Fix Bad DVD Encodes with Handbrake on Mac Windows and Linux – 2023

Fix Bad DVD Encodes with Handbrake

Fix Bad DVD Encodes

I recently purchased the box set of Malcolm In The Middle. I love this show! It was always so funny, and those kids, OMG what horrible kids they were. However, whilst the show was fantastic, the quality of the DVD video was horrible, especially when I viewed it on my new 4K UHD TV.

Seriously…WTF Hollywood?

Fix Bad DVD Encodes - Malcolm Box Set

I paid $140 bucks for these discs, and there are more artefacts in the video than even Howard Carter can handle!
(A little Tutankhamun humour there)

Thankfully, we can fix this with a free program called Handbrake. At the time of writing the current version of Handbrake is v1.6.1. You can download your copy HERE.

Continue reading “Fix Bad DVD Encodes with Handbrake on Mac Windows and Linux – 2023”

Stop Transmission Opening Dialogue Box Window For Each New Torrent Added

Want to Stop Transmission Opening Dialogue Box Window For Each New Torrent Added?

Transmission BT Icon Logo

Transmission is a great piece of software, but in its default settings state it does have some quirks that can be a little annoying. To learn how to stop this you can watch the below video, or continue reading.

When adding a new torrent, a dialogue box ALWAYS opens, even after you have set your default download locations for both complete and incomplete files.

Transmission BT New Torrent Dialogue Box Window

Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t get that window, and downloads just added and started automatically without you having to click the “Add” button every time?

Here’s how to stop this annoying behaviour once and for all!

Open Preferences, and click on the “Transfers” tab. Make sure you are looking at “Adding” and not “Management”.

To stop it from opening that annoying window make sure ALL of these options are unchecked.

Transmission window display preferences

**NOTE** – Be sure that EVERY option is unchecked! I found in my testing that leaving one checked (as shown below), and un-checking the parent option still made the window appear, even though the check was greyed out

Transmission preferences capture

As always, make sure you are using the latest version of Transmission BT which can be downloaded HERE.

Easiest Best Optimal settings for Handbrake 1080p Blu Ray Video Conversion on Mac, Windows and Linux – UPDATED – MARCH 2023

Convert BluRay to H.264 with Handbrake

Convert BluRay to H.264 2023 Handbrake 1.6.1

Convert BluRay to the smallest file size in Handbrake without having to know or understand all of the settings. Just copy my settings and you’re done!

H.264 Vs H.265 – Which one should I use?
If you have a 4K Television and a newer media player you will want to use H.265 – See THIS ARTICLE for instructions.
If you have a 1080 HD TV and an older media player H.264 is best, so use these instructions below.

*Whilst your user interface may appear slightly different than shown here (depending on if you are using Windows, Mac or Linux), the settings and results will be the same across all platforms.

**NOTE** – These settings are for 1080P BLURAY to H.264 Video ONLY
Use these settings if you have a 1080 HD Television and older media player
To convert 1080P BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!
To convert DVD to H.265 – CLICK HERE!
To convert DVD to H.264 – CLICK HERE!
To convert 4K BLURAY to H.265 – CLICK HERE!

