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Handbrake 0.93

Nov. 25, 2008 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

My favorite DVD ripper, Handbrake, has just been updated to version 0.9.3, and this time around there are a number of useful new features as well as a nice UI update. Some of the better updates this time include:

Universal input

HandBrake is no longer limited to DVDs: it will now accept practically any type of video as a source. This massive enhancement was achieved by tapping into the power of libavcodec and libavformat from the FFmpeg project.

Video quality

The x264 project has really come into its own this year, and HandBrake 0.9.3 integrates the latest improvements to the H.264 encoding library. Picture quality has enhanced dramatically through the use of psychovisual rate distortion and adaptive quantization, and there have been significant speed optimizations.

Audio flexibility

HandBrake now offers total control over multiple audio tracks.

Persistent queues

When queueing up a bunch of videos to encode, you need no longer fear a crash in HandBrake's graphical interfaces. Queued jobs are cached to disk for safekeeping between sessions.

New, better organized presets (Be sure to run "Update Built-In Presets" from the Presets menu!)

The presets are now "nested" in folders and have evolved. Notably, there is a new Apple "Universal" preset, designed to play and look good doing so on anything from an iPod Nano to an AppleTV.

Massive improvements to all interfaces

As hard as it might be to believe, the changes listed above are only the tip of the iceberg. A much longer list is available, but even that is only a brief summary. There have been well over 600 changes to HandBrake's code base since 0.9.2, including hundreds of bug fixes, and a thorough log can be found on the Trac.

Good stuff all around. I’ll be testing this one tonight on my quad core-based notebook.

