lists you ripped; they could be wrong, especially if the movies are from Lionsgate.

[bluesnow]

I know it's not supposed to compress, that's why I don't understand my results. My movies have only 1 playlist because they're ripped first as "movie only". There is only 1 m2ts file and only 1 playlist file. The only thing Makemkv threw out was the forced subtitles because they were empty. The last one I did had a single 22.1 gig m2ts file but the mkv created was 17.4 gig.

[Woodstock]

Even with debug logs, which would help, there are some questions I can only guess at. For example, a difference of that size COULD be accounted for by ripping a 3D movie without the 3D MVC track.

[bluesnow]

I couldn't find any logs anywhere and they aren't 3D movies. I did find where I can turn on debug logs so I will and try one again.

[bluesnow]

This isn't just one movie, it has happened with the last 4 I've done. I re-did one of the movies using version 1.9.10 with logging turned on. The log file should be attached but apparently the "board attachment quota has been reached". It won't allow me to attach it so here's what it says . . .

Debug log started at Thu Apr 28 20:32:33 2016 , written by MakeMKV v1.9.10 win(x64-release)
Using 524544KB for read cache.
001005:0000 MakeMKV v1.9.10 win(x64-release) started
001004:0000 Debug logging enabled, log will be saved as C:\Users\BD/MakeMKV_log.txt
003006:0000 Opening files on harddrive at D:/The Revenant
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 0 at 06z5j46*^$c1v9:121262164
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 0 at 4F9b_=LSM_Cv||\h:213135780
003305:0000 AACS directory not present, assuming unencrypted disc
003307:0000 File 00000.mpls was added as title #0
005011:0000 Operation successfully completed
005014:0000 Saving 1 titles into directory D:/MKV Files
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 179 at .w=8R]__M]/VQ02hySCwU:213133043
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 184 at .w=8R]__M]/VQ02hySCwU:213133043
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 157 at .w=8R]__M]/VQ02hySCwU:213133043
004001:0000 Forced subtitles track #4 turned out to be empty and was removed from output file
005005:0080 1 titles saved
005036:0104 Copy complete. 1 titles saved.
Application exited at Thu Apr 28 21:07:53 2016

[Yugatha]

Likely, the reason it was smaller is that it excluded certain languages. For example, the original might be 22GB, but have 4 language audio options. In DTS audio, that file could be 1GB+ per language. If you only select English (or one or two languages), then the other languages aren't copied, saving you that space.

Depending on the Preset used, the subtitles may be compressed (eg, the WDTV preset compresses subtitles), but that would only save a couple of MB total.

[bluesnow]

I only included one sound track during the original rip and it's in the mkv file.

I am going away for a week (no computer). If anyone has any more ideas please post them and I'll check back in a week.

Thanks

[Yugatha]

Hey,

What I meant by my statement, was that MakeMKV analysed the disc, and found the following elements (as an example):

• 4 Audio Tracks, 1.4GB each (eg English, Chinese, Spanish, Latin)
• Video Track, 16 GB
• Subtitle Tracks x 8 (100MB each)

To a total of 22.4GB. You decide "I only want the English tracks", so you select the English Audio and Subtitles, and start the rip. In the outputted MKV file, you have the video track (16GB), the English Audio (1.4GB) and the English Subtitle track (100MB), totaling 17.5GB, even though MakeMKV said the original size was 22.4GB. The video, audio, and subs are untouched from their original state (unless using certain presets to compress the subtitles, but let's not go into that).

Edit: clarified dot point 1

[bluesnow]

I used a different program to rip the disc in the first place. I had already removed the sound tracks and subtitles I didn't want. I just used MakeMKV to convert the ripped files to an MKV file and there are no options I can find to remove any tracks of any kind when converting a file.

[Woodstock]

If the file is already off the optical disk, then MakeMKV is at the mercy of whatever you used to extract the files. If there were errors, MakeMKV will stop processing when it hits them.

[preserve]

Why not just use MakeMKV in the first place instead of another program? That's likely where your problem is.

Re: selecting audio tracks and subtitles, this is roughly what it looks like (old screenshot) - you expand each item to see what you can select.

/images/sshot-s2-web.png

[bluesnow]

Thanks Woodstock, you just showed me something I didn't know existed.

As far as using MakeMKV to rip a disc goes, I believe that MakeMKV will not remove copy protection. That's why I use another program first. I'll give it e try though next time.

[Woodstock]

As far as using MakeMKV to rip a disc goes, I believe that MakeMKV will not remove copy protection. That's why I use another program first.

Well, the purpose of MakeMKV is to remove copy protection, so yes, it does remove it.

[bluesnow]

That is news to me. I've always thought it wouldn't based on the statement on MakeMKV.com . . .

Please note that commercial blu-ray discs are proteced by technologial measures preventing unauthorized duplication (including, but not limited to, "Cinavia" technology). MakeMKV doesn't remove such measures, so MKV file produced from a commercial blu-ray disc will not play on a blu-ray player, even when converted back to M2TS format.

This contradicts what I just now read in the FAQ section . . .

MakeMKV can create a decrypted backup of a Blu-ray disc on a hard drive. Decrypted backup will contain all files from original disc but M2TS files will be decrypted (both AACS and BD+ will be removed).

This is getting more interesting all the time! Thanks again.