THE SHORT VERSION

1 Open source file in Handbrake and make sure you are on the “Summary” tab
2 Set file format to “MP4’ and deselect “Passthru Common Metadata”
3 Click “Dimensions” tab and set Resolution Limit to 1080p and leave Anamorphic as Automatic, leave cropping “Automatic” and borders “None”
4 Click the “Filters” tab
5 Leave Interlace Detection set to Default, De-interlace set to Decomb, and Preset at “Default”
6 Click the “Video” tab
7 Select “H.264 (x264)” from the Video Codec drop down
8 Select “Same As Source” in “Framerate”
9 Check the “Constant Framerate” button
10 Set “Encoder Preset” slider to “Very Slow”
11 Set “Encoder Tune” to “Film”
12 Set “Encoder Profile” to “High”
13 Set “Encoder Level” to “4.1” – If this wont play on your system drop it back to “3.1”
14 Set the “Constant Quality” slider to “24”
15 In the “Additional Options” box add ref=5:bframes=5
16 Click the “Audio” tab
17 Select the preferred 7.1 or 5.1 channel soundtrack
18 Set “Codec” to “AC3” and the Bitrate to 448kb
19 Set Mixdown to “5.1 Channels” and Samplerate to “48”
20 Click the “Subtitles” tab
21 Click the “X” in the circle at the right side to remove the subtitles track on Windows, or select “None” from dropdown on Mac
22 Click the “Chapters” tab
23 Uncheck the “Create Chapter Markers” option if you don’t want them or leave it checked if you do
24 Give your output file a unique name and save it somewhere easy to find
25 Make a preset to save the settings and Press the Green “Start Encode” button

THE LONG VERSION

Continue reading “Easiest Best Optimal settings for Handbrake 1080p Blu Ray Video Conversion on Mac, Windows and Linux – UPDATED – MARCH 2023”

How to easily create a group and send a SMS Text Message to everyone in it on iPhone

connect-contact-managerMy boss at work asked me if there was an easy way to create a group of contacts, and send a message to everyone in the group on her iPhone, and with a little digging I turned up this free GEM app called Connect Contact Manager for iPhone. An example of its use would be if you were a coach of a team, and you need to let all the players know practice is cancelled, you just select the group, type “Practice is cancelled” as a text message, and when you press send, the same message is sent to the entire team automatically (Assuming you have all of their mobile/cell numbers on your phone).

Go to the app store and download the free app. Find it by searching for Connect Contact Manager, or go HERE.

Connect Contact Manager Download

Once downloaded, open it up.Contact Screen

Create A New Group

You can scroll through the groups you have already made by swipping left and right on the group names, and if you want to create a new group click the plus icon in the top right corner. If you have already created the group you want to message, skip down to the “Send A Message To The Group” section

Add Group

Give your new group a name

New GroupSelect the contacts that you want to be in your group

Confirm Create

When you have selected all of the contacts you want in your group, confirm your selections by clicking create in the top right cornerconfirm-createSend A Message To The Group

Now, select the group you want to message by scrolling left and right, and hold down/press the groups name for a few seconds

Select GroupThen select “Message”

Select Message

Now you can type your message

Send Message

When you are done typing, simply press “Send”, and everyone in the group will get your message

How To Make Your Own Internet TV Show – Part 3 – Adding Additional Cameras

Adding Additional Cameras
Part 3 – Installing Additional Cameras

In this video I show you how to add additional cameras to your Vidblaster setup in either Windows or Mac, and how easy it is to switch between them.

Note to Pros – These articles are aimed at beginners, who wish to spend little or no money until they have a grasp on the topic, and are hoping to learn how to get started quickly and easily, using equipment they most likely already have.

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You can also use your iPhone, Android and Nokia smart phones as cameras by using Epoccam as shown in this tutorial.

httpvh://youtu.be/Z5E-vEalubM

You can download a free unrestricted trial copy of Vidblaster from vidblaster.com

vidblasterbuynow234x60
Part 1 – Selecting Video Switcher Production Software – The Heart of Vidcasting – VIEW HERE
Part 2 – Installing Vidblaster, Connecting Your Webcam, Switching and Interface Basics – VIEW HERE Part 3 – Adding Additional Cameras – VIEW HERE
Part 4 – Mixing Audio, Mics, and Avoiding Looping in Software – VIEW HERE
Part 5 – Desktop and Browser Capture – VIEW HERE
Part 6 – Connecting Guests Via Skype – VIEW HERE
Part 7 – How To Make A Lower Third Overlay – VIEW HERE
Part 8 – Adding flair with Effects, Soundboards and Chat Streams – COMING SOON!
Part 9 – Green Screen/Chroma Keying and Virtual Sets with iClone – COMING SOON!
Part 10 – Recording and Streaming – COMING SOON!