Megui H.264 Conversion Guide
Updated: 07/06/2007 09:24 AM

MeGUI is one of the newer tools that has been designed with H.264 encoding in mind, while supporting other types of conversion, such as XviD. This guide shows you how to encode a H.264 (MP4) using MeGUI from a DVD as the primary example (instructions for converting other types of video files are also included).
This guide is aimed at intermediate users, basically users that are familiar with DVD conversion/backup and want to experiment with H.264 and MeGUI. As such, basic knowledge of DVD ripping and conversion is required, although brief instructions will be provided in any case.
Software you'll need (all freeware):
AVI-Mux_GUI.zipNeroDigitalAudio.zip

Show details for Step 1: InstallationStep 1: Installation

Show details for Step 2: DVD RippingStep 2: DVD Ripping

Show details for Step 3: D2V CreatorStep 3: D2V Creator

Show details for Step 4: AviSynth Script CreatorStep 4: AviSynth Script Creator

Show details for Step 5a: Video Encoding Options MP4Step 5a: Video Encoding Options MP4

Hide details for Step 5b: Video Encoding Options XVIDStep 5b: Video Encoding Options XVID

After the AviSynth Script Creator window closes, it will be entered in the AviSynth Script box on the Input tab. Below that is the output file. Click the button to the right of it to change the location or name. Select the dropdown menu next to Codec and set it to XviD. File Format should be set to AVI, MKV, or RAWASP (MP4). To select a Video Profile, determine what percentage of original DVD's bitrate will be used for the XviD encode. If you're not sure, compare the combined size of the VOB files to the intended final size of the XviD. The profiles are named by what amount of compression they're designed for. For example, XviD '>90% comp. check' means it's for encodes that are 90% as big as the original or more. Find the largest percentage that's smaller than or equal to the amount of compression your encode will have. Each compression level will have a fast and HQ option. As the names suggest, one will give you faster encodes, and the other a little higher quality.


Hide details for Step 6: Audio Encoding OptionsStep 6: Audio Encoding Options

Now it's time to set up the audio encoding options. If you've followed this guide for DVD conversion, then the demuxed audio track we selected in the D2V Creator should already be loaded in (if not, load in the .ac3 file that was created). If you are not converting from a DVD source, then you can either load in a separate audio file or if you edited the AviSynth script (set "audio=true"), then load in the AVS file into the "Audio Input" section (meaning both video and audio inputs are the same AVS file). Repeat if you want a second audio track by clicking on the "2" select option.
MeGUI: Audio
Now we select an audio codec to use. I prefer AAC audio, especially with H.264 as video - AAC is to MP3 what H.264 is to DivX/XviD, better compression + better quality. So which audio codec should you use? I prefer ND AAC (Nero Digital), so select it if you agree with me. We can now choose an audio profile from one of the "NDAAC" options. "NDAAC-HE-64Kbps" is the one I like, as it will give you roughly the same quality as a 128 Kbps MP3 file. You can select one of the "HEPS" (HEv2) profiles if you really want a small file size. The "LC" options offer better compatibility (eg. with iPod/iTunes), but at the cost of file size (still smaller than MP3s though).



Hide details for Step 7: AutoEncode and starting the encodingStep 7: AutoEncode and starting the encoding

We're nearly finished. Press the "AutoEncode" button to launch the Automatic Encoder setup windows.
MeGUI: Automatic Encoder

This is pretty straight forward - just specify the output size of your video file (and make sure the Container is set correctly, to "MP4" for the purpose of this guide). The output location can be changed as well - this file will be the final output file that you want, so make sure you remember where you put it and don't accidentally delete it when cleaning up (I like to put this file in a different folder to all the other files, just in case). Press the "Queue" button and all the necessary jobs will be added to the encoding queue.
Click on the "Queue" tab and all the jobs should be listed there. An explanation of the queued jobs shown in the screenshot below:
  • job1: D2V Creation (already finished)
  • job2-1: Encoding audio track 1
  • job2-2: Encoding audio track 2
  • job2-3: Encoding video, 1st pass
  • job2-4: Encoding video, 2nd pass
  • job2-5: Muxing audio and video to MP4




When you're ready to start, press the "Start" button to start the encoding and when it's all finished, your MP4 file should be ready. You can delete all the other files, unless you plan on making more encodings from them.
We're done :)


Show details for MeGUI Custom x264/AVC video profiles. (Updated: 2006-12-21)MeGUI Custom x264/AVC video profiles. (Updated: 2006-12-21)


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