Discuss this Article 27

Ocean
on Nov 25, 2008
There's a brief blurb at Ars if anyone is concerned about the removal of the DVD libraries: http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/11/24/handbrake-0-9-3-acc...
chuckb84
on Nov 25, 2008
Big, big changes. Why only a 0.1 version increment? Handbrake is really good...
mikegalos@msn.com
on Nov 25, 2008
chuckb For that matter, why not actually move it to a 1.0 release already? This is a pretty commonly used tool and it's long past the "we're not really ready to release yet" 0.x release level.
Lindy
on Nov 25, 2008
On a Mac Handbrake is hands down the shiznitz. Will it decode now on Windows and then convert or do you still need a separate decoder? I never understood why it would on the Mac but not on Windows?
Lindy
on Nov 25, 2008
Oh dam that sucks. Guess I need VLC now.... "An unfortunate loss in HandBrake 0.9.3, however, are the libraries required for DVD decryption. HandBrake will now rely on the libraries included in VLC to perform DVD decryption, so just make sure you have that free, open source media player installed as well."
gorath
on Nov 25, 2008
everyone raves about VLC, but to be honest, I've been incredibly dissapointed with it. Every time I've tried it, it's performance has been woeful. Even moreso when running it in Linux.
animositysomina
on Nov 25, 2008
Is it still the same "Basic subtitle support (burned into the picture)"? So do they still do ONLY THE _BURNED IN_ subs?? It was the main reason I never used Handbrake. Nothing in the changelogs about it, unfortunately.
RunTimeError
on Nov 25, 2008
Lindy: Agreed about Handbrake on the Mac. It's simply awesome:)
gorath
on Nov 25, 2008
is there a difference between handbrake on the mac and pc?
DRWAM
on Nov 25, 2008
This is a good reason to visit this site. I was using a 7 yr old Mac instead of a 1 yr old high end PC for DVD ripping since I did not know that Handbrake had a Windows version. I feel like one of my partners. I got two calls this week because a CD would not run on their XP boxes. I advised them to go to 'My Computer' and click on the CD, and voila! Today, I had to help another doc [ortho] got access to images using Vista's IE7 on his Mac because our PACS admin did not know how. There's a problem with the Active X control using Parallels on his MacBook Pro. A quick trial DL of VMware and we're good to go. There are so many more Windows programs for Medicine, that I can't understand why he wouldn't just use a Vista laptop in the Office. Perhaps he bought into that best of both worlds thingy. He's actually a Top Doc.
Lindy
on Nov 25, 2008
Handbrake on the PC is a two step process. Decode a DVD with some software of your choice. Once you have the VOB files in a folder, then you open handbrake to convert them to say h.264/mpeg4 (.mp4) files. The VOB files are you source in the PC version, not the DVD. The makers of Handbrake recommend a few PC decoders but you must go find them DVD Decryptor is one them and none of them work in conjunction with Handbrake. Handbrake on the Mac prior to this version had a built in decoder. So when ripping a DVD to a .mp4 for storage on my PS3 its was as simple as put in the DVD choose the source in Handbrake (the DVD drive) pick PS3 from the side menu and click start and 30-90 min later I have a .mp4 file. With this new version for the Mac they have pulled out the decoder. So now you must download VLC and just have it installed. The Mac version of Handbrake will search for VLC and use its decoder. So for a Mac user, using handbrake has not changed once both programs are installed. VLC does not even have to be running, its being used for its decoders really. I tested this when I ripped my kids copy of Clone Wars a few hours ago. Another DVD saved from little hands. This is one of those rare applications that will use every drop of CPU you have. A quad core would help, and the faster the better, provided the app has been written to use 4 cores. It will rail two cores for sure and has been at least dual core aware for a while.
DRWAM
on Nov 25, 2008
I bet my 3GHz Quad Pro Tower with 4 GB RAM can handle the job.
Lindy
on Nov 25, 2008
Like a champ probably. It will be a good test to see if it uses all 4 cores. I use this app on OS X... http://islayer.com/apps/istatmenus/ Which give you lots of stuff to put on your menu bar if you want, way more than I use. Anyhow I have the CPU, Memory and Temp on my menu bar. You can see the CPU's rail when Handbrake kicks off, both on my dual core and the temps slowy rise and peek out.
shark47
on Nov 25, 2008
Isn't Format Factory, a software pick of the week on Paul's TWIT show, better for Windows users?
Lindy
on Nov 25, 2008
Looking at it http://www.formatoz.com/ yes I would go that route, especially if you dont have to decode with 1 piece of software, close it out then launch another...PITA. I used DVD Fab on the PC, was not free, would backup DVD's really good, 1 button "Movie Only" and it would copy the main movie, great for kids movies that have 25 previews before the movie starts. However its .mp4 file converter was bad. The movies were choppy/stutter speed wise. This is a problem with this kind of software, its all about the quality of the mpeg 4 converter codec that they use. You got to try out a few to if you like it. I mean its taking your average 7-9gig movie and dropping it down to 2-4gig via compression.
gorath
on Nov 25, 2008
@Lindy: "Handbrake on the PC is a two step process. Decode a DVD with some software of your choice. Once you have the VOB files in a folder, then you open handbrake to convert them to say h.264/mpeg4 (.mp4) files. The VOB files are you source in the PC version, not the DVD." I'm not sure about that. I've never had to do a two-step process with handbrake. I suppose I may have had something else installed beforehand, which it automagically used for decoding I guess. @ DRWAM: "I bet my 3GHz Quad Pro Tower with 4 GB RAM can handle the job." Well, my 3GHz, quad core Vista machine, with 4 Gb RAM, and RAID0 hard disks handles it incredibly well, so I'm guessing your pro tower will also be fine, as it's more or less the same spec! Now, I'm curious to know how it would perform on a $400 vista laptop. But you know, I can't think of anyone who's got one ;p
