Avoid Excessive
Transcoding in Plex
1
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
When it comes to converting or ripping your media in a
universal format, there’s no better tool than Handbrake, the
brilliant open-source transcoder for Windows, Mac, and Linux. If
you plan to rip from DVD, you can do so directly from within the
program once you’ve installed a library called “libdvdcss.”
>> Windows users need to download this file: http://download.
videolan.org/pub/libdvdcss/1.2.11/win64/libdvdcss-2.dll
(substitute “win32” for “win64” in the URL if you’re running the
32-bit version of Handbrake). Save it to your “Downloads” folder,
then copy it to “C:\Program Files\Handbrake” [Image A]—you
need administrator access to do this, which is why you can’t
download directly to the “Program Files” folder. Job done.
>> Linux users should visit http://www.videolan.org/developers/
libdvdcss.html for instructions on obtaining the latest version.
MacOS users should open a Terminal window and issue the
following three commands, following the prompts to install
Xcode and Homebrew:
$ xcode-select --install
$ ruby -e “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/
Homebrew/install/master/install)”
(If you get any errors about folder ownership, run the
recommended command, then repeat the “ruby” command.)
$ brew install libdvdcssTHE BANE OF ANY MEDIA server’s life is the need to transcode. Imagine this: You’ve converted
your movies to one format already, only for your media server to waste precious CPU cycles
converting it to a format that can be played back on your target device. Sometimes this process
is inevitable—you want to watch a 1080p HD movie on an older 720p screen, for example—but
in most cases, you should be looking to minimize the need to transcode. You’ll not only reduce
the load on your server (allowing it to serve multiple streams simultaneously without breaking
a sweat), but often you’ll make things easier for your playback devices, too.
But how do you go about avoiding the need to transcode unnecessarily? First, you need to
prepare your media so it’s in the most universal format possible. We’ll show you the settings
you need to convert great video that will play on the widest possible devices natively. We’ll also
reveal how to optimize your server and playback devices to avoid unnecessary transcoding, too.
Our media server of choice is Plex, but the techniques and tips below can be translated to cover
your own specific media server. –NICK PEERSYOU’LL NEED THIS
PLEX MEDIA SERVER
Get this from http://www.plex.tv if you’re
building your first media server.HANDBRAKE
Head to https://handbrake.fr to
download your copy.2
PICK A UNIVERSAL STANDARD
This is the most important step of the entire
process: picking the file format that will play
natively on as wide a range of devices as possible.
Remember, video files comprise three elements:
separate video and audio codecs for handling the
movie’s video and audio streams, plus a container to
wrap them up in. Check your media server’s support
pages to see whether they offer any advice (Plex users
can get detailed guidance at https://support.plex.tv/
articles/203810286, for example).
>> In most cases, however, the following options
represent the closest thing there is to a universal
standard: Choose MP4 for your file format (or container),
using H.264 for SD/HD video, and A AC for the audio
stream. If you’re producing 4K content, substitute H.264
with HEVC/H.265 for the video codec.
>> Plex lists several additional requirements: H.264
codecs are available in multiple versions or profiles,
known as “Levels.” The higher the number, the higher the
supported video bit and frame rates. Plex recommends
no higher than Level 4.0, which is the minimum required
to support full HD. Handbrake defaults to version 4.1
for HD, and 3.1 for SD. The difference between 4.0 and
4.1 is basically one of maximum bitrates—4.1 supports
50–200Mbit/s compared to 4.0’s 20–80Mbit/s. ForBA©^PLEX
M
EDIA^SERVER,^ HANDBRAKE62 MAXIMUMPC DEC 2019 maximumpc.com
R&D