Originally posted by dr_ml422:

---

@ omegaman How long are the videos you're compressing down to 8GB if you're encoding x264? I've been encoding to .264 for a bit now while I start my new collection. x264 compresses down to anywhere between 1cd to 4gb limit. I'm lost here.

I just finished going through what you're thinking about w/the HDD and backing up. The chances of 2 hdds going bad are really minute. Just as w/the discs you'll need a xtra hdd for every one you have backed up. Now the reality is that Discs are going to be here 4 a while because they don't want to lose control over the format.

So my solution/rather new approach is 2 fold. HDD backups w/my already .iso's that are useless unless burned to disc to play in the slim w/a backup to those. Burn a flic when I want to watch it. 2nd phase is buying the darn Blu-ray copy of my new really want to have/watch collection and making a backup of that and/or buying the DVD version and backing that up on a hdd as well 2 times.

Since there's no way around the discs and HDDs provide a quicker/smaller storage solution I see both as being used.

Picked up just 1 tub of 100 DVD+R Verbs at OM today. Nice ride on train. Saw all the nice hunnies/enjoyed the warmer weather, and came straight home. Total: $23.96 including tax and train fare. I really see my online shopping coming to a halt here soon. Called Microcenter today and the new store in Yonkers should be done here soon.

---

Originally posted by dr_ml422:

---

That's what happened here too. When I 1st started this whole hobby I was pointed to CompUSA which was right here around 37th street and 5th ave. They closed their stores and went online. They own TigerDirect now btw as well. So I got stuck also w/the usual suspects you just mentioned. So I'm really glad MicroCenter is making this happen.

I would trade NYC for some quote unquote Peace of mind. I lived in Ocala Fl for 2 years and Cali for about 2. Cali too far from folks but awesome albeit all the catastrophes known to mankind. Fl was great. Too damn hot all the time and no $$$ unless you the Boss. So I'm here in NYC mainly cause I got a deal. You're either filthy rich or got a deal in NYC. 3 BR, LR, Kitchen, Bathroom. Ready 4 this: $250.00 month.

Would need a crane and special forces to get me outta here. Although I'm eyeing The Tropics very close here. Almost 40 winters just about can break anyone. Ifykwim.

---

Originally posted by rick5446:

---

omegaman7. They have a splitter for MKVs & mts U can split as large or small as U like

---

Originally posted by dr_ml422:

---

I was pointed to MeGUI as a conversion tool. Most will shy or stay w/Rebuilder/Super/RipBOT... etc.... for ease of use. I must say that after getting familiar w/it on some good and not so good videos it gets the job done.

MeGUI has a bitrate calculator that you can access from the "Tools" menu. You can play around with it to get a sense of the "average bitrate" that's needed for a good quality video. Just input say 2 hours at the top and then select different file sizes to see the average bitrate shown at the bottom. Most DVDs use anything from 5000 kbit/s to 8000 kbit/s. For the same video, DivX/XviD can give you near DVD quality at around 1600 kbit/s. For H.264, it's about 1100 kbit/s. So using these average bitrate, you can work out exactly how big the final output file should be given the time of the video (for example, select "Average Bitrate" and enter 1100, then enter the length of the video at the top, and the video file size should be shown at the bottom - you can then set this size in AutoEncode to ensure the video is of good quality).

It'll automatically do it for you now as far as inputting file size on top etc... you would just need to put in the bitrate you want and that's it.

Give it a try. You might like it being you're encoding to x264 which Blu-ray basically is.

---