shark47
on Nov 26, 2008
"I'm not sure about that. I've never had to do a two-step process with handbrake. I suppose I may have had something else installed beforehand, which it automagically used for decoding I guess." Oh, UK. You have to do everything the wrong way, don't you?
Lindy
on Nov 26, 2008
Gorath I am not saying its not possible but when I tried it like I use on it a Mac, it told me the DVD in question was encrypted. Here is info from their site.. "Windows GUI Usage Guide First things first. Handbrake on the Windows Platform does NOT decrypt Commercial DVDs. Let me repeat this. It does NOT decrypt commercial DVDs. Third-party software is required for this part of the process. (e.g. AnyDVD, DVD43 or DVD Decryptor) (Note: Please note that these applications are not legal in many countries. You should consult the law in your own country before using these applications. We do not provide support for 3rd party applications!)" http://trac.handbrake.fr/wiki/WindowsGuiGuide
Waethorn
on Nov 26, 2008
I've used this once, and it was incredibly buggy. It would frequently crash or hang. I've been using CloneDVDmobile for awhile too. I have yet to find any DVD ripping software that will play nice with my Lexx DVD's, cuz they use a funky type of interlacing that only a set-top DVD player seems to play properly. Deinterlacing causes the video to get stuttery, and the interlacing is so f*ed up that to watch it on progressive scan is horrid. DVD players seem to do it well though.
tayme
on Nov 26, 2008
I have used HAndbrake on both OS X and Vista, and didn't seem to notice much difference. I agree with Waethorn though...it seems buggy. I do like the PS3 preset, though...it seems to work well when the program doesn't crash or hang. Maybe that is why it is still in a 0.x version number. I have had my best luck with DVD Shrink, AutoGK, and Rip it For Me...which requires DVD Decrypter. AutoGK does a good job of converting to Zune, iPod, and PS3 playable formats. I am fairly green with all of this, though...so there are probably a lot better tools. --tayme
gorath
on Nov 26, 2008
@shark "Oh, UK. You have to do everything the wrong way, don't you? " huh? what do you mean? Is it worth pointing out that copying copyrighted DVDs is not only illegal in many countries, but MOST countries?
Waethorn
on Nov 26, 2008
@gorath: Copying copyrighted DVD's may not be illegal. It all depends on whether or not there is digital copy control measures in place. The copying part isn't illegal in most countries, but breaking the anti-copying measures is. If DVD's didn't have CSS, it would be legal to copy a DVD at least under the Fair Use act in the US. The DMCA put a stop to that with the terms that it is illegal to break digital copy control under all situations. There is no clause for fair use under the DMCA. Many countries have adopted similar acts under the WIPO treaty.
Waethorn
on Nov 26, 2008
I should point out that the issue I state above is the reason why Slysoft kept CloneDVD separate from AnyDVD. If Antigua (where they're located) actually gets stricter copyright laws, and they have to pull a product from the market, it would only be AnyDVD. They could continue to sell CloneDVD perfectly legally, since it doesn't decrypt any of the content control protection schemes.
gorath
on Nov 26, 2008
" If DVD's didn't have CSS, it would be legal to copy a DVD at least under the Fair Use act in the US" I don't know about the US laws, but in most countries it actually is illegal to make a copy of copyrighted materials without the copyright owner's explicit consent. The fair use law in most countries doesn't actually bypass this, it's just a widely held belief.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Nov 26, 2008
Fair Use is typically more about being able to include a quote or an excerpt in a review or academic paper. It really isn't a catch all. But, IANAL
Waethorn
on Nov 26, 2008
"The fair use law in most countries doesn't actually bypass this, it's just a widely held belief." Canada is the same as the US in the regard of fair use. Fair use supercedes copyright because it's a newer law. That's the point. Fair use basically says you can copy a copyrighted work if it's for your own personal backup. It doesn't grant rights to redistribution or public performance though, to which you would need the copyright owner's permission. If it weren't copyright or patented, it'd be in the public domain, so you wouldn't need a fair use law. Countries that are part of the WIPO (the Worldwide Intellectual Property Organization - a department of the UN) also have similar fair use laws. Fair use is legal unless the copyright/patent owner initiates any measures to prevent copying, such as digital schemes, or outright terms of use. Then it's illegal - at least as far as the WIPO is concerned. WIPO countries acknowledge other member countries' laws as part of their UN agreements.
Waethorn
on Nov 26, 2008
"Fair Use is typically more about being able to include a quote or an excerpt in a review or academic paper." For educational purposes, citing copyrighted works are usually acceptable by the copyright owner so long as you cite the source and credit the owner. It depends on the copyright holder though. The music, movie, and art industry are a little less forgiving. Generally speaking, it's usually acceptable so long as you don't cause a loss in revenue to the copyright holder, or profit from derivative works.

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