YOU’LL NEED THIS

HANDBRAKE

Download it from www.handbrake.fr

MEDIA FILES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, and things are further complicated by the fact that video (and audio) files are constructed using codecs, which are required to decode and encode the various streams. Therefore, a media file comprises multiple components: the separate audio and video codecs, all wrapped up in a ‘container’ that’s identified by its file extension. However, this means that even if a file appears to be in a universal format (such as MP4 or MKV), there’s no guarantee it’ll play on all your devices.

To get around this problem, media servers such as Plex and Jellyfin can convert incompatible codecs on the fly in a process called transcoding, allowing the file to play on a wide range of devices. The problem is that transcoding is a CPU-heavy task, so in an ideal world, you’ll avoid it in all but extreme circumstances. The holy grail, therefore, is to produce a file that’s good quality, offers plenty of choice in terms of audio and subtitle tracks, but which works on as wide a range of devices as possible. Sounds impossible? Not at all. Read on to discover how to produce compatible media files that stream perfectly time and again.

–NICK PEERS

1 SET UP HANDBRAKE AND YOUR SOURCE FILE(S)

The best tool for converting files to a universal format is HandBrake. It supports all the standards defined in the box and enables you to craft the perfect stream containing your choice of audio and subtitle tracks. Start by downloading and installing the latest version from www.handbrake.fr.

» HandBrake can convert existing media files covering a wide range of formats and codecs. It can also process files from physical media—HandBrake can work with DVDs, ISO files, and some Blu-rays, or copy the files to your hard drive first using MakeMKV (www.makemkv.com).

» Once the files are on your hard drive, consider renaming them to make them more easily identifiable if required before opening HandBrake and clicking the ‘Open Source’ button. This opens the ‘Source Selection’ window [Image A], from where you choose to select a file or folder containing multiple titles using the buttons on the left, or drag files from a folder already open in File Explorer on to ‘Or drop a file, set of files, or folder here.’

» Once selected, HandBrake opens and processes the files before placing you at its main screen, ready to prep the first file for conversion.

2 SELECT WHAT TO RIP

HandBrake displays a summary of the first matching title in the list, complete with preview image. Click the ‘Title’